A Philosopher’s Adventure #19

Episode #19 - The Familiarity of the Family We Keep

Family and Refreshment

The episode starts with a bike trip where we meet Martijn’s younger brother. Martijn’s family visits him from time to time, and in this episode, family makes up one of the themes: the familiarity of family. We don’t hear the two brothers talking much. We see them on bikes most often. What stands out to me is the way they are around each other. There is a familiarity to the way they move and exist within a shared space.

In my life, the people I want to spend the most time with are those I can just be around. I don’t have to put on a show. The routines and expectations in those relationships are known by all, and everyone does what they need to do to make the shared space comfortable. In this episode, this happens to be a blood relative, but that doesn’t always have to be the case. Long-time friends made either in school or through the family of friends we make along the roads of life. We see it on screen, and it looks so easy to live in that way.

These relationships are important because they anchor us in the life we build for ourselves, even if we don’t have blood relatives nearby. Family can be what you make it, and being mindful of how you build a family around you can lead to these easy and supportive relationships.

The second theme I took from this episode was the declaration of a familiar space as a great place to be. Martijn gets home from being away for a week and describes the beauty of change around him. The connection of the area as he sees it in this episode is compared to what he fell in love with when he first saw the property. This is a common theme early in the story, but this is the first time we see nature in its full glory on the mountain. What is it about the spaces we create for ourselves that we love, and how do we keep that love of our space going? Relationships with people are important and need work. Relationships with ourselves and the space we occupy also deserve time and effort. Martijn has the advantage of a changing background. We can change the art, a desktop or phone wallpaper, or rearrange the furniture.

The Moments

Moments in this episode where I found some joy started with the bike ride when we saw Martijn going up a very steep hill. Did you notice where the camera was located? He had to go back to get it! Does he ride or walk back to get it? When I watch this story, I am always thinking about the camera and the effort that goes into getting these shots as a one-man, one-camera operation.

It was not a joyful moment but a thoughtful one during the biking trip. Martijn took us into a World War II bunker, and we saw the view looking over the French-Italian border. This is what the soldiers would have seen. It’s powerful to think about the beauty of the landscape before those soldiers and the war machine that might have been coming their way. From a human perspective, it makes me sad we can put one another in such a position. Maybe Martijn’s story is part of the healing process we must go through as a species. 80+ years ago, soldiers would have looked through this concrete frame to see a beautiful landscape with weapons in their hands. Today, we are looking at the same concrete frame with a camera. We are connecting with the same view with the prospect of hope in our minds rather than surviving a global conflict.

Humanity has a lot of healing to do. Stories like this are part of the healing process.

I enjoyed the explanation about Martijn using a tent rather than the “inner cabin” as originally planned. Self-awareness is on display when Martijn recognizes that he is gaining some recognition among the local papers and across the internet. He needs to set a good example. When he spoke with some locals, they alluded to just doing what he planned to do. He lives so remotely, and his structure would be temporary, just do what he planned to do. In general, agree with the sentiment, but to witness a person who does not take advantage of the rules is refreshing. My general news consumption suggests a lot of people from all walks of life are taking advantage of situations. To see someone not take advantage makes me believe we are capable of better things.

To be clear, I think humans have a knack for making things more difficult than they need to be. In this case, why can’t you build what you want on the property? When you go to sell it, you must show that the structure is permitted. That structure cannot be part of the sale if it isn't. I understand the need to keep people safe, including the owner. We don’t want buildings to collapse because they don’t meet earthquake specifications. The problem is that situations like this create dead ends, and that creates anger with the system. Lack of flexibility undermines good intentions.

Anyway, I’m not here to get into a permitting discussion. These things are messy and have strange motivations going in all directions. In other news….

Remember the rock pile that was moved several episodes ago, one rock at a time?

Well, it’s now a seeded patch of grass. A little persistent effort can make a huge difference.

Outro

I will leave you with a gift and a garden update. Plants have been planted, protective wire is up and more gifts of seeds have arrived. Martijn is very good at doing just enough to make things functional and letting them work until they need to be upgraded. He gets wire around the garden and says that it needs to be done better, then declares that he is calling it a day. The idea that we don’t have to make the thing perfect for the thing to exist is wonderful. We talk about persistent effort a lot here, and a little progress is better than no progress. Calling your project “good for now” so that you can rest is a good lesson to take into your everyday life.

What didn’t go into the garden was the extensive seed package Martijn received. A wonderful gift for another season. This is another example of the connection people are looking for to a story that brings a hopeful perspective. That’s not to say the sender is looking to be directly connected to Martijn’s story. Sending seeds in the mail or sharing personal observations of the story is part of the collective push we give to little hope as it sits on the swing. Together, we can keep that ride on the swing going in perpetuity. We connect in our own way, and we strive together.

Thanks for reading, see you next time.

CHR;)