Think about this list: Rte. 66, Pacific Coast Hwy 101, California Rte. 1,
Blue Ridge Pkwy., Green River Pkwy
These are historic roads along beautiful sights. We have traveled along 101 and 1 here in California. They curve along the Pacific Coast. Indescribable.
We drove on 66 briefly, since it is now in short stretches and bits. Ate at Road Kill Cafe, Rte. 66, Seligman, AZ. Great French fries. Blue Ridge and Green River Pkwys are beautiful beyond description, as the YouTube videos show. God is amazing. So, what is this post all about? What Hwy didn't make the cut? Hwy 61, of course. By Bob Dylan. How to describe this song is way beyond me. There are five stanzas. Each one describes some sort of problem resolved on Hwy 61. Or, maybe it isn't about anything, because Dylan's style is a swirl of images and rhythms? Or, maybe Dylan was just playing with words, all pouring out from his crazy great brain? Hwy 61 travels from Minnesota (or beyond into Canada) in a winding way to New Orleans. The heart of blues strolled along the Mississippi South to North, stopping off to share the music's beauty and rhythm. So, here is Bob Dylan:
Journals have always held my thoughts and observations. My church journal was one in which I outlined the sermon for that day. This is how my brain works. Writing holds words in place. I was sorting through my pile of journals and came across one from twenty years ago, when life seemed much simpler, in line with my-then organized life. The following was from those golden times. Did you know that the earth is only 50,000 years old? Some religious people settled down to log lifespans in 24 hour segments and came out with 50,000 years. Also, when God created the sun and moon, He put it down in 24 hours time bits. Dinosaurs? They were the remains of an earlier version of the world, before God re-created it. Plus, dinosaurs were really part of satan's plan to mess with the whole creation thing. Did you know that extraterrestrials are really demons? All those lights and such are ways to deceive us. Wow. Did you know that hypnotism opens one's soul to be taken over by demons' takeover? Did you know ghosts are really just demons? They are not real. Just evil. Did you know that horoscopes are a way to divert the faithful. Psychics are also evil and deceptive, and they have demons as part of their family line. These thoughts are from sermons presented by a man whom I truly respect, an intelligent man. But, even way back then, as I wrote all above, I also wrote: "Really? I mean, really?" To believe sincerely requires one to understand. Facts and faith go together.
P.S. God does not wear a wrist watch. He does not need to log time the way we do. He has control over time.
Growing up on a farm, I enjoyed the years of living just outside my hometown of 427 people. Most of the residents, their ancestors, and their descendants had lived in this area since 1820s.
When my own small family moved to Ireland in 1985, our adventures took us through small villages with their own populations, much like those of my hometown, only theirs dated back to 15th century, or further.
These villages and my own hometown had many similarities, including a church, store, farmers market, and pub (no pub at my old town).
Another striking similarity was the presence of locals who were referred to asthe “village idiots”. My parents explained this was not an insult, but was the only way to describe this part of the population. Their role in rural societies was seen in a variety of ways. Some were viewed with disdain, some with kindness, and some even with help in their lives. Whatever and however, the community accepted their own roles in the flow of the residents. Farmer, shopkeeper, housewife, teacher....and "village idiot" were all part of the population. I have to admit that I could see this and how it worked. While it deeply offended me to see a section of our society earmarked in this way, there was no breaking the chain.
After watching this episode of “Monty Python”, I was impressed by their explanations.
Thinking back to people I observed in my old town, every resident had a place in the flow of the community. I am not sure where I stood in that flow, but then, I moved away long ago.
P. S. I love Monty Python episodes, their unique sense of humor, and satire of the English society. I found this video, and decided to write around it. "Oliver Cromwell" song is very entertaining as is "Flying Sheep." The list is long and their humor unique. They are not for everyone.
