Quick comment mid-read: talking about the bombing range took me back to my Air Force days. My job had me building, prepping, testing, storing, and delivering the bombs, missiles, and other munitions to the aircraft (actually loading them onto the planes is its own job in the Air Force). So guys like me had a very direct hand to play in those bombs falling. Bolting those aluminum tail fins onto the main bomb body (after installing the fuses) was a main task in the assembly. Fortunately for the men who went out there for them, some of those "unexploded" bombs would've been "fake" ones: bombs filled not with high explosives but concrete used in training runs for the pilots to get used to flying with the weight distribution without the risk or expense involved with live munitions. But some no doubt were unexploded live munitions. A dangerous game going and getting those fins, but folks do what they need to get by. It's always a fascinating, humbling, and often saddening experience to hear from those on the other side, the bottom or receiving end of the empire I served.
Just recently happened upon this, seems apropos, "It is the protest in society, by the emotional part of it-the lovers of truth, beauty, grace, for their own sakes-against the orderly but somewhat stupid phalanx of labor, routine, and good sense. It is the cry of revolt from the powers of the air against the patient forces which are subduing and shaping the earth."....Thomas Gold Appleton
Insane is that I lived a near duplicate life but instead of oranges in California it was apples in south new Zealand, instead of coast gaurd it was working for the fire department.
Thing is we do have a place in this mad world. Every tribe needed it's insane shaman, every court needed it's hermits and jesters... They have just forgotten.
Coleman from A Convicts Perspective - I’ve just started reading his storytelling and yours … captivated … as well as feeling understood (not Coleman’s but yours.) My husband doesn’t have Substack but I’ll ask him to read this as I feel like I may understand him more after reading this, and I also feel guilty that I am in his way from exploring the world as he should… or perhaps not… perhaps I am his encouragement. I love this post. Will go back and read previous stacks (is that what we can them?) when I can as I’m a relatively new subscriber. All the best. Ally
.. wanted to get back to you.. saddled up and rode permanent stranger last night.. but today.. was reminded how outlandish wild your way of being & writing really is.. is it ‘editorial saddle up and ride folks ! storytelling’ ? I’m just trying to put a ‘name on it.. haha ‘categorize it.. or what eh. Point is a whole helluva whack of ‘aggrieved whining from the pulpits out there in attention seeking dizzyland.. and it takes some brass to hang your stuff out there - all out so freeform - & the exchanges to you downstream need more attention from me too.. ! Just wanted to let you know those like you have a ton of influence.. am finding more in your ‘category haha.. really challenging rodeo rides .. themselves riding the Media Rowdayyo where afoot or not.. hobie eh ?
.. wild ass ragin .. where lexicon runs free ..
with words & phrase as polar bears..
ranging through our streets..
🦎🏴☠️
Quick comment mid-read: talking about the bombing range took me back to my Air Force days. My job had me building, prepping, testing, storing, and delivering the bombs, missiles, and other munitions to the aircraft (actually loading them onto the planes is its own job in the Air Force). So guys like me had a very direct hand to play in those bombs falling. Bolting those aluminum tail fins onto the main bomb body (after installing the fuses) was a main task in the assembly. Fortunately for the men who went out there for them, some of those "unexploded" bombs would've been "fake" ones: bombs filled not with high explosives but concrete used in training runs for the pilots to get used to flying with the weight distribution without the risk or expense involved with live munitions. But some no doubt were unexploded live munitions. A dangerous game going and getting those fins, but folks do what they need to get by. It's always a fascinating, humbling, and often saddening experience to hear from those on the other side, the bottom or receiving end of the empire I served.
Just recently happened upon this, seems apropos, "It is the protest in society, by the emotional part of it-the lovers of truth, beauty, grace, for their own sakes-against the orderly but somewhat stupid phalanx of labor, routine, and good sense. It is the cry of revolt from the powers of the air against the patient forces which are subduing and shaping the earth."....Thomas Gold Appleton
Insane is that I lived a near duplicate life but instead of oranges in California it was apples in south new Zealand, instead of coast gaurd it was working for the fire department.
Thing is we do have a place in this mad world. Every tribe needed it's insane shaman, every court needed it's hermits and jesters... They have just forgotten.
But we won't let them forget.
Coleman from A Convicts Perspective - I’ve just started reading his storytelling and yours … captivated … as well as feeling understood (not Coleman’s but yours.) My husband doesn’t have Substack but I’ll ask him to read this as I feel like I may understand him more after reading this, and I also feel guilty that I am in his way from exploring the world as he should… or perhaps not… perhaps I am his encouragement. I love this post. Will go back and read previous stacks (is that what we can them?) when I can as I’m a relatively new subscriber. All the best. Ally
.. wanted to get back to you.. saddled up and rode permanent stranger last night.. but today.. was reminded how outlandish wild your way of being & writing really is.. is it ‘editorial saddle up and ride folks ! storytelling’ ? I’m just trying to put a ‘name on it.. haha ‘categorize it.. or what eh. Point is a whole helluva whack of ‘aggrieved whining from the pulpits out there in attention seeking dizzyland.. and it takes some brass to hang your stuff out there - all out so freeform - & the exchanges to you downstream need more attention from me too.. ! Just wanted to let you know those like you have a ton of influence.. am finding more in your ‘category haha.. really challenging rodeo rides .. themselves riding the Media Rowdayyo where afoot or not.. hobie eh ?
To see the world as it is, not as you wish it to be is a blessing.
Only in deserting into the deserted desert can you finally observe the ever-growing world we live in from the ever-shrinking outside.
I like the cut of your gib A.M. Hickman.