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Lawrence County, Kentucky.



Most days, around the lunch hour, I take my "Jayber Crow" novel down to the court house lawn or the cafe across the street. Both have a bench or two to sit on. As I continue to read about Port William and it's various residents, I have begun to see reflections of the way things have been for a long time - despite the obvious ugly overgrowth of modernity and industrialization.

When we lived in Boston, I remember how much disdain Doug had for people in both Boston and Cambridge because they seemed to intentionally not acknowledge you, let alone greet or talk to you. If that seal was broken, you would usually find various levels of depth and certainly lots of opinions. Even among the poor, awareness and intelligence was prevalent.

Back in these parts, it is just about the opposite. I pretty much expect that a middle-aged woman walking towards this bearded stranger on a bench, reading wendell berry, is going to say something in regards to the particular day, is going to smile, and continue going. I have perfected my Port William head-nod, as well as a return acknowledgment of the particular day. I love it. However, getting my educated co-workers to talk about something other than "weight watchers" is a science unto itself.


So far as the novel goes, I have never read a funnier chapter (any book) than "a little worter dranking party". Laughed out loud the entire chapter.

"he mocks the complexity of life in an enfuriatingly appealing way."-DW



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