[at-l] Back in Time

[PUDSCRAWLER at aol.com (PUDSCRAWLER@aol.com)]

Well, Oprah's program this afternoon about living in Colonial America in 1628 
was kinda funny, especially when everything she complained about is part of 
the chosen way of living for thru- and other long distance hikers on the AT.

Flies, sleeping with others, peeing in the woods, using leaves for TP, not 
bathing, mice in the rafters, on and on . . . sounds kind of normal to me.  Of 
course, they were in it for all seasons, which could mean some very harsh 
weather.  And they did not have trail towns to give relief or an opportunity to 
replenish one's supplies.  Still, it made me wonder, "Are we trying to reach back 
to feel life as our forefathers and mothers did?"  Is that a component of our 
motivation?  

Anyway, Oprah wanted out the first night and didn't last much longer than 
that.  Her statement that she, assuming she would be a slave in 1628, would not 
be sitting at the table with the others is contrary to my studies.  I am 
thinking about a grad course I took at the University of Texas, Austin, entitled 
"The Old South."  In it we came to understand that those people who had one or 
two slaves thought of them and treated them as family in most cases.  It was 
only when the numbers of slaves became large after the invention of the cotton 
gin and, especially if an overseer were hired, that slaves were treated so 
inhumanely as mere property.

Anyhow, as is the case right now today, with our friends, who are faced with 
the task of living through deprivation due to a possible landing of Frances in 
their neighborhoods, those who backpack are basically better prepared. They 
have the tools.  In many cases they have a stash of dehydrated or freeze dried 
foods, waiting for the next expedition into the wild places above and between 
highways.  They know they can make it.  That's important.

Kinnickinic, who said "go northEast," not "go to the Northeast."  :-)

Those of you who pass this on to your children are giving them an important 
gift, the gift of being able to enjoy life without all the bells and whistles, 
just like families did in 1628.  (Some families.)