Since your first article you posted on Substack I am relieved that you always mention the genocide that is occurring right before our very eyes. It has been both disturbing and a crude awakening that most of the people that I have been following for years now, are silent about our hand in the slaughtering of civilians. It has always disturbed me that so many so called progressives have been silent about our government’s approval and funding of ApartheidIsrael (for decades now). But I find it shocking that they or anyone can be silent about the genocide. I will be forever grateful that you (one of my all time favorites) have not been silent.
I did enjoy this Boomtown article. I am glad you mentioned the virus. We are in a very precarious place without any public health measures to mitigate a level 3 biohazard. The practice of letting SARS 2 rip through the country unrestrained is so dangerous. Long covid is a real thing and the repercussions on the world will be devastating. Please stay safe everyone. Get the updated vaccine and mask up.
Thank you for saying, “Ongoing pandemic.” The way Trump weaponized taking proper precautions to slow the spread of COVID, while Biden declared it as “being behind us” as I sat at home sick with it last winter has been so grotesque. We deserve so much better.
The father of our present Prime Minister opined after a visit with president Nixon: "Living next to you is in some ways like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast, if I can call it that, one is affected by every twitch and grunt," but the BoomTown earthquake waves are travelling farther with much more devastating effects and around the world. But, we are, simply, closer.
Ditto what Jasmine wrote. Ditto: an Italian origin word that brings back childhood memories of ditto machines, also known as a Spirit Duplicator. So Sarah, maybe we need some Spirit Duplicators to raise our spirits. Or distill them.
I grew up in East Tennessee with my paternal grandparents in Memphis. Thanks for explaining about the earthquake I’ve always heard of that I assume created Reelfoot Lake. I’ve heard about the day the river ran backwards. I don’t glorify Memphis like other musicians, I’m a musician. Memphis has a new mayor speaking we can do it rhetoric. I’m doubtful because Memphis notoriously snatches defeat from the jaws of victory. I hope I’m wrong. Anyway, I’m glad you’re around. Your prose is smooth and interesting, clear and emphatic. Thanks for being around.
Loving the Boomland metaphor, Sarah. It has so many possibilities. Happy New Year. My personal Boomland happened while I was sitting next to my husband who passed away, in June, in hospice care, while I was holding his hand. It rearranged me in such a way that I fiercely needed to get out of myself.
In the following months I met an Indigenous migrant family on the subway who were selling candy. I sort of adopted them - collecting warm clothing, finding them small jobs - not from any sense of personal virtue, but because it helped me with my own grief. I love watching their little boy turn cartwheels on the sidewalks of Brooklyn. That family has brought so much to my own family - teaching my sons Quechua, reminding us how much fun it is to play slap jack with a five-year-old. In raising money for them, in November, I had a sidewalk sale of books - many belonging to my deceased husband. I made a sign: "Helping a Young Family In Need". A dollar a book. A dollar a CD. Neighbors were generous. The Muslim family down the street bought some books. The Israeli family that had just moved in across the street, bought some books. Nobody asked who the Family in Need was. Nobody seemed to need to know.
Neighbors wanted to talk, to tell me their stories. It was a damp November day, and my butt got cold, but I raised $500. for the migrant family. Even some right wing kinfolk, who knew of my sale through my Instagram photos venmoed me money without actual purchases. Something about "Helping a Young Family in Need" stuck in their craw. I don't know why they participated. They call me a "dizzy Liberal". But whatever.
The point of my story is to let you know how much your Boomland captures my own imagination. We've got no control over all the heartbreaking stuff our government is doing - but we can get curious and be open to our own Boomlands. Thank you for reminding us to look into our hearts, and paradoxically, in doing that, we can get our of ourselves, for short reprieves, at least.
There is a tune written by David Baerwald of the band David & David, titled 'Boomtown' from early 90s... fantastic, music so captures your vibe . *whole album is great.
Hi Sarah! I just finished listening to your interview by Jared Sexton and this popped into my inbox just as it finished. It’s great to hear and read your voice again.
FYI, that bumper sticker about loving my country but fearing my government was originally a hippie staple, sold alongside Black power fist decals and anti-Nixon buttons in Harvard Square. We’ve come a long way, baby. Or rather, fallen a long way down.
That is fascinating! The first time I saw it was not long after Obama was elected and it was next to a bumper sticker saying “I’m a Bitter Gun Owner Clinging to My Religion”
I wrote a research paper on the New Madrid Fault for an undergrad geologic hazards course. The REALLY terrifying part is the almost inevitable failure of every levee from St. Louis to the Gulf. There are 3500 miles of levee on the Mississippi; the Ohio, Red, Atchafalaya, and other rivers add much, much more.
Brilliant and poignant happy new year ! I trust you will keep informing us . Grateful for your knowledge and your ability to articulate. I look forward to reading your next book .
Since your first article you posted on Substack I am relieved that you always mention the genocide that is occurring right before our very eyes. It has been both disturbing and a crude awakening that most of the people that I have been following for years now, are silent about our hand in the slaughtering of civilians. It has always disturbed me that so many so called progressives have been silent about our government’s approval and funding of ApartheidIsrael (for decades now). But I find it shocking that they or anyone can be silent about the genocide. I will be forever grateful that you (one of my all time favorites) have not been silent.
What a luxury we have, to condemn all genocide wherever it slides on the scale between callous and dismissive, and flat-out intentional.
Imo, The situation in Israel isn’t like South African apartheid.
I agree the situation in ApartheidIsrael is not quite like it was in South Africa. And I also agree with those who think it is worse.
I did enjoy this Boomtown article. I am glad you mentioned the virus. We are in a very precarious place without any public health measures to mitigate a level 3 biohazard. The practice of letting SARS 2 rip through the country unrestrained is so dangerous. Long covid is a real thing and the repercussions on the world will be devastating. Please stay safe everyone. Get the updated vaccine and mask up.
Thank you for saying, “Ongoing pandemic.” The way Trump weaponized taking proper precautions to slow the spread of COVID, while Biden declared it as “being behind us” as I sat at home sick with it last winter has been so grotesque. We deserve so much better.
The father of our present Prime Minister opined after a visit with president Nixon: "Living next to you is in some ways like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast, if I can call it that, one is affected by every twitch and grunt," but the BoomTown earthquake waves are travelling farther with much more devastating effects and around the world. But, we are, simply, closer.
Another brilliant piece.
Welcome back.
Happy New Year!
Ditto what Jasmine wrote. Ditto: an Italian origin word that brings back childhood memories of ditto machines, also known as a Spirit Duplicator. So Sarah, maybe we need some Spirit Duplicators to raise our spirits. Or distill them.
Gorgeous piece, thank you. I just wish you had less frightening material to cover!
Me too! Sometime I’m just going to write about something beautiful and fun to give everyone a break. Including me!
Maybe you bringing this to light can help us all move into action and make it better.
You will. I'm certain. Thanks.
Looking forward to that!
Happy New Year!! You are incredibly gifted and insightful.
Thank you!
I grew up in East Tennessee with my paternal grandparents in Memphis. Thanks for explaining about the earthquake I’ve always heard of that I assume created Reelfoot Lake. I’ve heard about the day the river ran backwards. I don’t glorify Memphis like other musicians, I’m a musician. Memphis has a new mayor speaking we can do it rhetoric. I’m doubtful because Memphis notoriously snatches defeat from the jaws of victory. I hope I’m wrong. Anyway, I’m glad you’re around. Your prose is smooth and interesting, clear and emphatic. Thanks for being around.
Loving the Boomland metaphor, Sarah. It has so many possibilities. Happy New Year. My personal Boomland happened while I was sitting next to my husband who passed away, in June, in hospice care, while I was holding his hand. It rearranged me in such a way that I fiercely needed to get out of myself.
In the following months I met an Indigenous migrant family on the subway who were selling candy. I sort of adopted them - collecting warm clothing, finding them small jobs - not from any sense of personal virtue, but because it helped me with my own grief. I love watching their little boy turn cartwheels on the sidewalks of Brooklyn. That family has brought so much to my own family - teaching my sons Quechua, reminding us how much fun it is to play slap jack with a five-year-old. In raising money for them, in November, I had a sidewalk sale of books - many belonging to my deceased husband. I made a sign: "Helping a Young Family In Need". A dollar a book. A dollar a CD. Neighbors were generous. The Muslim family down the street bought some books. The Israeli family that had just moved in across the street, bought some books. Nobody asked who the Family in Need was. Nobody seemed to need to know.
Neighbors wanted to talk, to tell me their stories. It was a damp November day, and my butt got cold, but I raised $500. for the migrant family. Even some right wing kinfolk, who knew of my sale through my Instagram photos venmoed me money without actual purchases. Something about "Helping a Young Family in Need" stuck in their craw. I don't know why they participated. They call me a "dizzy Liberal". But whatever.
The point of my story is to let you know how much your Boomland captures my own imagination. We've got no control over all the heartbreaking stuff our government is doing - but we can get curious and be open to our own Boomlands. Thank you for reminding us to look into our hearts, and paradoxically, in doing that, we can get our of ourselves, for short reprieves, at least.
Your writing is phenomenal. Thank you for your mahi, it is so valued and appreciated.
Welcome back, and thank you!
There is a tune written by David Baerwald of the band David & David, titled 'Boomtown' from early 90s... fantastic, music so captures your vibe . *whole album is great.
Peace
Oh my god I came here to post the chorus from the title track!
"So I say welcome, welcome to the boomtown
Pick a habit, we got plenty to go around
Welcome, welcome to the boomtown
All that money makes such a succulent sound"
—David & David, "Welcome to the Boomtown" (1986!)
Hi Sarah! I just finished listening to your interview by Jared Sexton and this popped into my inbox just as it finished. It’s great to hear and read your voice again.
Thank you!
FYI, that bumper sticker about loving my country but fearing my government was originally a hippie staple, sold alongside Black power fist decals and anti-Nixon buttons in Harvard Square. We’ve come a long way, baby. Or rather, fallen a long way down.
That is fascinating! The first time I saw it was not long after Obama was elected and it was next to a bumper sticker saying “I’m a Bitter Gun Owner Clinging to My Religion”
I wrote a research paper on the New Madrid Fault for an undergrad geologic hazards course. The REALLY terrifying part is the almost inevitable failure of every levee from St. Louis to the Gulf. There are 3500 miles of levee on the Mississippi; the Ohio, Red, Atchafalaya, and other rivers add much, much more.
Thank you for another unique and courageous essay about our current condition.
Brilliant and poignant happy new year ! I trust you will keep informing us . Grateful for your knowledge and your ability to articulate. I look forward to reading your next book .