A Stockholm Story We started our trip in Stockholm on a street corner where we puzzled over the mystery of how a metal barrier post thing, which, to our eyes, looked every bit like the front end of a sawed-off cannon, got so knocked off kilter in an area of town where supposedly no motorContinue reading “The perfect place to start a Viking journey”
Author Archives: Krista Marson
Emerson
A champion of individualism and a prescient critic of the countervailing pressures of society. Attacked materialism, opportunism, complacency, parochialism, and conformity. Emerson : “Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.” Emerson believed intuition should have precedence over intellect. TRUST THYSELF. Emerson: using common sense, a love of nature, and his own particular genius,Continue reading “Emerson”
Transcendentalism
A core belief of transcendentalism is in the inherent goodness of people and nature. Adherents believe that society and its institutions have corrupted the purity of the individual, and they have faith that people are at their best when truly “self-reliant” and independent. An ideal spiritual state transcends, or goes beyond, the physical and empirical, and thatContinue reading “Transcendentalism”
The Wisdom of Thoreau
After spending some quality time with the works of Thoreau, I arrived at some poignant conclusions: The inner life can be understood only as part of the larger life of nature. The language of stillness, acceptance, non-resistance rather than militant willfulness. I must receive my life as passively as the willow leaf that flutters over the brook. I will grow as natureContinue reading “The Wisdom of Thoreau”
Turning 40
A birthday I didn’t want to be home for. Having a birthday so close to Christmas means that I never go anywhere to celebrate it. I hate crowds and spending money, and traveling over the Christmas holiday is the deadly combination of both. I have never been anywhere other than where I live on theContinue reading “Turning 40”
Bill Clinton Slept Here
It’s almost impossible to reminisce about a trip to Arkansas without mentioning Bill Clinton somewhere along the way. Hot Springs, Arkansas, takes pride in the fact that Bill Clinton grew up there and no trip to that city feels complete unless you leave feeling like you were sufficiently reminded of that fact at least aContinue reading “Bill Clinton Slept Here”
Crater of Diamonds
When I told Ryan that I wanted to go to Arkansas and dig for diamonds after reading an article about some kid that recently scooped up a sizable diamond at The Crater of Diamonds State Park, I remember his response being something along the lines of, “You want to go where and do what now?”Continue reading “Crater of Diamonds”
That Time We Visited Naples
It’s a good thing Ryan doesn’t know any Italian because that way he had no idea what the guy holding a massive fish tank was yelling at him. I don’t know any Italian either, but I was pretty sure the angry guy holding an unwieldy fish tank was pissed that Ryan was standing in hisContinue reading “That Time We Visited Naples”
The Day I Would Eventually Regret
There were a few occasions when there was something on tour at The Art Institute of Chicago that was too good to miss which made driving to Chicago from Milwaukee worth it. I recall one exhibit in particular that saved both my mom and me a trip to Scotland when many of the works created byContinue reading “The Day I Would Eventually Regret”
A Milwaukee Story
…that of course includes a trip to Chicago. I actually never really minded having to go back to Milwaukee as often as I did, as there was a certain something about that city which has always intrigued me. Milwaukee is a city that no one seems to watch, and it never surprised me why a personContinue reading “A Milwaukee Story”
Krista Marson 