BESIDES OUR SOMEWHAT OFFKILTER HUMOR, Andre Jordan and I have another thing in common: We not so long ago each headed for the hills. (Wait, are there even hills in Nebraska?)
Yes, we bolted…Andre across a large body of water known as the Atlantic, then across half the nation to Nebraska, me northward across the Spuyten Duyvil and over 115 miles or so more of New York State.
Whether it was a whiff of something or a flash of (in)sanity, who knows? We are delighted to report from our separate corners of (semi)reality that all is very well, thank you. Since this week’s the first-year anniversary of my new life, this duet of doodles by Andre seemed just right. Enjoy. 
doodle (and slideshow) by andre: old friends 
doodle by andre: anyone got dibber envy? 
doodle by andre: tucked in with the kids 
So glad to have you both in different parts of the country. No, not crazy at all.
I can only speak for myself, but this year, crossing the Atlantic, I found my place in this world.
(though I never would have thought in a million years it would be Nebraska!)
I think of us as a parallel construction based on two books that my mother read to me in childhood: You are “Little House on the Prairie,” Andre, and I am “Little House in the Big Woods.” (Doubt your Mum read those to you, your being a boy and English and all. Laura Ingalls Wilder.)
ha! how scandalous!
wanders off muttering to himself *but I want to be The Little Prince*
Funny you should mention Spuyten Duyvil. I was recently researching the name and place because I pass it to a fro on the train and always found the name intriguing. We have so many great Dutch place names in New York as well as Dutch words in our vocabulary (‘stoop’ for steps, ‘kill’ for creek, etc.)
This is a link to a very informative article about the Spuyten Duyvil creek, the early Dutch settlers and the even earlier native Americans who originally inhabited the place. Enjoy!
http://www.washington-heights.us/history/archives/spuyten_duyvil_creek_23.html
Nebraska!
This summer, I drove from Chicago via rte. 80 to Kearney, NE on my way to Salina, KS (The Land Institute).
Along the way, I fell in love with NE. It has challenged my plans to resettle in ME, and I’m sorry I didn’t take the time to drive through the sand hills to Chadron and pay my regards to Mari Sandoz.
I wonder where you’ve settled, and how you like it?
Welcome, Wendy. We will have to get the geographic details from HRH directly, but meantime just wanted to say I am glad you have come to visit and hope we will see you again before long.
It all reminds me of side B of Joni Mitchell’s eponymous first album, which traces the arc of a life’s journey to and then from the city. The title of side B is “Out of the City and Down to the Seaside.” A verse from one of the songs:
Sisotowbell Lane
Go to the city
You’ll come back again
To wade through the grain
You always do
Yes, we always do
Come back to the stars
Sweet well water
And pickling jars
We’ll lend you the car
We always do
Yes, sometimes we do
Are music, gardens, pickling and frogboys all connected? I think so. (That was very woo-woo of me, wasn’t it?)
LOL!! thats about right (smelly cities)
Welcome, CK. As ever, Andre is spot-on. Thanks for joining us; come back soon.
I am from Nebraska and I love the midwest! I also love this website, and now andre’s website too. Keep it up!
Callie
Welcome, Callie. You obviously have spectacular, spot-on taste in all matters. :) Andre and I are flattered that you are starting 2009 with us, and hope you’ll be back soon.