Smut Eye is simple. That's probably why I love it most. The people are simple. They lead simple lives. Their days are simple. You get the picture.
True simplicity of day to day life has almost been completely lost. I can remember all I had to do each day was go to school, come home, do homework, play outside, eat supper, and go to bed. As we got older, we occasionally got to pick a sport or an activity to participate in, but it was limited. You see, when you live in the middle of nowhere, you really have to monitor how much you go, how far you go, and if it's really important enough to actually "go" anywhere.
You might think that sounds boring, but oh, it was simple! My family's days now involve so much activity my head spins and I have have many friends even busier than we are!
In Smut Eye, we had to go, and my parents still have to go, 45 min-1 hour to a Wal-mart, movie theater, major grocery store, retail stores and 15 minutes to the Piggly Wiggly, post office, or bank.
All that said, maybe that's why I love going back "home" to visit. With things so far removed, you don't feel pushed to join in all the commotion. You are compelled to take a rest when you need it. You actually want to go outside and enjoy the peace. Maybe I romanticize it because I long for it so often, but it really is different.
I'd like to think that I have accomplished preserving a little bit of this in my life in "the big city." When it does get overwhelming and I have lost a bit of control over how busy we are I often think of the Jack Johnson song "Breakdown." Here are the lyrics:
I hope this old train breaks down
Then I could take a walk around
And, see what there is to see
And time is just a melody
All the people in the street
Walk as fast as their feet can take them
I just roll through town
And though my windows got a view
The frame I'm looking through
Seems to have no concern for now
So for now
I need this
Old train to breakdown
Oh please just
Let me please breakdown
This engine screams out loud
Centipede gonna crawl westbound
So I don't even make a sound
Cause it's gonna sting me when I leave this town
All the people in the street
That I'll never get to meet
If these tracks don't bend somehow
And I got no time
That I got to get to
Where I don't need to be
So I
I need this
Old train to breakdown
Oh please just
Let me please breakdown
I need this
Old train to breakdown
Oh please just
Let me please breakdown
I wanna break on down
But I cant stop now
Let me break on down
But you cant stop nothing
If you got no control
Of the thoughts in your mind
That you kept in, you know
You don't know nothing
But you don't need to know
The wisdoms in the trees
Not the glass windows
You cant stop wishing
If you don't let go
But things that you find
And you lose, and you know
You keep on rolling
Put the moment on hold
The frames too bright
So put the blinds down low
I need this
Old train to breakdown
Oh please just
Let me please breakdown
I need this
Old train to breakdown
Oh please just
Let me please breakdown
I wanna break on down
But I cant stop now
If you can read that and identify at all (I am sure everyone can), then maybe you need to go "home" and rest. I just hope your "home" is as good a place at being simple as Smut Eye is! If it's not, maybe you need to visit!
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