A Road Trip After The Flood
beauty, resilience, idea laundering, and doubt
This personal story/essay/reflection is a creative writing post (#21) from my occasional series for paid subscribers, who can also leave comments on most posts. As always, email hollymathnerd at gmail dot com if you would like a paid subscription but can’t afford one.
Lots of pictures in this one; read it at the Substack website or in the app if your email client gives you trouble.
Context: A week ago, apocalyptic flooding drowned much of the state of Vermont.
Many people lost everything, and many others—including my friend Josh—are facing astronomical expenses as they try to rehab damaged homes they still need to live in. This morning, I went for a long drive, to visit a museum a couple of hours away from where I live. The museum had its own surprises, including about how deeply—much more deeply than even I would have guessed—the Woke tactic that Bret Weinstein dubbed “idea laundering” has penetrated our culture.
The drive, a week after so much destruction, had many intriguing sights and provided much fodder for reflection.
Govern Me Harder, Daddy
There is one aspect of Vermont’s big government, nanny-state politics that I absolutely adore; one law that I would go door-to-door collecting signatures to protect, were it for any reason threatened.
I fully support the law that regulates signage, prohibiting billboards entirely and requiring businesses to have only small, aesthetically pleasing signs. This law protects the ability of all citizens to enjoy the natural beauty of Vermont, and its value is never more apparent than on a long drive.
When I sometimes drive to New Hampshire, most recently to see a specialist at Dartmouth, the horror of natural glory covered by billboards makes me emotionally nauseous, a state that lasts until I get back home. These pictures show the astonishing contrast: