Soliloquoy On A Micro-Monologue - To Hatch Plans Without Eggs
I live in a National Historic Site of Canada called Fort Langley, British Columbia, Canada. I work for the local board of the community association here, magazines (e.g., a wedding magazine as the ‘Guy-in-Residence’), blogs, and newspapers, a restaurant (where I get burned and cut), and gardening-landscaping (where I only get cut, lucky me).
I find the intellectual jobs more fulfilling as I am able to listen to music while I write rather than simply working and trudging along in some boring manner. Nonetheless, they reflect some commonalities of patterns of activity.
In the one, I am simply motioning with my arms and body as a whole to bring about some changes to the physical environment in mostly pointless capacities. For some, it’s making the dishes clean; in others, it’s making a garden tot for the season, ready for viewing, aesthetic.
I volunteer in different local and national educational efforts. Typically, education on human rights and science. I have a school in Uganda with my namesake, as I fund some of it, directly, or help with applications of funding for it, indirectly, where probably about 100, or a little fewer, elementary school children get a humanistic or Humanist education, extremely unusual in their area.
I was raised by near-retired or retired women most of my life in the community; I would probably be on the streets without them. I owe my life to these people. However I may neglect this or they may not know it entirely, I do.
My life, my form of mind, my sensibilities, my emotional development come from through, as a reflection of them. In some sense, I am an aged woman in mentality while a man in body, and a male in sex. I'm not an old woman; I'm an old lady.
Much of my quarantine time has been taken up with internships like this or writing on a variety of subject matter, one of those is the topic of human rights and philosophy. I have been doing plenty of interviews and some reading too.
While, I listen to much Classical Music, so-called, for the mere purposes of enjoyment, as shown in Bach, Vivaldi, or Corelli, while abhorring Telemann or other clunkers. One of the texts of continual amusement, for me, has been H.L. Mencken’s “In Defense of Women.” Here’s the opening quote:
A man's women folk, whatever their outward show of respect for his merit and authority, always regard him secretly as an ass, and with something akin to pity. His most gaudy sayings and doings seldom deceive them; they see the actual man within and know him for a shallow and pathetic fellow.
In this fact, perhaps, lies one of the best proofs of feminine intelligence, or, as the common phrase makes it, feminine intuition. The mark of that so-called intuition is simply a sharp and accurate perception of reality, a habitual immunity to emotional enchantment, a relentless capacity for distinguishing clearly between the appearance and the substance.
The appearance, in the normal family circle, is a hero, magnifico, a demigod. The substance is a poor mountebank… She may envy her husband, true enough, certain of his more soothing prerogatives and sentimentalities. She may envy him his masculine liberty of movement and occupation, his impenetrable complacency, his peasant-like delight in petty vices, his capacity for hiding the harsh face of reality behind the cloak of romanticism, his general innocence, and childishness.
But she never envies him his puerile ego; she never envies him his shoddy and preposterous soul. This shrewd perception of masculine bombast and make-believe, this acute understanding of man as the eternal tragic comedian, is at the bottom of that compassionate irony which paces under the name of the maternal instinct.
A woman wishes to mother a man simply because she sees into his helplessness, his need for an amiable environment, his touching self-delusion. That ironic note is not only daily apparent in real life; it sets the whole tone of feminine fiction. The woman novelist, if she is skillful enough to arise out of mere imitation into genuine self-expression, never takes her heroes quite seriously.
I find him enormously funny, witty, and enjoyable to read, a superior writer. Someone who I take great joy in reading and imbibing to certain degrees. It is these sorts of things that take my time and take me away into the world of mind while away from the world.
Opinions and Perspectives
The humorous touches throughout make the serious content more accessible. Well done!
This piece really makes you think about how our various roles and influences shape who we become.
The influence of those retired women really shaped their worldview. It's beautiful how they acknowledge that.
Their volunteer work shows a real commitment to education and human rights. We need more of that.
The contrast between getting burned and cut in different jobs made me laugh. Always look on the bright side!
Their classical music preferences reveal a discriminating taste. But poor Telemann!
The variety in their work life shows how we can wear many hats and still maintain a coherent identity.
Fort Langley seems like a fascinating place to call home. Historic sites must have such character.
The Mencken quote feels both dated and timeless somehow. Human nature doesn't change much.
Their description of domestic tasks as changing the physical environment is quite philosophical.
I'm intrigued by their work in the wedding magazine. Must bring an unusual perspective to that industry.
That bit about being an old lady in mentality really stuck with me. We're all shaped by unexpected influences.
The school in Uganda project shows how individual actions can have global impact.
Interesting how they frame their identity as shaped by female influences. Makes me think about my own influences.
The way they describe music as a companion to intellectual work really resonates with me.
Their quarantine activities sound much more productive than my Netflix binges.
The concept of creating aesthetic gardens being somewhat pointless is debatable. Beauty has its own purpose.
Love the honesty about getting burned and cut at different jobs. Sometimes that's just how it goes!
Their description of feminine fiction is interesting but I wonder if it still holds true for contemporary women writers.
The combination of physical and intellectual work seems to provide a balanced perspective on life.
It's refreshing to see someone acknowledge the profound influence others have had on their life so openly.
Working multiple jobs while maintaining volunteer commitments is impressive. Shows real dedication.
The maternal instinct interpretation in the Mencken quote is fascinating. Never considered it from that angle before.
Their classical music opinions are quite strong! But I appreciate someone who knows what they like and why.
Disagree about physical work being pointless. There's something deeply satisfying about tangible results.
I love how they describe being shaped by the retired women in their community. We often underestimate the impact of community on our development.
That school in Uganda deserves more attention. How can we support similar initiatives?
The way they describe their quarantine activities makes me reflect on how I spent my own lockdown time.
Their comparison of different types of physical labor is interesting. Never thought about the hierarchy of getting burned versus just getting cut!
Reading this makes me want to visit Fort Langley. Sounds like an interesting place to live and work.
I actually find Mencken's observations quite accurate, even today. We all wear masks to some degree.
The contrast between their various jobs really highlights the different ways we can contribute to society.
Anyone else notice how they weave together physical and intellectual work throughout the piece? It's quite masterfully done.
The description of gardening as merely creating something aesthetic feels a bit dismissive. There's real value in creating beauty.
I'm curious about their work as a Guy-in-Residence for a wedding magazine. That must provide some unique perspectives!
That Mencken quote seems pretty harsh toward men. Surely not all men are seen as shallow and pathetic by their women folk?
Their volunteering work in human rights and science education shows real commitment to making a difference.
The idea of being an aged woman in mentality while being a man physically is such an intriguing concept. Makes me think about gender identity in a new way.
I find it remarkable how they acknowledge their debt to the retired women who raised them. Such gratitude is rare these days.
You've got it wrong about Telemann. His work is actually quite sophisticated if you take the time to understand it.
The way they describe listening to music while writing versus just trudging along in other jobs is so relatable. Music really does transform the work experience.
Their description of washing dishes as changing the physical environment in pointless capacities really struck a chord with me. Never thought about it that way before.
Living in a National Historic Site must be such a unique experience. I wonder how that influences their daily life and perspective.
The classical music preferences are quite specific. I agree about Bach and Vivaldi, but what's wrong with Telemann?
Not sure I agree with Mencken's take on women seeing men as eternal tragic comedians. Feels a bit outdated and stereotypical to me.
The work they're doing with the school in Uganda sounds amazing. We need more people supporting education in developing countries.
The part about working in a restaurant where they get burned and in gardening where they only get cut made me laugh. At least they're keeping their sense of humor about it!
The contrast between physical labor and intellectual work really resonates with me. I also find more fulfillment in tasks that engage my mind.
I'm confused about the title though. What does hatching plans without eggs mean in this context?
That Mencken quote is brilliant! Never read it before but it perfectly captures the dynamic between men and women that I've observed in my own family.
Interesting how they describe themselves as having an 'old lady' mentality in a male body. Really makes you think about how our upbringing shapes our identity.
The writer's perspective on being raised by retired women is fascinating. I can relate to having strong female influences shape my worldview too.