city mouse, country mouse.

[plasticity]

I told my urban design friends this evening that I want them to come out with me tomorrow for a bluegrass night at a Central Square bar. After trying to explain "bluegrass" to my friends from India, Greece, China, and Italy ("Like 'O Brother Where Art Thou,' a bit," was my best effort, but when I actually brought out hard-core banjo picking, they

Comments

[cbackson]

Have you read And All Shall Be Well, And All Shall Be Well, And All Manner of Things Shall Be Well? It's a super-interesting novel about, erm, for lack of a better explanation, a medieval reenactor's struggle to deal with the reality of the modern world. It explores the retreat into anachronism as both a way of hiding and as a source of grace - I think you'd really like it.

I realized that makes it sound really dry and boring, so I'll add that it's also a great novel.

[plasticity]

sadly, the number of novels I get to read has diminished drastically in my so-called "adult" life, so no, I haven't! But I'd love to - you seem to have reliably good taste in literature, and I shall put this one on the list. For, y'know, sometime not-in-grad-school....

[thumbergia2001]

"to bring rural and urban lives in closer dialogue with each other"
I have to admit that this brought about one of those knee-jerk, "Nooo!" reactions upon first reading it. But then I was reminded of how I drove through downtown Reading a few weeks ago and contemplated how lovely the surrounding hills in their vibrant fall colors, and the row homes bursting at their seams with the character suburbia lacks, and the diversity of people who honestly and truly call this city Home are. It's taken 28 years, but I think I can honestly say that I love my city. Part of that is loving what it once was more than what it's become, but I still feel like this is a huge step for me. My desire to mostly hide from it way out in the country with the cows hasn't changed, though :)

[plasticity]

no no! I don't mean I want to make either cities or countryside more like each other!! I think both are so great as distinct pieces of a whole. I just wish there were more discussion and understanding of that whole - that countryfolk didn't write off cityfolk as useless and vice versa. I just think there's this idea that you're one or the other and people like me have a harder time navigating the divide.

I'm glad you see some beauty in the city, even though I know you will never, ever, ever live there - and that's okay!

[thumbergia2001]

I was thinking about this more as I stared into the darkness, unable to sleep this morning. I think who you are is the perfect reflection of the dichotomy of Berks County. Part of its residents are only a commute away from Philadelphia and the culture of city life. Another part lives far removed from that society, working themselves weary as they cling to the traditions of their farming ancestors. And the remaining population finds itself to be a strange combination of the two. For some of that latter combination, it all mixes together into a suburban life that makes them quite content. And for others, like yourself, suburbia will never be an option, leaving the dichotomy in place for a lifelong struggle. There. You've received my deep thoughts for the month :)

[plasticity]

aww, this is nice! Whenever people ask, "Pennsylvania or Pennsyltucky?", i.e., are you from the Philly area or the bumpkin area in between it and Pittsburgh?, I always answer that I'm on the border between the two worlds. And I think that's true metaphorically as well! And yes, I do sometimes feel like I'm struggling to reconcile the parts of me, but I also want to find a way to feel whole and happy and like the parts of me are all complementary rather than in conflict. I think this may be my life's mission, anyway....