Really enjoyed this. Brought back some memories of when I walked away from a past life, and another, in search of? I do not know. But I found myself here reading your essay. Who? Knew?
I also read in your words some of Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey. The journey where we shed our psychological dependency on old ideas and find new ones. 💪🏻
A major concern of mine, and I can see how it would be for you. Thanks for the link following. I vividly recall watching The Power of Myth when it was first aired.and own the book made of it. I later learned that Campbell had a serious "Pound problem" and that there was severe criticism of his scholarship. Little in life is simple or easy,
True. Many people who are brave enough to speak their wisdom and are regarded as visionary are often well-treated by history. As I’ve often heard said, including by Campbell, none of this is new. It’s just recycled through another’s presentation of it.
"The whole truth is that I leave all my lives behind, one imposter after another slipping away, a disappearing self, working my way, I keep thinking, to the real me." This sentence feels like the core of this beautiful essay, to me. We catch sight of you then you slip away from view and re-emerge in a different guise. The whole piece is a slow half-reveal of a transforming self (or sense of self). I found it really engaging. And I don't why, maybe it's the 1970s South America/Caribbean thing, but I felt an air of a Graham Greene story in this. Anyway, I loved it.
Thanks for being such an appreciative and sharp reader, Jeffrey. I'm an admirer of Greene, too, so certainly like that association. :) You see, BTW, that you and my brother share a name, though he, called both Jeff and Jeffrey, was decidedly a boisterous and irreverent Jeff.
Bravo, Jay. I enjoyed both the content and the artistry of this piece of memoir.
Thanks so much, David. I appreciate your reading and commenting.
So, extraordinary -- as are you. (Restacked)
Touched and honored, Mary. Thank you.
Really enjoyed this. Brought back some memories of when I walked away from a past life, and another, in search of? I do not know. But I found myself here reading your essay. Who? Knew?
Another past Pretender weighing in.
Fist bump, Dee. Good to meet up.
I also read in your words some of Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey. The journey where we shed our psychological dependency on old ideas and find new ones. 💪🏻
A major concern of mine, and I can see how it would be for you. Thanks for the link following. I vividly recall watching The Power of Myth when it was first aired.and own the book made of it. I later learned that Campbell had a serious "Pound problem" and that there was severe criticism of his scholarship. Little in life is simple or easy,
True. Many people who are brave enough to speak their wisdom and are regarded as visionary are often well-treated by history. As I’ve often heard said, including by Campbell, none of this is new. It’s just recycled through another’s presentation of it.
I meant to say “aren’t” treated well by history. Fucking auto-correct 🙄
I figured that. :)
https://www.google.com/search?q=joseph+campbell+and+bill+moyers&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:7966bd87,vid:pE8ciMkayVM,st:0
"The whole truth is that I leave all my lives behind, one imposter after another slipping away, a disappearing self, working my way, I keep thinking, to the real me." This sentence feels like the core of this beautiful essay, to me. We catch sight of you then you slip away from view and re-emerge in a different guise. The whole piece is a slow half-reveal of a transforming self (or sense of self). I found it really engaging. And I don't why, maybe it's the 1970s South America/Caribbean thing, but I felt an air of a Graham Greene story in this. Anyway, I loved it.
Thanks for being such an appreciative and sharp reader, Jeffrey. I'm an admirer of Greene, too, so certainly like that association. :) You see, BTW, that you and my brother share a name, though he, called both Jeff and Jeffrey, was decidedly a boisterous and irreverent Jeff.
Another Greene fan! he doesn't seem to get a lot of air time these days, does he?
And your Jeff certainly sounds different from me 🙂
No, he doesn't. One could speculate how maybe he doesn't fit the current cultural moment. The catholicism, perhaps.