them thursday = beginning
The beginning of all thingslies still in the beyond
in the form of ideas
that have yet
to become
real.
I Ching
============================
We lived to the left about a 1/2 block from a fence,
that separated us from a hike to the beach.
We were the first ones on our block
for at least a year I believe.
San Francisco can be seen in the distance.
The song "Little Boxes" by Malvina Reynolds
was written about our town.
Although no one talked about it,
I understood her meaning right away.
Ever since I was small, I never felt like
I fit in, nor thought the same as many others.
At the same time, never aspired to be
anyones center of attention. Preferred
the fly on the wall and being an observer.
KYA am used to play an hour of Alan Watts
on sunday mornings and I'd listen to
him on my transistor radio, with his
infectious laugh and talking about
life in ways that made more sense
to me than what I was seeing around me.
Mountain People by Turnbull, Black Like Me by Griffin,
any Poe, Twain, Hugo, Frank Norris, Steinbeck,
Upton Sinclair were mesmerizing.
Who knows all the reasons why we are,
and how we turn out the way we do,
but these are a few short reasons 4 me.
Not changing, more like growing
and ever evolving.
Guess that's enough of a
beginning 4 now.
32 comments:
I like this take on the theme. So fresh and different. Thanks to TT for causing me to visit.
The song "Little Boxes" by Malvina Reynolds
was written about our town.
Although no one talked about it,
I understood her meaning right away
I liked this paragraph CM! I can imagine it's like reading about a place where you have been in a book or in a poem and knowing exactly what it was describing - I especially like the way authors/poets describe landscapes. :D
C.M., reading this there are many similarities we share. I too found it hard to fit in. Too, I was reading Steinbeck by the time I was twelve( or was it 11? )as well as Hugo, Twain and Poe, even earlier. Wasn't much of a Sinclair reader, tho'...
And I like the I Ching quote :)
I was moved by the song, and by your words.
Who we were as kids, who we are now, who we have become. I remember when I was a kid and my parents had guests and I was eventually told to get to bed, I liked to embarrass them by running under a table and screaming out "dont hit me, dont hit me"....
We have just arrived in Madrid, finding a house that has been closed for 2 months. Back to earth, back to work.
coffee that was great! in s similar boat like subby...coulda been me. like the i ching quote too. happy tt!
Now that's a theme on beginnings! Great perspective, thanks for letting us peek in. :)
C.M.--Happy TT --here's to beginnings! Thank you for sharing-
Best-C.M.
Oh, I can so relate to this post. I found solice in my little transistor radio, as well. Sinclair, Steinbeck and Poe were also amoung my friends.
wonderful thoughtful post!
there was a specific town malvina was singing about! geez who'd of thunk it.
to grow up listening to an hour of alan watts every sunday! no wonder you r who you r
your early reading list is amazingly similar to my own... except for the frank norris - haven't read him, would have had dickens in there instead...and didn't read turnbull till college... along with scores of other ethnographies .... the best sorts of armchair travel around!
Beautiful, thoughtful post.
This for you and your readers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmNSEbgt1Dg
(Lucius Annaeus Seneca said many smart things in his life, including the saying you quote above. But considering the facetious mood over here today, my vote for the Seneca quote of the day goes to: "I don't consider myself bald, I'm just taller than my hair." Not bad for a stand-up comic over two thousand years old :-) )
Bonne continuation to your new beginning, cm.
Try as I might, I just can't fit in a box. Why am I trying?
Oh my god, I just played "Looking Back" last night. What a great song.
And how I can relate to 'Little Boxes' and subtorp's comment. I was a freak. I could read on an adult level when I was four. As a child, my idea of playing was setting up a classroom and teaching. Putting on plays.
Photography exhibits -- art. Say, the same as now, lol.
Thanks so much for this post and that great photo! The hand in the coffee beans, so many lush colours.
Candace in Athens.
Interesting take on the theme. As an avid reader, always have been. I wonder how much all the authors have formed our lives from the beginning.
Like the song by the Chambers Brothers, I had not heard it before.
this was so satisfying! It made up for missing the coffee this morning...made a mistake and had a cup at 6:00 PM and didn't sleep until it was time to wake up!
Thanks for this glimpse into what was important to you early on. BTW that I Ching was a smart guy!
Hi CM! I related to quite a lot in your post regarding not fitting in and choosing to be more of an observer...thanks for sharing. Have the I Ching quote myself.
Have a good one!
aha...a little insight.
and funny how the neighborhoods do change...you have to go a long ways now to find anything fresh and new.
I love the unique take on the theme. I know you aren't alone in these feelings...and that song...haven't heard that in years! :)
Growing up with a popular brother and sister was difficult. I was more in tune with older people and frequently found my escape in books. Ty for sharing
Thank you for the Chambers Brothers song. I've never heard it before.
Not fitting in should be seen as an advantage. Who wants to be one of the sheeple?
It can be lonely though, but then that helps a person to be independent.
'Little Boxes' is one of the most perceptive songs ever written. Ticky-tacky is a great word and describes what most people's lives are filled with.
Great post, Coffee. You're a genius!
alan: Thanks for stopping by!
reyjr: It was an eye opener, and who knows why some never feel the need to have to fit in a box with labels. Thanks for stopping by.
subT: Could not name every book/author etc, but thought a few would suffice. I'm sure people like us are more than the world realizes. We're just hidden away.
celeste: Thanks for that. Welcome back home. Your journey was nice to follow.
brian: I read that quote in an early Rolling Stone magazine and never forgot it ; )
wings: Thanks for stopping by.
cmj: Thanks for stopping by.
willow: They were special days, to be sure.
kimy: Daly City was exploding with those little boxes. There were other authors of course, but, if I related everything I wanted, no one would have read the post ; (
Funny about AW, I've never read any of his books.
mum: Thanks for that. I may need to use the line you mentioned very soon ; )
liza: Back then, it seems we were always made to feel even stranger not being like every one else ; (
Good for you not fitting into a box.
candace: Thanks for that. I remember how every one reacted when they saw one white guy with the CB ; ( It was strange and they were very good.
dk: Thanks for stopping by.
colette: Yikes, now that's a world upside down ; )
nad: Thanks for stopping by.
e: Thanks and there are so many outside the box, you'd never know it in any of the media, since everything is sold to the masses, no matter what it is.
tom: It's still amazing to see hardly anything on the outskirts of San Francisco.
betsy: Thanks for stopping by.
dh: I can't imagine. Thanks for stopping by.
sl: Thanks for stopping by and taking a listen.
david g: Yep, something we've all found out. I've always wondered why, being an independent thinker, scares people so much. You're too kind. Hope you are doing well ; )
C.M., so true; and we tend to stay that way( well, more or less )...
just so you know, I always look for your comments. I was initially drawn to your blog by the clever decoupage. I then listened to your musical choices, very broad. I then paid attention to the way you express yourself. Very unique. I was disappointed when you were going to stop blogging. I'm glad you've continued.
Hi there, great blog you have there. Can I do a link exchange with you? My site is about coffee makers, so we can help each other out.
Anchor: best electric coffee makers
url: http://www.bestelectriccoffeemakers.com
Email your anchor info to: webmaster@bestelectriccoffeemakers.com
Thanks so much!!
Chad
Little Boxes - i'd forgotten all about that one!
thanks for the glimpses
Who knows all the reasons why we are,
and how we turn out the way we do...
This is a large part of my journey right now and really hit home... I love to find out why other people are the way they are...
Ah The Great Alan Watts. He Started A Lot Of Beginnings!
Was The Song True To The Specific Place? (it always seemed so universal).
Have A Fine Sunday Sir.
subT: Oh yeah........
cg: You're too kind, Thanks! ; )
jellyfish: Thanks for stopping by. Yes, sometimes it's that one interaction, or turn on the street or road that changes the whole outcome of our lives.
tony: Yes, little boxes on the hillside made out of ticky tacky and they all look just the same was really, and truly about Daly City, Ca ; )
Lovely post.Full of truth, and glimpses of the beyond.
d: Thanks for stopping by!
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