The thunderstorm was moving quickly towards Jim. Thunder erupted above him like a thousand muskets. Lightning flashed in the dimming light of dusk. Jim had anticipated this storm for a while as he watched the clouds assemble in their uniforms of grey and butternut. In some sense, he felt a connection to the clouds. HeContinue reading "Walking Home to Georgia – Fiction"
Camp of Instruction 2024
This year's Camp of Instruction (COI) for the 3rd Maine was splendid...wet and splendid. Over 50 people joined in for drill, cooking, music, and general shenanigans. It was much like previous COI events I've attended in the past, but unique as well. This time, I did more filming than drilling. I'm working on a fewContinue reading "Camp of Instruction 2024"
Cursory Glance: Christy’s Cafe – Nonfiction
Most cafes have bells, sound systems, or other noise to announce the movement of a door. Christy’s Cafe relies on the whoosh of hot hair as the big glass door opens. At 11:45am, the time for breakfast is over and it’s not quite time for fancy alcoholic beverages. Except for bachelorette parties, but they haven'tContinue reading "Cursory Glance: Christy’s Cafe – Nonfiction"
Cursory Glance – Nonfiction
We encounter thousands of other people in our lives. Some we come to know, others only for a brief moment. It's nearly impossible to know how many people we meet on average. But Google says around 50,000. I did a quick calculation of 365 x 75. 27,375. That's one person every day for 75 years.Continue reading "Cursory Glance – Nonfiction"
CityPass Boston: A Review
I visited Boston on a Monday and Tuesday. My girlfriend and I wanted to visit the Museum of Science and the Aquarium. As we looked up tickets, CityPass Boston appeared. This pass gives you tickets for the Museum of Science, Aquarium, and two other locations from this list: Boston Harbor Cruise, Observation Deck, Franklin ParkContinue reading "CityPass Boston: A Review"
Character Building
Another post inspired by Will: How is life different from the high school years? I graduated high school in 2012. It's 2024. That makes 12 years. There was an "attempt" at a high school reunion two years ago at Old Orchard Beach of all places. From what I saw on the Class Facebook group, fourContinue reading "Character Building"
An Account of the 160th Battle of the Wilderness
What do you get when you put 17 reenactors from three different units together into two vans? A hilarious and long-ass ride to the 160th Battle of the Wilderness! The Drive On May 2nd, in pouring rain, a large batch of us loaded up the vans with equipment from our starting point in Brunswick, Maine.Continue reading "An Account of the 160th Battle of the Wilderness"
From the Past to the Present: Navigating the Transition in Historical Reenactment
I don't want to generalize, so I'll speak from my own experience. However, it would be interesting to hear from other reenactors: is it just me, or is it some hard coming back from events? For me, difficulty returning is measured by the length and complexity of an event. A two hour parade is anContinue reading "From the Past to the Present: Navigating the Transition in Historical Reenactment"
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
The acrid scent of cigarettes used to make me wrinkle my nose in disgust. But as I traveled through Europe, my feelings towards the smell began to change. In Paris, Rome, and Amsterdam, I still found it repulsive. But by the time I reached London and Ireland, I felt a strange temptation to try itContinue reading "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes"
Southern Soul Quest: Reflection on the Trip
Final Stage Every blog series requires a final reflection - one last injection of insights. I've been open and reflective in all the previous posts, but perhaps I can dive deeper or at least summarize everything. As I wrap up this blog series, I'm thinking about how much self-reflection has shaped my journey. Escaping RealityContinue reading "Southern Soul Quest: Reflection on the Trip"