What would be the reason for even considering walking across the country? The pure freedom? Unencumbered by the reliance on any machine or man made device... or perhaps the ability to hop in the back of the next passing pickup with a quick hello and a thanks? To stop and work for a couple bucks to catch the next bus out of town, to jump in with a friendly passing motorist who may possibly be your new best friend... or have we become so jaded of hitch hikers due to scary stories and serial killer movies? Has the idea of hitch hiking across the country gone the way of the Chia pet? My parents did their share of hitch hiking up and down the east coast in the 70's. Kerouak speaks of it as if it were a standard form of public travel in the 1950's, and the plethora of stories that became his career as a novelist ensued. The heartwarming story of Christopher McCandless, otherwise known as Alexander Supertramp, has more recently brought the idea of travelling the country on a fleeting whim into the minds of the youth (and not so youth) of America. The story told by adventure columnist and writer Jon Krakauer, puts Christopher in the passenger side of many a vehicle including cars, semi trucks, RV's, and even train cars as he thumbed and hiked his way back and forth across the west and eventually to Alaska where he found his final resting place. But the sense of freedom! The reliance and the trust that this guy in the Daewoo who just pulled over for you isnt going to end your trip, before you intended. The sights you may see, the people you may meet, seeing the country first hand with only the things you have on your back that can be quickly thrown into someones backseat. I cant imagine that this could be so easily discarded because some people think its dangerous. Lots of things are dangerous... BASE jumping, motocross, mountainbiking... but the ability to get out and see the country, perhaps the world, and meet its people... I couldnt say I would not jump at the opportunity to do it myself, or that I could ever advise my son that this would be a bad idea.
Perhaps if not by the fate of a wandering gypsy but by the means of travelling with friends who arent idiots. Its important to see the world and meet its people before you can absolutely feel attached to the world that surrounds you. To shed cynicism and don hope for a philosophical vision quest, in search of the wisdom of the open road and its peoples...
There are three pieces of advice I will make sure my son follows through with before I am certain to release him into his life of manhood; 1. Be well read, read the classics and biographies of people who made a dent on our society, and surround yourself with people who also value these things. 2. Before getting a job to make money for yourself, spend some time giving to people who may never be able to fend for themselves. Volunteer, intern, hell... join green peace. 3. Travel the country (the world) and seek the wisdom its people, dont just travel to have a good time, spend time meeting people and sharing stories, and do this travel with friends from fatherly advise #1. Whether by foot or by car, train, bicycle... see the world and learn from her, nothing is more important than learning.
2 comments:
Beautiful advice for your beautiful son...
Parenting brings so many of these questions into the foreground of my mind; what's really important, what's worth doing, how do you know who to trust, and so on.
Nice to contemplate :)
Education is important, becoming a lifelong learner. Teach them to think for themselves and to value learning. They will eventually get the chance to see the dangers of life for themselves, so dont hold them back but dont let them go freely. Teach them to love people but also to choose friends and the ones they will trust carefully.
A good friend and role model once told me that you have to be able to tell your kids no. so many parents say its ok for kids to express themselves, well I say thats garbage. You CAN tell your kids that they cant dress a certain way or hang out with certain kids, they may resent you for it at first but they are your kids and it is your job to be the parent. You wont always win favor in the eyes of your children but parenting isnt a popularity contest. they will get that chance to express themselves when you decide as a parent they have gained enough freedom. You need to give them room to make their own mistakes, but when they make mistakes you have to be able to step in and guide them, even if the rules of society dont agree with you. I dont want my children becoming contributing members of society, I want my children to be the creators of something better, both for themselves and for those around them. Im not teaching them to fit in, Im teaching them to stand up above and beyond. I dont want my kids to choose the joneses as their role models. Im going to teach them about Dr. Martin Luther King, Ghandi, Emerson, Franklin. People who will go down in history long after Gates, buffet and trump have been forgotten. You make the choice, you be the role model, and your kids will follow you.
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