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A big part of crossing into my 30s – that I now understand to be a youthful phase of its own – was intellectualizing the experience and wisdom of my parents’ generation. A few pages with Diane in this story seek to explore that: the “kids” are barely becoming aware of things that bridge the gap between parent and child, things that Diane herself is long over. Eve’s medical scare has given her a glimpse past the veil into the unknown, and aging is beginning to seem more like a virtue and a victory. She searches for a projection of her own life 20-30 years into the future. But Diane is only mirroring her concern, offering only the promise of more medical discomfort. The woman twice her age is right in front of her, clear as day yet unknowable. |
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congrats to eatth
ggwp
I seem to have done this in reverse. Throughout my teens and 20s and even early 30s, I was so committed to seeking and acknowledging the wisdom that the older people in my life had to offer. Cultivating humility.
But what has finally emerged for me is how little wisdom they have. How long ago they stopped growing and changing as people.
There's something safe in assuming that the 'real adults' know more than you do and you should defer to them. Or so I theorize as I try to parse what the flaw was in the bid for maturity that I made by choosing not to rebel.
It feels brash and reckless and . . .unvirtuous, or maybe like hubris, to step out and say, "No, I'm right about this and I'm not going to doubt myself anymore." But I'm come to the point where that's the clear and obvious step.
Maybe it's just that I skipped a step. Maybe if I'd rebelled then I'd get to have the reconciliation now.
Then again, maybe I just overestimated the merit in the adults in my family, as my parents (and siblings) and all vocal aunts and uncles all voted for Trump, so maybe my experience is . . . more of this particular cultural moment than the classic Twain quote I tried so hard not to emulate:
“When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.”
Eve I love you but your French is terrible.
It's nice to see Hanna and Will still hang out together one on one even after Eve's arrival. It shows a general comfort between the three.
Manuel always loving on Will. I can't remember if Park and Manuel ever had a moment.
Indeed, at 20 or 30 I would not have recognized myself at 50 or 60, even meeting face to face with explanations. Yet nothing would be changed but which facets came into the light. Sometimes I would like to return to the past for a brief visit and wise myself up, but the game isn't played that way.
New year meets old year
on a dark and stormy night —
both — Ah! Ah! — cry out.
Earth vs the Flying Saucers or Earth vs the Spider? One of those movies is much better than the other.
Hey ya'll, looking for the comic where Eve wakes up and fails to get her hookup's name, where is that one?
beginning of the camping chapter
http://www.octopuspie.com/2013-09-09/619-camping/
there isn't a moment more relatable than having a conversation with an adult about a big topic and realizing that topic hasn't been big to them in decades; we see eve in a similar spot with her mom next arc and i cannot wait.