Or just go ask Sarah, making her way back from her latest pilgrimage, where she’s sure to have found yet another insight to make us smile in the midst of all the banal political evil. Thank you again!
You give a necessary calmness to experiencing unfathomable events. And your photos are 🔥
Here in Baltimore we saw some, but we were out of the path of totality (for the eclipse, but not tragedy). It was still quite an attraction and a good excuse for us workers looking to slack off on the boss’s dime, for that should be an American sacrament.
Years ago now, when I connected you and Jason Stanley, neither of you knew of the other's work. Both of you have changed a great deal, though both of you share what is for me the most awful truth... a need for greater security to protect your families from the ghouls. Jason's writing became more urgent and more public-facing. Yours' has become art: an assimilation of a New School critical thinking with an almost romanticist poetry to accommodate truth. Jason's dad, who sat on my 2nd dissertation committee, would have wanted you in his foundations of American politics class (by invitation). Me? I now can't live without knowing you are still here. Traveling the purple highway that may soon turn red... again.
Sarah, excellent, wonderful heartfelt article! My sister used to hunt morels in Michigan. They are tasty critters fried up. As a Mizzou grad married to a MO girl, i really enjoy reading the reflections on your travels, both in MO and around the US. I've read Flyover and Hiding (both excellent) but am really enjoying the other dimensions to your writing seen here. I look forward to each new article. Stay safe and well, we love you.
>The police were diverting Highway 61 renegades to Highway 55, the interstate.
Seems like there is an analogy about authority here where even some diversions are off limits in the totalitarian state.
We went to the Maintz Wildlife Preserve. It had no mushrooms but there was a pond with a dozen turtles and only about 4 other groups for the eclipse. We stayed for a while after knowing the traffic was going to be bad and hoping it might get sorted out if we gave it a couple hours (nope). I ended up jump starting the van of a family with young kids from Kansas City and contemplating the circumstances that brought us together and gave me the chance to lend a hand.
“We are stuck in a time loop that feels like a sleigh ride on a Möbius strip through hell.”
Sarah, thank you for that, it made my day. I burst out laughing, which in these times is always good. It’s like 2024 is the Rocky Horror Picture Show and we’re all being asked to sing along on that sleigh ride.
We also got to see the total eclipse, and also chose the state route up, even though the interstate route was an hour faster. I was surprised to see that during totality the western horizon looked just like sunset time. Our existence on this planet is nothing short of a freaking miracle. I really feel it when I look up after dark.
“When the men on the chessboard
Get up and tell you where to go
And you've just had some kind of mushroom
And your mind is moving low
Go ask Alice
I think she'll know . . . “
Or just go ask Sarah, making her way back from her latest pilgrimage, where she’s sure to have found yet another insight to make us smile in the midst of all the banal political evil. Thank you again!
The sheer sad irony of "ads for drugs and Jesus and guns." Sigh.
You give a necessary calmness to experiencing unfathomable events. And your photos are 🔥
Here in Baltimore we saw some, but we were out of the path of totality (for the eclipse, but not tragedy). It was still quite an attraction and a good excuse for us workers looking to slack off on the boss’s dime, for that should be an American sacrament.
Years ago now, when I connected you and Jason Stanley, neither of you knew of the other's work. Both of you have changed a great deal, though both of you share what is for me the most awful truth... a need for greater security to protect your families from the ghouls. Jason's writing became more urgent and more public-facing. Yours' has become art: an assimilation of a New School critical thinking with an almost romanticist poetry to accommodate truth. Jason's dad, who sat on my 2nd dissertation committee, would have wanted you in his foundations of American politics class (by invitation). Me? I now can't live without knowing you are still here. Traveling the purple highway that may soon turn red... again.
Sarah, excellent, wonderful heartfelt article! My sister used to hunt morels in Michigan. They are tasty critters fried up. As a Mizzou grad married to a MO girl, i really enjoy reading the reflections on your travels, both in MO and around the US. I've read Flyover and Hiding (both excellent) but am really enjoying the other dimensions to your writing seen here. I look forward to each new article. Stay safe and well, we love you.
I love this line: "That’s why I take the back roads. If I’m destined for doom, I’m going to enjoy the ride, and let nobody get in my way."
"nothing tastes as good as serendipity", a line that got me thinking. Thanks for the reminder...
I love your writing:
Witty
Poetic
Penetrating.
You always seem to get it just right.
>The police were diverting Highway 61 renegades to Highway 55, the interstate.
Seems like there is an analogy about authority here where even some diversions are off limits in the totalitarian state.
We went to the Maintz Wildlife Preserve. It had no mushrooms but there was a pond with a dozen turtles and only about 4 other groups for the eclipse. We stayed for a while after knowing the traffic was going to be bad and hoping it might get sorted out if we gave it a couple hours (nope). I ended up jump starting the van of a family with young kids from Kansas City and contemplating the circumstances that brought us together and gave me the chance to lend a hand.
Damn, Sarah- you found morels during the eclipse! I hope you played the lottery after that!😂
“We are stuck in a time loop that feels like a sleigh ride on a Möbius strip through hell.”
Sarah, thank you for that, it made my day. I burst out laughing, which in these times is always good. It’s like 2024 is the Rocky Horror Picture Show and we’re all being asked to sing along on that sleigh ride.
“With a bit of a mind flip
You're into the time slip
And nothing can ever be the same
You're spaced out on sensation
Like you're under sedation
Let's do the Time Warp again!”
We also got to see the total eclipse, and also chose the state route up, even though the interstate route was an hour faster. I was surprised to see that during totality the western horizon looked just like sunset time. Our existence on this planet is nothing short of a freaking miracle. I really feel it when I look up after dark.
You and Zorba the Greek, denizens of catastrophe. What would we do without you? Your voice, your song, your dance across America. Thank you
Every trip is a learning experience for you and your readers! Thank for sharing!
Thank you for writing this and all your writings.
Hi Sarah, yesterday I saw this article and thought of you - the fresco of Cassandra head in hand. Apollo looks on blandly.
https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/04/11/style/pompeii-stunning-frescoes-mythological-uncovered-intl-scli-scn