I've only written a fan letter to one other published writer. It's a scary task because I know my words will be common and folksy. I'm an aging boomer and have been subscribed for a while now. Saturday morning enrichment has become something I look forward to thanks to your writing.
Your essays function on many levels and always send me to the web to look up the references. Careful re-reading always leads me in a newer directions. Your themes resonate my surface because I'm from Louisiana and have French roots. On deeper levels, the tension produced from overlapping layers of masculinity, cultural polarities, anthropology, psychology, and religion make me wish I'd read more as a younger man.
Struck me to the core, Daniel. And beautifully written, I have to say. Thank you for taking the time to write this and for reminding me why this matters. It is the only reason I bother to do all of this.
I was exclusively an Indian, and for three years when I was a boy we lived right next to a hundred acre wood where I would disappear all day long whenever possible.
That was in Falls Church, VA and it’s long since been bulldozed for expensive suburban houses.
There’s a lot of apparently good research indicating ADHD is quintessential hunter:warrior cognition
This rang really true to me, as well, Taylor: "The Indian delighted in the rhythm of that chaos and the terror it represented to the abstracted man . . . . I found that the kids you would probably now diagnose with ADHD tended more to be drawn to the woods itself, the adventure of being one with what causes fear in others. They would sprawl themselves into tall grass in pitch dark shadow of the sodium lamp opposite the house, popping out to tag you with a Nerf dart when you least expected it."
I find your writing and thinking extraordinary James. Especially because it usually focuses on the theme of transformation, what it might actually be and what it actually requires, which is outside the comfort and convenience of mainstream habit, domesticity, thinking, and capacity for sacrifice. An excellent way to start my day.
A wonderful essay—thank you. (And I'm a native Montanan, raised near the Blackfeet res, and now have a redoubt off the Crow res. Fascinating peoples and histories.) Continued success in your good writing, good Sir. Pax Christi
Great piece. I'd add that the search for truth and the honesty to acknowledge what's found, no matter how difficult to accept, is the only North Star we have. Otherwise, it's too easy to get lost by what feels good to our psyche's wild, deep seated, whispering needs. Your article is a good example of following that star.
My ex-Husband, who is serving a life sentence for being present at the time a murder was committed, and I have this conversation often. He has been in for almost 25 years now, and has seen both horrific violence and stunning genius around him. We often go into the “nature v nurture” thing, but lately we’ve been delving into a “what if…” on the nature of crime itself, the linguistics used in our criminal justice system, the very roots of human biology and how centuries or millennia have changed us.
I plan to send him your essay, as he has read many of the works referenced. I think it will provide us many hours of lively conversation. Plus, I am Native American and he is Mexican, both raised in the “backwoods” playing cowboys-n-Indians constantly as kids…so you know this will be right up our alley! LOL
I like your connection between frailty and a certain kind of genius. Everyone wants to write like Flannery O'Connor but nobody wants to be ravaged by lupus and die at 39.
James,
I've only written a fan letter to one other published writer. It's a scary task because I know my words will be common and folksy. I'm an aging boomer and have been subscribed for a while now. Saturday morning enrichment has become something I look forward to thanks to your writing.
Your essays function on many levels and always send me to the web to look up the references. Careful re-reading always leads me in a newer directions. Your themes resonate my surface because I'm from Louisiana and have French roots. On deeper levels, the tension produced from overlapping layers of masculinity, cultural polarities, anthropology, psychology, and religion make me wish I'd read more as a younger man.
See you next week,
Daniel
Struck me to the core, Daniel. And beautifully written, I have to say. Thank you for taking the time to write this and for reminding me why this matters. It is the only reason I bother to do all of this.
I was exclusively an Indian, and for three years when I was a boy we lived right next to a hundred acre wood where I would disappear all day long whenever possible.
That was in Falls Church, VA and it’s long since been bulldozed for expensive suburban houses.
There’s a lot of apparently good research indicating ADHD is quintessential hunter:warrior cognition
Somehow not surprised to hear that, Chris. And happy I didn't just make up that ADHD observation. Felt true.
This rang really true to me, as well, Taylor: "The Indian delighted in the rhythm of that chaos and the terror it represented to the abstracted man . . . . I found that the kids you would probably now diagnose with ADHD tended more to be drawn to the woods itself, the adventure of being one with what causes fear in others. They would sprawl themselves into tall grass in pitch dark shadow of the sodium lamp opposite the house, popping out to tag you with a Nerf dart when you least expected it."
I find your writing and thinking extraordinary James. Especially because it usually focuses on the theme of transformation, what it might actually be and what it actually requires, which is outside the comfort and convenience of mainstream habit, domesticity, thinking, and capacity for sacrifice. An excellent way to start my day.
This one made my week, Rick.
A wonderful essay—thank you. (And I'm a native Montanan, raised near the Blackfeet res, and now have a redoubt off the Crow res. Fascinating peoples and histories.) Continued success in your good writing, good Sir. Pax Christi
Great article.
Napoleon Chagnon’s Noble Savages is a really excellent book which dives into Stone Age life. He lived with an Amazonian tribe for a good bit
Dude, that’s crazy that I’ve never come across this. Relieved it so neatly aligns with my observations and readings. Added to list, thanks.
Great piece. I'd add that the search for truth and the honesty to acknowledge what's found, no matter how difficult to accept, is the only North Star we have. Otherwise, it's too easy to get lost by what feels good to our psyche's wild, deep seated, whispering needs. Your article is a good example of following that star.
That's kind and extremely well said. I hope for this kind of comment (and not the mean kind) when I publish something like this.
My ex-Husband, who is serving a life sentence for being present at the time a murder was committed, and I have this conversation often. He has been in for almost 25 years now, and has seen both horrific violence and stunning genius around him. We often go into the “nature v nurture” thing, but lately we’ve been delving into a “what if…” on the nature of crime itself, the linguistics used in our criminal justice system, the very roots of human biology and how centuries or millennia have changed us.
I plan to send him your essay, as he has read many of the works referenced. I think it will provide us many hours of lively conversation. Plus, I am Native American and he is Mexican, both raised in the “backwoods” playing cowboys-n-Indians constantly as kids…so you know this will be right up our alley! LOL
Thank you.
Masterful again.
I like your connection between frailty and a certain kind of genius. Everyone wants to write like Flannery O'Connor but nobody wants to be ravaged by lupus and die at 39.