I had a realisation the other day. I’ve become unemotional. Disconnected. Untouchable. Untouching. I no longer write about people, mainly myself, me once being my number one fascination but about things. I don’t try and craft words around lumps of flesh and bone and blood and mess but of alloy and steel and nylon. I write about them and then illustrate them, not by pen or pencil, or oil or watercolour, but by cold flat vectors. Why? I tell people the reason is that there’s no money in it. There’s no money in anything else to be creative, edgy, open. Moving, emotional.
A reflection that I certainly have, and I am sure it’s the same for some others, is the regret not only to have found out more about my parents life pre my birth but to say simply thank you. It’s only now that in the generational cycle I find myself next in line for the family ceremony of spreading the ash (in sight of Buachaille
Etive Mor) that I have some wisdom but equally tormented with guilt.
As mush as I love your technical writing, whether that be in book format or online in your blogs and even your podcast when you go off on a tangent about Norwegian sailors or something else, nothin compares to when you reach inside and write more personally.
Now it isn’t for me to dictate what you spill of your inner most thoughts and feelings, but personally reading that email about your mother was very moving. I have recently had to take the decision to remove myself from contact with my parents and 2 elder sisters and as much as I need to for my own mental health, it has broken me. The thought of something happening to any of them before we have the chance to reconcile scares the shit out me, but that is a burden I have to bear for now.
Anywho, the whole point of this was to say that as a fan of your work, I’d rather hear stories about people and their adventures, their struggles, their thoughts and feelings, than of nylon and steel… But at the end of the day it’s your work and your bills, you do what you need to. But I’d suggest that maybe there is something deeper going on… people like the flesh and blood stories. Just my tuppence worth!
Thanks for what you do!! I learn so much! I use the barebone CEM knot often :-) I should be in Yo end of may 2024, would be great to meet! Let me know if you are down in Canada :-)
A reflection that I certainly have, and I am sure it’s the same for some others, is the regret not only to have found out more about my parents life pre my birth but to say simply thank you. It’s only now that in the generational cycle I find myself next in line for the family ceremony of spreading the ash (in sight of Buachaille
Etive Mor) that I have some wisdom but equally tormented with guilt.
Your insightful reflections are valued, thanks.
Beautiful. Thanks Andy.
Great piece. Thanks for posting it.
Andy,
As mush as I love your technical writing, whether that be in book format or online in your blogs and even your podcast when you go off on a tangent about Norwegian sailors or something else, nothin compares to when you reach inside and write more personally.
Now it isn’t for me to dictate what you spill of your inner most thoughts and feelings, but personally reading that email about your mother was very moving. I have recently had to take the decision to remove myself from contact with my parents and 2 elder sisters and as much as I need to for my own mental health, it has broken me. The thought of something happening to any of them before we have the chance to reconcile scares the shit out me, but that is a burden I have to bear for now.
Anywho, the whole point of this was to say that as a fan of your work, I’d rather hear stories about people and their adventures, their struggles, their thoughts and feelings, than of nylon and steel… But at the end of the day it’s your work and your bills, you do what you need to. But I’d suggest that maybe there is something deeper going on… people like the flesh and blood stories. Just my tuppence worth!
Thanks for what you do!! I learn so much! I use the barebone CEM knot often :-) I should be in Yo end of may 2024, would be great to meet! Let me know if you are down in Canada :-)
Beautiful
Solid beautifully poetic emotionally painted canvas of experiences connected and disconnected yet weaved together seamlessly. Is that too many “-ly.”