I was born in Maine. One day a co-worker was wearing a sweatshirt emblazoned MAINE. I naively asked if she had been there, and she said that she had borrowed the shirt from her sister and she didn't even know that Maine is a state in the US. Of course.
Ha! Is it still soft power if they don't even know it's American? Maine is great. Always thought ME was weird enough (in the best way) that it was secretly a western state that had been accidentally left on the wrong coast.
The world seems to be holding its collective breath. I vividly recall the above-the-fold headline in NZ Herald on US election day four years ago: 'America at the Crossroads'. Seems even more true, now.
I went to Christchurch this week on businees. Every person I encountered - cabbies, hotel clerks, waiters and the people I was there to see - all were talking about the election and wanted my Yankee opinon on things.
We are heading stateside in 3 weeks and will be there for the immediate fallout - whatever it may be. Civil War? Surely not; but, it's not out of the question.
Breathe in, breathe out. Repeat. Thank the Universe for each new day and remember to be kind to others because each of are fighting battles we alone understand. ✊
Yeah man! Hold tight. We're gonna get through this, one way or 'nother. Should be a trip to be there. A relief, perhaps, not to be the explaining Yank for once! Safe travels, man!
saw the shirt pic and thought, I WANT IT. a super-weird place, our motherland, but the pull is strong, the AZ beauty is real (best plants best light), and the city name really is the best.
Yes!! A vibe, that place. Something in the air. An abstraction, a physics, a projection of light more than, y'know, a human settlement?? I gotta get back & take the kids. WE WILL RISE TOGETHER FROM THE ASHES
All the sports gear on this NZ University campus is American! USA is the only acceptable team. Why are you trying to divide us into Phoenixes and South Dakotas, Dan? Can we vote which country will be in charge of the world for the next 4 years?
Also from the Valley of the Sun (and Iowa mate). I never know how to feel when I see Sun's gear around here. I've given up asking Kiwis why they are wearing Booker instead of Adams. Shazam!
Shazam to you, my good man! First draft of this thing had "Zonies" in it and my Iowa partner said people aren't gonna know what that is :) Adams, right?? I don't expect we'll ever see any Tom Chambers jerseys here, though.
Hi Erin, so glad you enjoyed it! I'm newcomer to him myself. Wow, he's great! Love how he can do that cheerful uncle thing but with real daggers underneath.
I saw a “Virginia University “ T-shirt for sale - it was jarring and just really odd. But for kiwis, it’s just “a US college T-shirt,” so it doesn’t matter if said college doesn’t exist… 🤷🏼♀️
Weird!! That's what's so unsettling to me, that the 'US' vibe no longer needs to bother with anything real on the actual ground? But then maybe that's freeing, without all the official licensing of, say, the actual UVA? I don't know. Love seeing them around, though.
I was born in Maine. One day a co-worker was wearing a sweatshirt emblazoned MAINE. I naively asked if she had been there, and she said that she had borrowed the shirt from her sister and she didn't even know that Maine is a state in the US. Of course.
Ha! Is it still soft power if they don't even know it's American? Maine is great. Always thought ME was weird enough (in the best way) that it was secretly a western state that had been accidentally left on the wrong coast.
The world seems to be holding its collective breath. I vividly recall the above-the-fold headline in NZ Herald on US election day four years ago: 'America at the Crossroads'. Seems even more true, now.
I went to Christchurch this week on businees. Every person I encountered - cabbies, hotel clerks, waiters and the people I was there to see - all were talking about the election and wanted my Yankee opinon on things.
We are heading stateside in 3 weeks and will be there for the immediate fallout - whatever it may be. Civil War? Surely not; but, it's not out of the question.
Breathe in, breathe out. Repeat. Thank the Universe for each new day and remember to be kind to others because each of are fighting battles we alone understand. ✊
Yeah man! Hold tight. We're gonna get through this, one way or 'nother. Should be a trip to be there. A relief, perhaps, not to be the explaining Yank for once! Safe travels, man!
saw the shirt pic and thought, I WANT IT. a super-weird place, our motherland, but the pull is strong, the AZ beauty is real (best plants best light), and the city name really is the best.
Yes!! A vibe, that place. Something in the air. An abstraction, a physics, a projection of light more than, y'know, a human settlement?? I gotta get back & take the kids. WE WILL RISE TOGETHER FROM THE ASHES
All the sports gear on this NZ University campus is American! USA is the only acceptable team. Why are you trying to divide us into Phoenixes and South Dakotas, Dan? Can we vote which country will be in charge of the world for the next 4 years?
I know Phoenix. Phoenix was a friend of mine. South Dakota, you are no Phoenix
Also from the Valley of the Sun (and Iowa mate). I never know how to feel when I see Sun's gear around here. I've given up asking Kiwis why they are wearing Booker instead of Adams. Shazam!
Shazam to you, my good man! First draft of this thing had "Zonies" in it and my Iowa partner said people aren't gonna know what that is :) Adams, right?? I don't expect we'll ever see any Tom Chambers jerseys here, though.
Tony Hoagland! One of my all-time favourite poets that I often feel that no one has ever heard of. I have lines of his inscribed on my heart forever.
Hi Erin, so glad you enjoyed it! I'm newcomer to him myself. Wow, he's great! Love how he can do that cheerful uncle thing but with real daggers underneath.
I saw a “Virginia University “ T-shirt for sale - it was jarring and just really odd. But for kiwis, it’s just “a US college T-shirt,” so it doesn’t matter if said college doesn’t exist… 🤷🏼♀️
Weird!! That's what's so unsettling to me, that the 'US' vibe no longer needs to bother with anything real on the actual ground? But then maybe that's freeing, without all the official licensing of, say, the actual UVA? I don't know. Love seeing them around, though.
“Dragon scales in the dying sun” = nailed it.