Nostalgia: Are You Crazy?!

Apparently nostalgia wasn't always a pleasant stroll down Memory Lane. I was disappointed to read a well-written article in The Atlantic by Julie Beckaug. Disappointed, and a bit disheartened because I really enjoy some quality nostalgizing now and then (not to mention making up my own words).

Turns out there was a time when nostalgia was a disease, brought on by any number of causes including: "A too lenient education, coming from the mountains, unfulfilled ambition, masturbation, eating unusual food, and happy love."

Julie points out in her article that this "disease" first became problematic in the good old USA following the Civil War: "American military doctor Theodore Calhoun thought nostalgia was something to be ashamed of, that those who suffered from it were unmanly, idle and weak-willed. He proposed curing it with a healthy dose of public ridicule and bullying. Maybe this is why most people don't feel nostalgic about middle school."

Maybe I'm in denial about my own nostalgiaism; after all, while I am not from the mountains, I do occasionally eat unusual food and I do enjoy "happy love." But, I want to believe that remembering good times is a good thing.

I once heard a doctor make what I thought was a beautiful point. He said that if someone cuts off, let's say a finger, it is called dismembered, medically speaking. He said that if the finger is reattached it is not necessarily called re-membered but it should be.

That's what remembering can do for us. When we gather at the Thanksgiving table and tell and hear old stories of the family craziness it is like we are being re-membered with all the stuff that makes family; well, family.

You can read Julie's article here: When Nostalgia Was A Disease

Read it. Then be glad we figured out that nostalgia isn't a psychopathological disorder. Then take a few minutes to remember the good times. And if I could make a suggestion, listen to The Beatles "In My Life" while you're re-membering. Then feel free to share a fond memory or two in the comments here.

Quotable...Ellie (from UP!)

“Adventure is out there!”

— Ellie

Ellie and Carl

There's That Song Again

Is there an "adventure" gene in guys? If there is, maybe its powers run inverse to T-Levels. Why else would old guys pursue things like Harleys®, Vespas®, boats, RVs and/or Trophy-Wives? Could it be that there are sirens out there luring us with their song?

The Siren, oil on canvas, Leeds Art Gallery

[I wish I could remember which humor-blessed person commented on a guy's not-so-lovely Trophy Wife, "She obviously wasn't the First Place Trophy."]

My Amazing-Missus has lovingly tolerated my adventure seeking for many years and several pursuits: Huge career change, Moving our young family to a tiny, wonderful community in western Oklahoma, a sailboat, a Vespa (as long as I wear my helmet and florescent green vest), and now--drum roll--an Airstream® travel trailer.

It's not actually the old geezer RV life that is appealing to me, in fact that's a stereotype I want to avoid completely. You know the image: old guys in the black support socks and those one-piece jump suit things, comparing the sizes of each others holding tanks, bragging of how many slide-outs their rig has.

I'm sorry if I may have offended some with my characterization, but hey, if the velcro-close SAS® fits, wear it. The fact is some of those guys are heroes of mine.

For me, it's answering the call of the open road in an iconic, classic, silvery piece of art. For now, it's simply in the exploring the possibilities stage: Googling, reading blogs, lusting after the life of the adventurous "full-timers." Yes, there are people who have sold all and are living full time in an Airstream travel trailer.

When I first mentioned this to my Amazing-Missus, I'm surprised she didn't say, "Have you ever thought about looking for a trophy wife?" But no! We loaded in the car and made a six-hour road trip to walk through brand new, shiny, Airstreams!

Now I know why hardcore Airstreamers refer to "SOBs." They speak of their beloved icons and then the class of all other RVs as "Some Other Brand." Airstreams rise to the level of having a mystique that extends way beyond the physical thing. And as happens with these types of phenomena, followers take on a cult-like persona. Pass me the Kool-Aid®.

In my Airstream fantasy, our quest starts sooner rather than later, after all, I'm not getting any younger. I quickly learned, however, that my dream-stream exceeds the cash-on-hand. And I don't like the idea of going in to debt for expensive toys; OR, is this an investment in the journey of a lifetime. Let the justification begin.

Stay tuned for more… In the meantime, What does your current mad adventure look like?

Halo Amok

HOT SHOTS AND KNOW IT ALLS

Last night we heard and watched Wayne White at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art.  Wayne is an artist. Which always seems to bring up the question--who gets to say who's an artist and who isn't? With Wayne that question would come to the mind of any skeptic who sees his work. But don't judge too quickly. Sometimes you just have to spend time with the artist and their work. You may have spent time with Wayne's work and not even known it. Maybe your kids watched "Pee Wee's Playhouse." Wayne was a set designer, puppeteer, and creative. But, as I said, don't judge too quickly.

By the way, Wayne is one of us (Baby Boomers)--born in 1957.

If you're not familiar with Wayne, start with the film "Beauty Is Embarrassing." It's available on Netflix® and when you decide to add it to your library you can purchase it at Amazon®. (see below)

Interesting note for us Okies: The film is the brainchild of Neil Berkeley from Moore, Oklahoma and Oklahoma City University.

Oh... the title of this post, "Halo Amok?" That's the title of Wayne's amazing exhibit open now through October 6, 2012 at the OKCMOA.