A&E’s TV show, Duck Dynasty, has made at least one
appearance here on my blog, has quickly become a personal favorite, and I’ve
taken to thinking and talking (occasionally) like Si, the loony uncle and
Vietnam Veteran. I’m down with talkin’
like that, Jack! It’s hard not be in a
good mood when one is in Duck Dynasty mode, and speaking like Si always
gets the attention of my youngest. But what
she really wants to know is, “Who’s Jack?”
Well, it’s probably nobody I know; but I have realized recently
(while thinking about Uncle Si and with an epic road trip in front of me)
certain similarities between Numenon and Jack Kerouac’s concept of the
“beat” generation, as described in his On the Road. I never
expected this, and I know my Numenon
as well as anybody. The first couple of times I was exposed to On the
Road, I was either young, immature and distracted by the party/drug
atmosphere of the book, or (most recently), addled by my post-surgery (and
legal) pain killers. So I’ve never been
an outwardly enthusiastic fan of the work, but the more one thinks about it…the
more that’s seemingly there.
(But first here’s a
disclaimer that I haven’t been able to otherwise logically fit into this
essay. I’m not a literature guy, and I’m
not really trying to be one. These
thoughts are pretty superficial, and I’ve done only a little background reading
to fill in some gaps or confirm my thoughts.
There’s likely not much new here, and I could be plain old wrong with
some of my recollections or associations.
I’m mostly interested and amused by some of the connections I’m
making. These have some legitimacy, if
only for me; but I’m not claiming that this is a worthwhile treatise or even
worth the time it will take to create or read.
But in my life, I’ve never before connected my philosophies with Jack
Kerouac, or my fishing with “Great American Literature”, all the while with Duck
Dynasty in the background.)
Much like my return (after a lengthy hiatus) to Aldo
Leopold’s concept of “numenon”, I’ve remembered some of what Mr. Kerouac
offered in On the Road; the youthful spontaneity, the search for meaning
and purpose; the (sometimes destructive) passion that drives that search; the
conflict between romantic notions and domestic realities; these are all pretty
accessible parts of the story. But I’ve
never really appreciated or understood, though, the perceived place in American
Literature for this “iconic” work. I’ve had
a difficult time really identifying with any of the characters. I’m pretty much as straight as an arrow, generally
risk averse, very obedient, and as beholden to a predictable day-to-day routine
as anybody I know. But maybe I’m growing
up, opening up to new thoughts, and now I’m surprised to find some of the same
themes running through On the Road and general “Beat Generation” interests
as I find myself contemplating on a daily basis.
The self-named “Beat” generation arose in response to
America’s post-war McCarthyism and the expected conformism of the time. The growing anti-intellectualism of those “in
power” and perceived mistrust of those generally responding to the beat of a
different drummer probably further fueled the search, by some, for some
underlying meaning to our lives and existence.
This meaning was probably outside the popular worldviews of the time; it
wasn’t going to present itself to those leading mainstream lives and asking
mainstream questions. Finding “it”
probably depended on “What the definition of ‘it’ is”, as well as asking some
new questions.
Now were the “beats” worn out, exhausted, and beaten
down? Or were they seeking the
“beatific” aspects of life? I don’t
know. I just know that, at the end of
the day, I might feel pretty “beat”; but I’m constantly on the lookout
(especially when fishing or outdoors in general) for the beatific. I do know
that the sense of beauty and wonder I feel when I hold a fine fish helps ease
some of the weariness that tends to accumulate between fishing trips. And in the meantime, I’ll continue my
informal search for “it”, as I contemplate what’s important to me and what
makes me who I am.
It’s been over 50 years since On the Road’s
publication, but much has either stayed the same or gone full circle. My state’s legislature is currently creating
their own “Lame Duck Dynasty” by pushing partisan advantages to the limit,
busily ram-rodding more policies through (without the consequences of facing
re-election) in a couple of pre-holiday weeks than they’ve accomplished in
years (or even decades.) These
“decisions” will have long-lasting consequences in far-reaching areas;
education, taxes, labor relations. And
yet, they’ve been accomplished in a manner scarcely to be believed legal in our
democracy; in a time frame in which thought, never mind discussion or
deliberation, has been impossible; and which has been deaf to outside
voices. I can feel at least some of Sal
and Dean’s frustration and dissatisfaction with the way our society is going,
and I can certainly question how I’m supposed to best fit in.
By avoiding the trap of asking “Why?” but rather by
examining “How?” are we to lead our lives, I think Numenon has led me to some of the same conclusions as Mr. Kerouac
and his contemporaries. As I’ve written
before, I’m simply my kids’ dad, and my wife’s husband. After that, I’m a son, brother, friend and
citizen. After that, I can take care of my work and interests. Along the way, the beats and I have both adopted
philosophies from which that which is not essential has been stripped. What’s left…is what’s left. Hopefully it’s productive and beautiful. But it is certainly your core, your essence,
your numenon.
I hope to continue occasional insights while I’m “on the
road” in my various travels. This
holiday season, I’ve been able to put much aside, while I concentrate on my
family’s activities. So after an intense
end to Marie’s recent athletic season, while simultaneously celebrating her
current academic prowess, it was off to New Hampshire and beyond to pick Katie
up at college. From there we started a
whirlwind Thanksgiving weekend including family dining at our favorite northern
New England restaurants, a drive across the White Mountains (with associated
tales from the past), and the holiday itself on Casco Bay. This reunion brought together the newest
family member, the Family Patriarch, and just about everybody in between
(within a reasonable geographic radius.)
In the midst of the Fun and Love, we had our first Black Friday Dance
Party, and I'm proud to mention that the bass in my selected offering (A Bay Bay) just about brought down the house.
The next morning it was back into the truck for the
thousand-mile drive home; but that was okay, because of the sense of peace
resulting from simply being together. We
may have had a thousand miles ahead of us; but we also had more than a month of
being together in front of us, too.
A thousand miles gave me plenty of time to contemplate the
Dance Party; something I can’t imagine having happened on my side of the
family. I love them all, deeply, but we were pretty
straight-laced, and the safe harbors of schools, sports, naps and domesticity
may have dampened the spark of spontaneity that can result in a
multi-generational celebration of dance.
This dance might be the common memory of the holiday for us, and I think collecting
these shared, positive experiences might be about as close to true meaning as
you can get. These experiences simply
foster love. Who cares about much else
(once all the basics are, thankfully, taken care of?)
So maybe Numenon
does have some legitimate beat implications…
As Uncle Si might say, “I’m down with that, Jack!” Is Uncle Si’s “Jack”, Jack Kerouac? I doubt
it. But maybe. In the meantime, I can’t wait to get back “On
the Water” and to continue sharing some shared, positive, fish-related
experiences.
As I wrap up these musings, I realize that an On the Road
movie will be released sometime soon.
Maybe I’ll learn something, maybe not.
But I’m willing to give it a try and two preliminary thumbs up; after
all, Fargo’s Steve Buscemi makes an appearance. I’m a fan; I’ll be there to watch.
Now, after I catch my breath and bearings, perhaps I should
re-read Hunter Thompson’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas for some other
ideas, too, regarding who I am and how I’m supposed to live.
Two of my favorite novels, and as you may remember, my personal mandatory Reading Period reading material. May I suggest that you add Travels with Charlie (John Steinbeck) for a look at America in the 60s? Hint: the Deep South does not fare well, but, ahh, Montana....
ReplyDeleteSteinbeck will give you a glimpse into yet another decade another America. One that's down with that, Jack Daniels, a bourbon defiantly sold as a Tennessee whiskey, distilled in and not available for consumption in a dry county.
Can't get more Si and more America stripped to core than that. Hunter and his attorney would be proud.
And let's not forget Thomas McGuane, Jim Harrison or Russell Chatham.
DeletePerhaps Si is a retired LSU Professor of English Literature?