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doodle by andre: we’re outta there

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.

  1. andre says:

    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!)

  2. margaret says:

    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.)

  3. Brian G. says:

    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

  4. wendy says:

    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?

  5. margaret says:

    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.

  6. Andrew says:

    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?)

    1. margaret says:

      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.

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