I'll admit, I have not been a good blogger this week because frankly, I have nothing to say. I get up in the dark, drop kids off at school, go to work at sunrise, create tables for a report all day, leave work at sunset, come home in the dark, make dinner and try to interact with offspring in the hour or two that remains before bedtime. I think we humans in northern latitudes were meant to just sleep off this season, mostly.
I don't even feel like eating much, and today was our annual holiday potluck pig-out feast at work. Even one of my coworkers had to stop at five pieces of pie, after the big meal. What has this world come to? I did enjoy the luxury of one hand rolled cigarette from Lee, the retired wildlife manager we adopt for our feast. I probably smoke once a year, and it was worth it, except mine kept going out for some reason.
So it's dark and I don't have much to say, really. Except I realize I am now one of the senior personnel at the office, and I really don't have a lot in common with the young male live to fish and hunt people I work with. What do they have in common with in a hippie musician homesteader naturalist like me? In fact, I don' t have a lot in common with many people. I feel very alone sometimes, and I think this blogging community I have found is great because I feel some of our goals and basic principles are very similar. So, thank you all for being there and commenting.
8 comments:
It does seem that way here too, although I know we are not quite so dark and cold. We work, come home in the dark, eat, visit some, and then hit the rack early ... or at least I do ...
Toss in some frantic Christmas shopping in the big city 40 miles away and it's quite the treadmill.
Hey Deb - being alone - yeah. Even my daughter has started talking about how she can't fit in with anyone because her ideas about lifestyle and conservation are so different.
I really appreciate this blogging community too, but it sometimes gets me into trouble because I'm sitting here at the computer with my back to the family, building virtual connections at the expense of real ones.
Anyway, if I haven't said it before, thanks for all the images and imagery from your day-to-day life. It sounds and looks so much like what I knew through my childhood, it sometimes feels like I'm right there.
Deb ~ Don't feel alone! I have been a quiet interloper on your blog for almost a year now - I stumbled across it accidentally when I was looking for a quotation from A Sand County Almanac - and I've been stopping by regularly ever since. It's been a dream of mine for a few years now to get some land up by the north shore and live the kind of life you're living - so right now I'm getting to do that vicariously because of your blog.
And you shouldn't let those hook and bullet punks at work get you down. I'm in my mid-twenties, and care a whole lot about the same kinds of things that you do - as do many of my friends.
You lead an amazing and rich life, and have a beautiful family. So keep on writing - it cheers me and inspires me!
FC- I haven't even worked in the frantic Christmas shopping- yet. And it looks like you stayed up later than I did last night!
arcolaura- Thanks! Although I bet your childhood didn't include brothers fighting over the Game Cube, like my boys are doing right now.
diane- thanks for breaking your silence and commenting! I'm glad you enjoy the blog. I'm trying to get back into the habit of more nature commentary; this landscape has so many treasures to share.
And, if I look at it from a different angle, the guys at work benefit from having my different (but not opposing) viewpoint on things.
Up late due to just arriving home from frantic Christmas shopping (MUST...DO...MORE...) and the fact that on Friday evening my brain is free from lesson plans.
Arcolaura's comment about facing the computer with back to family was right on. I feel that too sometimes.
"different but not opposing",
Very graceful. You may have come up with a motto for the world.
Next stop, the UN!
(my word verification is LZGOATS, which I assume is some kind of slanderous comment about the work ethic of goats)
Yes, the Great Midwinter Silence, I know what you're talking about.
That loneliness, too, I feel that. Funny, with all these billions of us, that so many feel alone. The price of consciousness, I guess.
Many hugs. And cookies. I'm baking Angel Cookies today, all butter and sugar. I hereby bestow a baker's dozen on you.
Yes, I understand where you are coming from, somewhat... I'm really lucky to work some good enviro women, but I don't fit in with lots of other family/public social settings. Just a matter of "finding your tribe" which is a challenge sometimes.
Especially when you are SO busy! I am always amazed at how you do it all. Keep it all up, and know that there are people out there like you... we just might all be a bit quiet and busy ourselves.
Hermits Unite! Ha.
Hi, Deb!
You wrote:
" What do they have in common with in a hippie musician homesteader naturalist like me? In fact, I don' t have a lot in common with many people."
Your face and blog sound like "home" to me.
I know it isn't possible, but it seems as if I must have known you, back when I lived farther north (Bella Coola, BC, Canada). You're my kind of people.
Love this blogging community, too!
Susannah
Post a Comment