A Philosopher’s Adventure #25
Episode #25 - Bits and Bobs
This is an episode of bits and bobs with one theme that stood out. The kitchen that was on the wall of the larger cabin is being moved up the hillside, closer to the cabin Martijn now calls home. Part of me is sad to see the original kitchen expire, but that is part of this life. We use what we have to fit where we are in life, and in this case, the kitchen needs to move closer to where Martijn spends his living time.
The theme I took from this episode is Humility. Wind is the most disruptive weather event on the mountain. We’ve seen lots of rain and snow, and Martijn gets on with his day. When the wind picks up, there are check-ins on the buildings and solar panels. Martijn controls a lot on the mountain: emotions, workflow, time, etc. All of these appear to be well-paced and managed, but the weather clearly gives Martijn worrying thoughts. As he tells the story of being unable to sleep, I think about the humility one must have when facing nature. What are the forces in our lives that require some humility? To have a healthy understanding of the things that can cause big and immediate changes in our lives are things we must be humble about when facing them. Nature is the example in front of us in this episode. Johannes, on the other side of the mountain, is humble in front of his deity. In more tangible ways, our mental health or the speed at which we drive vehicles. These may be oddly specific examples, but quick references to things that, if shifted in a traumatic way, can alter the course of our lives.
A rare moment when Martijn is rebuilding the kitchen, and he laughs while trying to stabilize the roof section. It’s such a human moment, and if the novel written in the last post tells you anything, the humanity of this series is what I enjoy seeing the most. Another moment is when Martijn eats watermelon and talks about riding his bike across Iran. He shares a story about eating watermelon with people he met on the road. A shared language was not part of their interaction, but sharing a meal was. People just want to live and, when it comes, experience life alongside others. Something in the DNA of humanity prevents that from being a universal trait. An unfortunate trait that will forever be part of our DNA but doesn’t have to be the dominant trait it feels like it is, as demonstrated by the sharing of watermelon.
Martijn’s parents arrive, and in a shock to none of us, they bring the same chill vibe that their son carries around all the time. Martijn’s dad sings in the background, adding a lovely base tune to the birds' higher-pitched song. Martijn’s mom sets up a sewing machine and makes a fabric door for the shower and outhouse. The machine is set up with the view of the valley below, finding visual peace while adding her part to the story of this homestead. My favorite parent moment was the trip to the overlook we see so often. Mom had ZERO INTEREST in getting anywhere near the edge of the lookout. I can’t say I blame her. It seems Martijn tries to build her confidence, but we never see her out on the rock’s edge, enjoying the beautiful view of nature from a distance.
It’s cow season on the mountain, and goodness; the cowbells are nuts. I don’t know how the farmers do what they do daily with the sound of those bells constantly going. The last tidbit I leave you with is another piece of community when Martijn goes down the mountain to buy cheese from one of his neighbors. We really can be a wonderful species.
Thanks for reading, see you next time.
CHR;)
