Four hundred years ago! Who would have thought back then, there would be many similarities to life now? Only a dedicated, knowledgeable, ambitious and very good writer could wind this web. It’s so good. I do not have a writer’s mind, but I like to think about how the idea about writing this, came to you. Was it the connection to John Donne’s age? Covid? For Whom the Bell Tolls? (Which I have not read, but might now!). Or, coming upon the word tintinnabulation…Hmmm. What can I write about to incorporate this amazing word? The word I continue to hold near and dear is HOPE. LB and you as well as many many others are helping to expose the “agents of Satan”. I do believe Justice is coming. Thank you for continuing to be “involved in mankind”.
Another Sunday with more poetry lessons thank you Greg. Interesting that you shared your knowledge of history regarding man and his loneliness. Have you seen the movie Banshees of Inishrine? Colin Ferrell and Brendan Gleeson are the main characters, living on an island off the coast of Ireland. Just watched it this week and it is a thought provoking movie. I would be interested in reading your thoughts on it because it covers so much of humanity, loneliness ego and friendship.
As you say in the age of internet, how can we be an island? Yet, in this age, you can have thousands of followers and we wonder why so many of us, still feel so alone & lonely, unknown, & least of all, understood.
I think IMHO, that our greatest need is to be known, to live in intimacy with a " special" other (s). To not pass from the old mortal coil without knowing, feeling that at least one person on the planet " got" who we were. Grave stone inscriptions, wear away with time, the wind & the rain do their best. Most of us won't make it into Wikipedia. ;) What mark, what recording of who we were, while traversing the earthly plain, will be left behind, unless it is left in the hearts & minds of those that knew & loved us best while we were here.
How alone, how lonely Donne must have felt; ill for so long; with only his words to give him comfort. Important, deep & meaningful words that have lived on throughout history.... But still....
I wondered why I was so crotchety lately and then with a simple revelation, I realized I was several endcaps away from reliable stability. I never realized that hardware stores are the new saviors. Armed with my first cup of coffee, I shuffled outside to greet at least another day. To my amazement, to the southwest there was a rainbow, arching high but only half revealed in rapidly moving cloud front. Still, some beauty is better than none, some wonder begets more.
Jan 29, 2023·edited Jan 29, 2023Liked by Greg Olear
Tolling bells have been part of my life since I was an altar boy at 12 years old. The church, even then (1970), had an electronic bell system consisting of a big, dark gray unit as big as a refrigerator. It was, of course, completely mechanical, so the "display" was six bell tokens that swung back and forth depending on what was being played. I assume each bell was a different note, or maybe it was just a representation of the system working. The tolling bell was on the far left. The entire thing fascinated me, and the tolling bell always comforted me. It was SO predictable in its timing, and as an altar boy in a Catholic church, you knew what it meant. It not only meant that you got out of class for an hour to serve a morning funeral, but that this was the last visit the deceased parishioner would make to their church. I know what the bell is supposed to mean, but for me, it has always brought a sense of comfort to hear it.
For any of us that have worked in retail, Mike H's line about endcaps is very funny. I think I'm probably an endcap -- something usually unrelated to the things around it, yet SCREAMING, "Look at me!" It's a great metaphor!
Jan 29, 2023·edited Jan 29, 2023Liked by Greg Olear
I see “John Donne” and my teenage brain immediately thinks, “Oh, Gawd, a slog, but I guess I’ll read it anyway.” Thankfully, I did. Donne’s fevered insights, broken down by your witty explanations, allow us to see that he is among the few who have accessed the universal truths that elude most of humankind (Lookin’ at you, Paul Simon.) Thank you for opening my mind to John Donne. It’s been awhile.
When thinking about this business of being involved in life and yet alone, I am reminded of the lovely "advice" Kahlil Gibran offered to those entering into marriage (which I won't copy here...it's too long) - my favorite being this: "Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music."
“Personally, I don’t hold with the God-brought-the-plague-to-punish-the-sinners narrative—although I must confess that when Trump got covid, the thought did cross my mind.”
A 21st Century John Donne would probably say the devil interceded to get Trump on the Regeneron cocktail of monoclonal antibodies, so humankind would continue dealing with him as a sulfurous proxy.
What a wonderful way to start today— a cup of Java Blue, a history lesson, incredible references with perspectives to connect with our world… Bravo!
Four hundred years ago! Who would have thought back then, there would be many similarities to life now? Only a dedicated, knowledgeable, ambitious and very good writer could wind this web. It’s so good. I do not have a writer’s mind, but I like to think about how the idea about writing this, came to you. Was it the connection to John Donne’s age? Covid? For Whom the Bell Tolls? (Which I have not read, but might now!). Or, coming upon the word tintinnabulation…Hmmm. What can I write about to incorporate this amazing word? The word I continue to hold near and dear is HOPE. LB and you as well as many many others are helping to expose the “agents of Satan”. I do believe Justice is coming. Thank you for continuing to be “involved in mankind”.
Gosh, that was good… in so many ways. Thank you.
(And it’s still kinda funny and you’ve still got a great sense of humor.)
Another Sunday with more poetry lessons thank you Greg. Interesting that you shared your knowledge of history regarding man and his loneliness. Have you seen the movie Banshees of Inishrine? Colin Ferrell and Brendan Gleeson are the main characters, living on an island off the coast of Ireland. Just watched it this week and it is a thought provoking movie. I would be interested in reading your thoughts on it because it covers so much of humanity, loneliness ego and friendship.
The 5/8 was great as always! Have a great week.
Well said, as always Mr. Olear. :)
As you say in the age of internet, how can we be an island? Yet, in this age, you can have thousands of followers and we wonder why so many of us, still feel so alone & lonely, unknown, & least of all, understood.
I think IMHO, that our greatest need is to be known, to live in intimacy with a " special" other (s). To not pass from the old mortal coil without knowing, feeling that at least one person on the planet " got" who we were. Grave stone inscriptions, wear away with time, the wind & the rain do their best. Most of us won't make it into Wikipedia. ;) What mark, what recording of who we were, while traversing the earthly plain, will be left behind, unless it is left in the hearts & minds of those that knew & loved us best while we were here.
How alone, how lonely Donne must have felt; ill for so long; with only his words to give him comfort. Important, deep & meaningful words that have lived on throughout history.... But still....
I wondered why I was so crotchety lately and then with a simple revelation, I realized I was several endcaps away from reliable stability. I never realized that hardware stores are the new saviors. Armed with my first cup of coffee, I shuffled outside to greet at least another day. To my amazement, to the southwest there was a rainbow, arching high but only half revealed in rapidly moving cloud front. Still, some beauty is better than none, some wonder begets more.
Thanks for this, Greg. Sharing.
The bells toll loudly, almost clanging in today's Dogtowns.
Love this, Greg. Thanks for all the connections!
Love
Tolling bells have been part of my life since I was an altar boy at 12 years old. The church, even then (1970), had an electronic bell system consisting of a big, dark gray unit as big as a refrigerator. It was, of course, completely mechanical, so the "display" was six bell tokens that swung back and forth depending on what was being played. I assume each bell was a different note, or maybe it was just a representation of the system working. The tolling bell was on the far left. The entire thing fascinated me, and the tolling bell always comforted me. It was SO predictable in its timing, and as an altar boy in a Catholic church, you knew what it meant. It not only meant that you got out of class for an hour to serve a morning funeral, but that this was the last visit the deceased parishioner would make to their church. I know what the bell is supposed to mean, but for me, it has always brought a sense of comfort to hear it.
For any of us that have worked in retail, Mike H's line about endcaps is very funny. I think I'm probably an endcap -- something usually unrelated to the things around it, yet SCREAMING, "Look at me!" It's a great metaphor!
I see “John Donne” and my teenage brain immediately thinks, “Oh, Gawd, a slog, but I guess I’ll read it anyway.” Thankfully, I did. Donne’s fevered insights, broken down by your witty explanations, allow us to see that he is among the few who have accessed the universal truths that elude most of humankind (Lookin’ at you, Paul Simon.) Thank you for opening my mind to John Donne. It’s been awhile.
Dictatorial GOP Endcaps
Desantis and Trump
What beautiful words you have written, Mr Olear! I love your choice of words. So, so glad I found you.
When thinking about this business of being involved in life and yet alone, I am reminded of the lovely "advice" Kahlil Gibran offered to those entering into marriage (which I won't copy here...it's too long) - my favorite being this: "Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music."
“Personally, I don’t hold with the God-brought-the-plague-to-punish-the-sinners narrative—although I must confess that when Trump got covid, the thought did cross my mind.”
A 21st Century John Donne would probably say the devil interceded to get Trump on the Regeneron cocktail of monoclonal antibodies, so humankind would continue dealing with him as a sulfurous proxy.