The gentle meditative quality to your writing, which pairs perfectly with the themes and stories, is becoming something I look forward to like one of these walks you describe. A quiet carefully considered nuanced place that’s restorative and reminds me where we all started, full of a certain wonder. Yet this is a wonder borne of experience.
How fascinating that Viktor still touches your life through a story told by a friend. As for Mim, every child needs a cring grownup who’s not a parent, and you lucked out with her. She will have you thinking up and upper for the rest of your life.
Yes, thank you. I think that likely lots of people have these kinds of memories of her. She was very much a part of our little town, though I have no real idea of how she was experienced by the adults.
Wonderful story. The anecdote about Viktor turning down work, "I’ve got as much money as I need for now," reminds me of a line I've read somewhere about peasants or perhaps pre-industrial societies stopping work once they have "enough." Maybe Max Weber said it somewhere...googling is not helping, but the idea has stuck with me.
Another lovely post. What wonderful memories of two generous people, living very different lives. The way you bring them alive and weave them into your theme of community is so touching.
Viktor in particular sounds like he lived a self-contained life, but not a disconnected one. He has stayed in the memory of W and been passed on to you and now to us. I wonder, with his love of books, what he would have thought about becoming a sort of literary character in your essay?
Exactly! That's such a good question, and I found myself thinking about it so much while writing. That's why I changed the name; I felt pretty sure that he would enjoy the story, even though given how little I know it might all be completely different from reality. But was less sure that he'd want his name attached . I kept the name for the person I knew, even if only as a little kid, because I was pretty sure that she would want hers to be remembered in this way.
That’s a whole other angle isn’t it - how much does your idea of Viktor differ from what he saw as his reality? You’ve got your mental image based on W’s recollections, but they will only be a partial view of Viktor and may entirely miss something he saw as his essence. I can see a philosophical rabbithole beckoning, and I’m going to resist because I have so many posts I want to catch up on today!
Indeed, and I was reading both Viktor and Mim while thinking about that idea of dropping out selfishly or otherwise, from last time, so I guess it achieved its purpose :-)
And this essay is really a companion piece to the previous two — in this case, thinking through models of lives lived, and what they can help illuminate about how one wants to live oneself.
I am so sorry I missed this, Maria. I love your writing but the tale of these two characters struck me particularly. I found the story of Viktor, a man who lived with books so poignant and how wonderful that you should have had Mim in your life. Altogether, a joy to read.
Thank you! I'm so glad. You know, I didn't promote this one as much as the others. I'm not quite sure why; I think it's because I'm telling other people's stories for the first time. It feels right, but also new, so I may have subconsciously held back a little. I'm so glad that they resonated.
Oh, and thank you for the restack, which I just saw! Thank you especially for choosing that specific passage, which it makes it clear how much the story of Viktor is really a story of an image. I appreciate so much that you saw that; it makes me feel that the writing worked.
The gentle meditative quality to your writing, which pairs perfectly with the themes and stories, is becoming something I look forward to like one of these walks you describe. A quiet carefully considered nuanced place that’s restorative and reminds me where we all started, full of a certain wonder. Yet this is a wonder borne of experience.
This is so nice to hear — thank you.
How fascinating that Viktor still touches your life through a story told by a friend. As for Mim, every child needs a cring grownup who’s not a parent, and you lucked out with her. She will have you thinking up and upper for the rest of your life.
Yes, thank you. I think that likely lots of people have these kinds of memories of her. She was very much a part of our little town, though I have no real idea of how she was experienced by the adults.
Wonderful story. The anecdote about Viktor turning down work, "I’ve got as much money as I need for now," reminds me of a line I've read somewhere about peasants or perhaps pre-industrial societies stopping work once they have "enough." Maybe Max Weber said it somewhere...googling is not helping, but the idea has stuck with me.
I'm glad, thank you. And absolutely, Weber. I hadn't though of it in this context, but you're completely right.
Lucky lucky you. And lucky us to be back there with you in such different days. Thank you for your wonderful writing
I'm so glad — thank you!
Another lovely post. What wonderful memories of two generous people, living very different lives. The way you bring them alive and weave them into your theme of community is so touching.
Thank you — this is just lovely to read.
I absolutely love your writing. I am now reflecting on the Mims and Viktors of my life with a smile on my face.
Thank you! This means a great deal.
Viktor in particular sounds like he lived a self-contained life, but not a disconnected one. He has stayed in the memory of W and been passed on to you and now to us. I wonder, with his love of books, what he would have thought about becoming a sort of literary character in your essay?
Exactly! That's such a good question, and I found myself thinking about it so much while writing. That's why I changed the name; I felt pretty sure that he would enjoy the story, even though given how little I know it might all be completely different from reality. But was less sure that he'd want his name attached . I kept the name for the person I knew, even if only as a little kid, because I was pretty sure that she would want hers to be remembered in this way.
That’s a whole other angle isn’t it - how much does your idea of Viktor differ from what he saw as his reality? You’ve got your mental image based on W’s recollections, but they will only be a partial view of Viktor and may entirely miss something he saw as his essence. I can see a philosophical rabbithole beckoning, and I’m going to resist because I have so many posts I want to catch up on today!
Indeed, and I was reading both Viktor and Mim while thinking about that idea of dropping out selfishly or otherwise, from last time, so I guess it achieved its purpose :-)
Oh, that makes me so happy! Thank you for saying so.
Yes — and my own romanticization on top of that! This is storytelling with a purpose, to illuminate questions….
And this essay is really a companion piece to the previous two — in this case, thinking through models of lives lived, and what they can help illuminate about how one wants to live oneself.
I am so sorry I missed this, Maria. I love your writing but the tale of these two characters struck me particularly. I found the story of Viktor, a man who lived with books so poignant and how wonderful that you should have had Mim in your life. Altogether, a joy to read.
Thank you! I'm so glad. You know, I didn't promote this one as much as the others. I'm not quite sure why; I think it's because I'm telling other people's stories for the first time. It feels right, but also new, so I may have subconsciously held back a little. I'm so glad that they resonated.
Oh, and thank you for the restack, which I just saw! Thank you especially for choosing that specific passage, which it makes it clear how much the story of Viktor is really a story of an image. I appreciate so much that you saw that; it makes me feel that the writing worked.