The older I get the more I realise how formative certain primary school experiences were upon my adult wordview. A lot of the hymns I had to sing at my Church of English primary school were confusing or troubling to me. Perhaps triggering my childhood OCD most severely was the Quaker hymn ‘When I Needed a Neighbour’ . The imperative to serve others was not lost on me, but the rhetorical pleas of the third verse’s cold and naked man asking “Were you there?” caused tremendous guilt in this 6-year-old who did not know how to approach, let along help, a cold and naked person, and under what circumstances it would be appropriate for him to do so.
Wonderful essay. I wish I were as smart as you. I take my petty revenge (j/k) by pointing out a trivial typo: it's San Mateo. I know because I was born in that area. Thank you for liking my silly note, it allowed me to discover your writing.
Thank you for letting me know! I will edit it now. I tend to wish I was as smart as other folks I read on Substack so you're definitely not alone in such feelings!!
Really appreciate your enjoying my writing. I love the Notes of yours I've read today and hope you feel compelled/ able to write longer-form pieces (cause I'm suspicious of Notes and anything too much like Twitter!!)
Who can forget standing first thing each morning, hand over heart, in reverence to the flag, chanting the most violent national anthem in the world? "The bomb bursting in air!" Whoa. What a way to start the day!
Wonderful essay. I wish I were as smart as you. I take my petty revenge (j/k) by pointing out a trivial typo: it's San Mateo. I know because I was born in that area. Thank you for liking my silly note, it allowed me to discover your writing.
Thank you for letting me know! I will edit it now. I tend to wish I was as smart as other folks I read on Substack so you're definitely not alone in such feelings!!
Really appreciate your enjoying my writing. I love the Notes of yours I've read today and hope you feel compelled/ able to write longer-form pieces (cause I'm suspicious of Notes and anything too much like Twitter!!)
I'm ramping up my courage to do just that. Thank you for helping in that regard. :)
That's great to read! Made my evening! :)
Who can forget standing first thing each morning, hand over heart, in reverence to the flag, chanting the most violent national anthem in the world? "The bomb bursting in air!" Whoa. What a way to start the day!