It Takes A Village?
Communes are made up of a variety of people19 total reviews
Comment from Tom Horonzy
You have led a most inte... varied life. Communes? Were you ever driving a van in Kodiak? It's the only time I had a hit of weed, as we were hitching around the island when these hippie-types offered a seat on the deck of their van, passing around a stone pipes with mj fully seeded. I didn't like it, and that was the end of my Woodstock experiment.
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2023
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You have led a most inte... varied life. Communes? Were you ever driving a van in Kodiak? It's the only time I had a hit of weed, as we were hitching around the island when these hippie-types offered a seat on the deck of their van, passing around a stone pipes with mj fully seeded. I didn't like it, and that was the end of my Woodstock experiment.
Comment Written 07-Jan-2023
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2023
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Hi Tom-
ha, ha, ha- no, I've never been to Kodiak. I never tried weed either. I don't think I missed much. I did ride in a van around the streets of Hoonah with Buffalo Bob. He was wearing a maroon beret and was in incredibly handsome man. All the girls on the street were waving at him and calling his name. I never had that happen to me. Guess I should have bought a maroon beret. Thanks so much for the great review and entertaining comments. Have a blessed day.
Tom
Comment from Katherine M. (k-11)
I think this is the first I have read of the 10 years you spent living communally in Alaska. The piece leaves me perplexed. What made you stay there that long? You certainly don't write as though you enjoyed it. Beautifully expressed though, with no wavering from what seems to be an uncomfortable position. Kate xx
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2023
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I think this is the first I have read of the 10 years you spent living communally in Alaska. The piece leaves me perplexed. What made you stay there that long? You certainly don't write as though you enjoyed it. Beautifully expressed though, with no wavering from what seems to be an uncomfortable position. Kate xx
Comment Written 07-Jan-2023
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2023
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Hello Kate,
You're right, I hated my time on the farm, at least the first five years. Things got better after that, but not ideal. I'll be posting something soon that will hopefully explain our reasons for staying so long. Thanks so much for the great review and thoughtful comments. Have a blessed evening.
Tom
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I'll look out for it
Comment from Sarah Das Gupta
This sounds like a nightmare! The reader feels compelled to ask why you stuck it? Young children do have a tendency to mimic others and there is not a lot you can do about it.
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2023
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This sounds like a nightmare! The reader feels compelled to ask why you stuck it? Young children do have a tendency to mimic others and there is not a lot you can do about it.
Comment Written 07-Jan-2023
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2023
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Hello Sarah,
thanks so much for the fine review and comments. I'll post another story about the farm soon that will hopefully help explain our time there. If we hadn't spent all of our money getting there, I probably would have packed up and left the next day though. Have a blessed day gal.
Tom
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Happy New Year fromm Cambridge,UK
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Happy New Year to you from Wasilla Alaska!
Comment from Wendy G
A very well written entry, and certainly very different. Thought-provoking enough to be living in such a community, but your descriptions of the meal-times were excellent and funny. At least you and your family could eat alone. Best wishes for the contest.
Wendy
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2023
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A very well written entry, and certainly very different. Thought-provoking enough to be living in such a community, but your descriptions of the meal-times were excellent and funny. At least you and your family could eat alone. Best wishes for the contest.
Wendy
Comment Written 07-Jan-2023
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2023
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Hello Wendy,
thanks so much for the delightful review and comments. Unfortunately, we weren't able to eat by ourselves for long. It was fun while it lasted though. The incident with the boys was funny, but you had to be there to understand how even having a meal could be turned into an unpleasant experience. I don't miss my time there, but it did provide me with a book, and a lot of memories to draw on. Have a blessed day.
Tom
Comment from Pam Lonsdale
Tom, I'm trying to understand why you put yourself in a situation - for 10 years - that you obviously did not enjoy.
Still, in the end, you got your way, didn't you? As always, your life stories are always interesting and well told, and your ending made me smile.
Next to the last paragraph - I think you mean "she couldn't YANK them out of their chars fast enough."
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2023
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Tom, I'm trying to understand why you put yourself in a situation - for 10 years - that you obviously did not enjoy.
Still, in the end, you got your way, didn't you? As always, your life stories are always interesting and well told, and your ending made me smile.
Next to the last paragraph - I think you mean "she couldn't YANK them out of their chars fast enough."
Comment Written 07-Jan-2023
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2023
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Hello Pam,
thanks so much for the great review and thoughtful comments. I changed the work yard to yank as you suggested. You weren't the only one who didn't understand the meaning. I guess it must be more of a local word. In the logging camps, there is a machine that is a tall tower with cables and winches that is called a yarder. The cables are wrapped around the trees that are cut and the yarder "yards" them out of the woods. I'll be posting another story with a little more detail about why we stayed as long as we did.
Have a blessed evening.
Tom
Comment from CrystieCookie999
This was both enlightening and amusing. I think you did a great job explaining the drawbacks and benefits of living on a semi-communal farm. Having meals in common makes me think that church dinners would be so much work if we had to have them so often like that happened as you describe it.
Only one thing to fix that I could tell: Carey caught sight of what was going on, said, "that is disgusting!" and left.
I would just capitalize That so it says, "That is disgusting!"
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2023
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This was both enlightening and amusing. I think you did a great job explaining the drawbacks and benefits of living on a semi-communal farm. Having meals in common makes me think that church dinners would be so much work if we had to have them so often like that happened as you describe it.
Only one thing to fix that I could tell: Carey caught sight of what was going on, said, "that is disgusting!" and left.
I would just capitalize That so it says, "That is disgusting!"
Comment Written 07-Jan-2023
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2023
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Hello Crystie,
thanks so much for the fine review and the suggestion. I took care of that. At least at church dinners, you know that they aren't going to be a part of your every day life. Plus, they usually have some pretty good food. The food on the farm was often a challenge to eat. My first meal was a plate of rice with brown bear gravy with chunks of bear meat. The next day, I was out in the field working and they came out with a big pan that had a bunch of brown and yellow goop in it. I asked what it was and the wagon driver said it was bear liver mush. Honest to God, I thought I would starve to death there. Ah the memories. Have a blessed evening gal.
Tom
Comment from 671islander
I can only imagine the wilderness of Alaska. Having grown up most of my life on an island with sub-tropical climate. I do have many family members, but I've never been close to 70+ people on a daily basis. 70+ plus people in four cabins already sounds like the title of a story or novel. My nationality is CHamoru from Guam. Growing up, I knew I was in the presence of other people of a different nationality, which mainly were Chuukese. By region, we're all Micronesians because our native islands are all in Micronesia. My late parents used to rent out extensions of our house to many families since the early 1980's. I'm born in 09/02/96, same day as my late mother Catherine. Many things I learned, saw, talked about, or participated in that was either good or bad. My family was also into some farming and rasing livestock
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2023
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I can only imagine the wilderness of Alaska. Having grown up most of my life on an island with sub-tropical climate. I do have many family members, but I've never been close to 70+ people on a daily basis. 70+ plus people in four cabins already sounds like the title of a story or novel. My nationality is CHamoru from Guam. Growing up, I knew I was in the presence of other people of a different nationality, which mainly were Chuukese. By region, we're all Micronesians because our native islands are all in Micronesia. My late parents used to rent out extensions of our house to many families since the early 1980's. I'm born in 09/02/96, same day as my late mother Catherine. Many things I learned, saw, talked about, or participated in that was either good or bad. My family was also into some farming and rasing livestock
Comment Written 07-Jan-2023
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2023
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Hello Islander,
thanks so much for the fine review and interesting comments. I spent some time in Florida, in Key West, so I know a little about the tropics, but I only spent about a year and a half there. There are people from all over the world who choose to live in Alaska. There is a large population of Philippinos, and some folks from American Samoa that I know of. I suppose it would take some time to adjust to the colder climate. Thanks for sharing your story with me.
Have a blessed day.
Tom
Comment from Dolly'sPoems
I was totally fascinated with this post Tom and the attempts of the village to bring the community together. I know it had its problems and some people were not to your liking, but I enjoyed the camaraderie. This just would not work in England as generally people are much more private and hate the intrusion of others in their lives. Less space in England and privacy is highly regarded. You made me laugh when those kids decided to stick their fingers down their throat, you didn't mention them being sick, but I expect that occurred and it would be disgusting to see whilst eating, but this is what kids do! I was entertained here Tom, your flow of words are natural and readable and I loved learning about your history, much enjoyed, I wish I had a six for you, love Dolly x
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reply by the author on 07-Jan-2023
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I was totally fascinated with this post Tom and the attempts of the village to bring the community together. I know it had its problems and some people were not to your liking, but I enjoyed the camaraderie. This just would not work in England as generally people are much more private and hate the intrusion of others in their lives. Less space in England and privacy is highly regarded. You made me laugh when those kids decided to stick their fingers down their throat, you didn't mention them being sick, but I expect that occurred and it would be disgusting to see whilst eating, but this is what kids do! I was entertained here Tom, your flow of words are natural and readable and I loved learning about your history, much enjoyed, I wish I had a six for you, love Dolly x
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Comment Written 07-Jan-2023
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2023
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Hello Dolly,
thanks so much for the great review and the delightful comments. I wasn't overjoyed at living so close to so many people either. When we finally built a cabin, after five years, I chose a lot all the way at the end of the property line. Our closest neighbors were three hundred yards away. Our house looked out over the fields and we could watch deer and bears and otters come and go. We once had a bear step up onto our stairs when my daughter Amber was going down them. The boys were just mimicking what they saw John do. They didn't get sick, although I don't know why not. Watching them almost made Carey sick I think. Of course Jan was mortified. Living there was exceptionally trying for me, but it sure gave me a lot of stories. Have a blessed evening gal.
Tom
Comment from Carol Hillebrenner
Well, that's one way to get out of sharing your table. Hope it didn't take long to reteach eating to your twins. Your English lady doesn't sound like someone who lasted a long time in the commune. It was quite an adventure for you and your family. I hope they all remember the best of times with some affection. One thing that didn't seem like what you meant: She couldn't (yard) them . . .
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reply by the author on 07-Jan-2023
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Well, that's one way to get out of sharing your table. Hope it didn't take long to reteach eating to your twins. Your English lady doesn't sound like someone who lasted a long time in the commune. It was quite an adventure for you and your family. I hope they all remember the best of times with some affection. One thing that didn't seem like what you meant: She couldn't (yard) them . . .
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The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 07-Jan-2023
reply by the author on 07-Jan-2023
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Hello Carol,
thanks so much for your fine review and thoughtful comments. I can't recall how long Carey stayed on the farm. Less than a year I believe. I wish I could have said the same. The boys were just mimicking what they saw. After that episode, Jan turned them back to back in their chairs so they couldn't see what each other was doing. I explained to another person on here that a yarder was a machine that loggers used to pull the downed trees out of the woods. It was considered yarding them out. I did go back and change the wording though so others won't be confused. I suppose that the kids have some good memories, and they got a surprisingly good education while we were there, but it wasn't especially a fun time for them either I don't believe. Thanks again for commenting. Have a blessed evening.
Tom
