Contemporary Thoreaus--3rd quarter (Journal #1)
I'm sure you have read pp. 264-265 in your literature text, the section entitled Contemporary Thoreaus. Annie Dillard and Edward Abbey are great examples of modern Thoreau disciples. Your journal assignment is to provide another example. I'd enjoy reading about someone who is NOT famous, maybe a favorite aunt or uncle, a friend's father or mother, or perhaps a friend of your own. Tell me what makes that person like Thoreau, either in his or her lifestyle or life philosophy. If you can't provide a personal example, then do some research and write about a historical figure. If you'd like, tell me about a character in a book or movie that is "So-Thoreau."One of my favorites is Jeremiah Johnson, a character portrayed by Robert Redford in a 1972 film. If you're a lover of the Western wilderness and don't mind movies that move at a slower pace, then give this movie a try.
posted by JTF @ 9:59 AM
67 comments
67 Comments:
I think my grandparents are like Thoreau more in their lifestyle than their philosophy. They live a quiet, but happy, life down near the beach and can have their times with nature in peace without even leaving their home. In good, warm weather, my grandfather will spend most of the day on the swing in their back yard reading the newspaper. It's very peaceful out there, though I can't stay out as long because sometimes it can get too hot. My grandmother would occassionally be cooking in the kitchen and look out the window and see a robin, or any other type of bird, and think it's absolutely beautiful. They even had a bird's nest in one of thier bushes with 3 eggs in it. They like their nights to be quiet, which I don't mind because I do, too. They watch TV, read the paper, do the crossword, and/or do something else, but it's real simple. Their whole life is simple. They do like the occassional visit, but other than that, it's mostly simplicity.
I feel that my piano teacher is somewhat like Thoreau in his own special way. Although he is not a hardcore nature lover, his words inspire me just as Thoreau's words do. When I read Thoreau's works, I get this surge of motivation and realization of the world. They make me want to step out of my normal routine, that I am so intertwined in, and just stop, think, and appreciate. My piano teacher's words motivate me as well. Though not as eloquent as Thoreau, his words always inspire me to stop and appreciate the things in life, more specifically music, while striving to reach a higher level. Thoreau really helps me understand the beauty of nature and his words make me want to do something; to be the (wo)man that "hears a different drummer." Thoreau's words made me more aware of life and nature. My piano teacher words give me guidance in my life. His love for "the beauty of" music impresses me everyday. I will always remember the speech he made about music. "We all must remember that it is a feeling that we get from music, and put into music. Feeling is what it is about. What the feeling is, is as individual as our fingerprint, but feeling it is. It is what keeps us coming back. Like the teenager girl in her room who listens to some sappy love song over and over and over, like a mouse pushing the cheese button, or like the opera fan who cries at Don Jose's loss of Carmen, we keep coming back for more. On an MP3 or with a hundred dollar symphony ticket, it doesn't matter. Music enraptures us."
For this journal I would choose my aunt, on my father's side. Her life evolves around Mother Nature since she rarely uses technology for entertainment. She lives in the part of Poland that surrounds a mountain range. She goes hiking everyday and is outside almost 24/7. She keeps life simple: she doesn't have a computer or e-mail address, she has a TV with only one channel to watch news on once a week, and she is a stay-at-home wife that doesn't stay at home, but is in the forest all day. Her agenda is never busy, three things to do tops. Her life couldn't be more simple. Although she doesn't keep a journal like Thoreau, she lets you in on the places she visits on a day-to-day basis. Those places are pure wildlife. I had fun hiking with her during the summer, getting in touch with nature again felt good. Sometimes I wish I could get in touch with nature every day, but that's impossible. Maybe she doesn't hunt for her own food (that is not even legal), but she is the most simple lifestyle person I know. If I were to show her Times Square, I think she would freak out. That type of lifestyle in society is unreal for her. I think my aunt might be a very good representation of what Thoreau was looking for in the woods.
I believe my grandparents are the most “Thoreau” like people in my life. Their lifestyle is quite simple compared to the average household in America. They enjoy sitting on their porch watching the birds eat from the numerous bird feeders they have out in their backyard. Nature is a big part in their life. Each winter they go down to Florida for about four months to relax and enjoy the warm weather. They have a few friends down there that they can enjoy this relaxing type of lifestyle with. I get extremely jealous when they leave when it is in the low thirties here in Delaware. Which makes me feel even worse is when I get a call from them saying that it’s in the seventies with a nice breeze in Florida. My grandparent’s life can be related to “Thoreau” through their love for nature and their simplified lifestyle.
My friend’s uncle Tony is a modern day Thoreau. He lives outside Fairbault, Minnesota which is a small town in the southern part of the state. Tony lives in a small cabin by a lake. His is the only cabin around for miles. Tony used to live in Minneapolis but he got tired of the hectic life in the city. My friend Courtney and I went to visit him once and we knew right away why someone would want to live alone in such a beautiful place. While we were visiting Tony, he told us about how exciting it was to live with nature everyday. Tony took us out on the lake one evening to watch the sunset from the water. He told us that when he lived in the city he never noticed the sunset. Now, he always stops what he is doing to enjoy the beauty of the sunset. Since we visited Tony, I often think about how quiet and peaceful it was to be away from other people and alone with nature.
My grandparents are most like a modern day Thoreau because their lives are so involved in nature. They live just outside of Ocean City, Maryland in a woodsy little neigborhood. Their backyard is filled with trees and animals. Whenever we go visit them they always have to tell us about the squirrels in the backyard, or how the bird's chirping is so beautiful, or show us the pictures they took of the hummingbirds. My grandpa must have at least 4 bird feeders out by the trees. Their lives display the epitome of simplicity. Each day they seem to have the same routine but they are never bored with it. They are so happy with just sitting out on the porch and having each others company. I noticed that their interest in the nature around them has increased with age. However, neither of them mind. I know that when we go visit them again, over dinner they will tell us how high the water was when it was raining, or how the same bird comes back to the feeders each day. I know that they look forward to this everyday and if it keeps them happy, I'm happy too.
If had to name anyone that I know who is most like Thoreau I would have to say my aunt and uncle. I have not seen them in a few years, but there is an understandable reason for this, they live in Alaska. In my mind they most closely resemble Thoreau through their lifestyle and their views on nature and the environment. They are constantly sending emails and mailing letters telling us how much they enjoy Alaska. My uncle always tries to explain to me how different their town is from the places we live, he tells me he is so thankful that they got away from the “hustle and bustle” of the big cities and live a more peaceful life and how he is in sync with nature. My aunt has told me that she has become more peaceful since she has moved to Alaska, how she loves to just be able to look out the window and see for miles because none of the wilderness has been cultivated for cities to grow and expand. As we have learned Thoreau moved into a cabin into the woods to escape the city and be at one with nature, and even though my aunt and uncle did not move to Alaska to purposely attain this same feeling, they sure found it.
Someone that reminds me of Thoreau would be my neighbor. She is like Thoreau with her lifestyle. She keeps her life simple and loves nature. I don’t think she owns a computer and she scarcely watches TV. I’ve never seen her complain about anything and she always has a smile on her face. I always see her outside fixing her backward with flowers and decorations and sometimes just sitting on her back porch drinking some water and just staring into the woods. I’ve taken a walk with her before into the woods and her words about nature just stun me. She speaks of nature as being such a healing element. That is why I think my neighbor is so “Thoreau.”
I believe my Uncle is very similar to Thoreau. He is a down to earth person that loves to be outside. He is always admiring his peach and cherry trees, along with his garden of vegetables. He plants tons of flowers every summer and takes good care of his lawn.He also has the family over for bonfires outside and takes my cousins and I for long walks on the beach. He spends tons of time in his canopy enjoying the sunshine and letting nature take his worries away. He has always taught me that nature can teach you valuable lessons if you let it. He has also told me that nature can bring family closer, as he always has family get togethers at the park or takes us out on his boat. I admire my Uncle because he lives day-by-day with no worries and has taught me never take life for granted. If anyone reminds me of Thoreau, it is my Uncle.
People who I know who are like Thoreau are my neighbors at my beach house. They are an older married couple. They are like Thoreau because they love nature and are always outside. They are always on the beach during the day and in the evening they sit on their porch for hours peering out into the bay. They live very simply and only have what they absolutely need. They love to go on long boat rides to take in the majesty yet the simplicity of nature. They live there all year round unlike most people who only go to the beach over summer months, leaving the town of Fenwick Island nearly deserted during the winter months. I would compare this to Thoreau because he too lived in a deserted area. My neighbors always learn something from nature. I find them to be refreshing compared to the average twenty-first century person because they do not need High-Tec gadgets or expensive things to be happy. They only need the simplicity and the beauty of the world around them to be content with their lives.
I also think my grandparents are like Thoreau more in their lifestyle than in their philosophy. They both live in Florida near a country club and are always playing golf and eating their meals with their friends and are living a peaceful life with not many complications. My grandmother loves to cook and whenever we are over there, she cooks huge meals that we can barely finish, and which always end up as leftovers for nights to come. At night, you can always find them watching the news on TV, doing crossword puzzles, or talking to friends out on their porch while the sun sets. I think they are just so "Thoreau".
If i had to pick someone who is close to me who is like Thoreau in lifestyle and philosphy it would be my uncle. He lives in New Hampshire and no matter what the weather conditions are he always spends part of his days oustide. He loves nature and loves the peaceful, calm enviroment. For as long as I have known him he never cared much about politics or celebritys or anyhing like that, he was just very simple. He cared for his family and friends and as long as they are happy, he is happy. My uncle is married but dosent have any children and whenever my family and I go to visit him in the summer we always do outside activities and in his down time he loves to lay out on the hammock and read. He really just enjoys nature, his family and genuine things.
The person whom I know that reminds me most of Thoreau is my dad. He is very appreciative of nature and all of its simplicities. In the car on a snowy morning, he'll remark on how wonderful the snow looks on the bare trees, or on a spring morning, he'll admire the flowers in their blooming presence. He also loves to watch a bird in flight as it effortlessly glides through the air, catching various air currents. My dad also enjoys other simple things that most of us hardly notice. He is delighted by the laughter of a little kid or the affection of our dog. He really helps me to realize these things which I sometimes take forgranted.
To me, my grandparents are very much like Thoreau. Their values and way of life relate to many of Thoreau’s teachings. They live in a simple home in a quiet area in Hockessin were they very much enjoy the wild life around them. They greatly appreciate nature, and love the birds that come to their birdfeeders which are set up in their backyard. They don't use present day technology such as the computer, cell phone, or ipod, and they watch television only to watch the 6 'o’clock news. They value and appreciate everything they have and would only buy something new if they really needed to. I think that the world today is very materialistic and if everyone lived their life the way Thoreau did, we'd live in a much happier and peaceful world.
I think my tutor, David, is so Thoreau. He has been working with me on English since about 2 years ago. Although I wasn’t able to speak in English reliably and he taught me grammar, writing skills, and vocabulary, we have been most likely friends. I enjoyed talking with him about everything. Sometimes he gave me some advises when I had troubles with my family or school. Or I used to tell me about my life in Korea and he used to tell me about his long life (he is 65 years old). As my perspective, finding out or hearing somebody’s life is like traveling. So I was always very interested in his story. The reason why I think he is so Thoreau is because he has lived his life alone for some times but with passion. When he was young, he majored in agriculture. So after he graduated, he went to his uncle’s farm but he realized that it was not the life what he looked forward and moved out of the farm. Later he made lots of money from an oil company. With the money, he went to Europe with his friend. I remember that he told me traveling all over Europe. He said everything was so beautiful and the people in Europe loved the nature. Recently he traveled Turkey. I was very excited to hear what was like to be in Turkey. At that time, I felt like I haven’t been living my life with such a passion like him. I also can feel that he is so Thoreau in other way. He lives alone in Newark right now and always tells me that there are so many problems in Newark especially the UD students. Having a big and noisy party, getting drunken or yelling in midnight, are what he told me. He descried how frustrating he is about those problems. But he enjoys going out and having a cup of coffee in evening working on his stuffs at a café. His life is well organized but pursuits his own ways. I feel that David's lifestyle is very similar to Thoreau.
For this journal, I would like to write about my uncle John. He lives in Colorado and we don't get to see him very often, but he is like Thoreau in his lifestyle and his philosophy in many different ways. He lives in a smaller house up in the woods on a mountain. The closest town is at least a 30 minute drive. He enjoys being surrounded by nature and has learned to appreciate all that it has to offer. He lives a very simple lifestyle and he likes to read with the fire goin most of the time. He is probably the most relaxed and carefree person i know. He believes that everthing in nature has a purpose and that nature is one of the best ways to show Gods work on the earth. During the summer he walks around in the woods near his house taking pictures trees, plants, flowers, and the different wildlife that share the mountain with him. Every picture in is house is one that he has taken and every single one shows the pure beauty that nature has to offer. This is who I believe is most like Thoreau today.All of these things make my Uncle John very similar to Thoreau.
Another example of someone who is like Thoreau would be my Grandmother. She just loves the Lord’s creation. She loves nature; in all its forms, rainy days or sunny days make no difference to her. She always finds goodness in what the Lord has placed before her. She is the kind of person who will sit out on a porch drinking milk on a Sunday afternoon, just watching the world go by, not having a care in the world. She is the type of person who just sits and watches the rainfall on rainy days. She is the kind of person who is never in a rush to go somewhere, or unwilling to stop and marvel at the wonders set before us. She enjoys drives through parks, or having sandwiches in a park. She likes to get out and see what nature has to offer that day. She never turns down an opportunity to go out for lunch at a restaurant with an outside dining area, or a porch. This talk of Thoreau in English class makes me think of her because of how the two of them appreciate nature in all its beauty. This is why I chose my Grandmother to write about.
EJ RED:
For this journal topic, I would say that my Aunt Tammy is like Thoreau. She lives in Illinois so I only get to see her once a year, if that. She used to be a veterinarian and worked at one of the zoos there in her town. She chose to work in a zoo because she could be given the opportunity to work outside if she wanted. She is a pretty laid back, take it easy kind of person. When I do get to see her, along with the rest of my family from Illinois, we are always at one of our yearly family reunions. We usually do these in the summer, at the Outer Banks, or somewhere equally as fun, but not the beach. And, since we are usually staying at a nice house, she has the option to go outside as much as she wants, as does any other person. She is always outside. Whether it be running super early in the morning, or just sitting outside enjoying the view. She reminds me of Thoreau because she always takes things lightly and seems to enjoy the little things of her everyday life.
People in my life who are like Thoreau are my neighbors at the beach. They are an old couple who enjoy the simple things in life. They are always down the beach in the summer and they spend most of the time sitting on the porch and enjoying each other's company. They are always outside and most of the time they cook and eat outside. It does not take much to please them, and they are always happy. They enjoy nature and their idea of a perfect day is just relaxing outside, either on their porch or at the beach. They have one kid whose happiness is most important to them. He is much older now, and comes to visit them at the beach every so often. He is just like them though in the way that he lives his life. He is also like Thoreau in the way he lives a simple life. He can also spend all day sitting outside enjoying nature. His parents are always happy and loud and friendly, but he is a little more laid back and quiet compared to them. These three people are some of the nicest and happiest people I know.
The one person in my life who I see as a Thoreau-like person would definately have to be my grandmother. She sees nature as a huge part of her life and loves being surrounded by it. She even uses to nature to explore and express her faith and beliefs. Her backyard is filled with all kinds of trees, plants and flowers. She just has a normal backyard, no natural forest area or anything, yet it is almost completely filled with trees. It looks like some sort of miniature forest or something. She has put in pathways and such to make it more. She dedicated it to her husband, my late grandfather. I think she is the Thoreau figure in my life.
While thinking about a person I know that is "So Thoraeu", my aunt quickly came to mind. My Aunt Lisa, my dad's sister, lives all the way on the other side of the country in Washington. She and her husband, my uncle Peter, own a small health clinic together. She is, in my opinion, very in-tune with nature. She favors using holistic types of medicines to cure issues with the body. When I was little, I remember her giving me acupuncture. She also uses natural herbs to cure her dogs
of sickness. She enjoys going on long hikes and taking her dogs for walks. My Aunt is a very simple sort of woman, never wearing any make-up and using only one natural soap for all purposes. I always confided in her to give me information and guidance on my journey to vegetarianism and veganism, since she has been down the same road. I don't get to see her much because she lives so far away, but one of these summers I plan on going out to visit her so I can spend more time getting in-tune with nature.
My Great Grandparents are like Thoreau. They live on a farm in Ohio. They raised animals and appreciate what the land gives them. Wasting is never an option. When I was little I use to never finish all my food. My grandparents explained to me how lucky I am to have resources to have food every day and to be thankful i live in such a beautiful place. My Grandparents are always out doors on their farm. They have a garden and a barn with fields surrounding it. They love to be outside and work on their farm and just be with nature. It is a beautiful place and they enjoy spending time out having picnics, taking bike rides, and camping. I really enjoy visiting their farm with the wide open fields and peaceful surroundings. Thoreau was in touch with nature and love being a part of it just as my grandparents do.
An example of a modern day Thoreau would be my father’s Aunt Rosie. She lives way up north in The Catskill Mountains of New York. We went to visit my Aunt Rosie a few years ago for a family reunion. Traveling to the Catskills was like traveling to a whole different world. Everything was colorful and full of wonderful sites to see. My Aunt Rosie told us about how she loves living up there and wouldn’t move for anything. She said that she enjoyed being able to look out every window in her house and see nothing but beauty surrounding her. She said that she loved stepping on her front porch every day and hearing all of the birds singing and the wind blowing. My Aunt Rosie learned a lot of things while she lived in the Catskills. She learned to love flowers, trees, and animals. She learned that beauty is everywhere and not just on magazine covers or on commercials. I really liked going up to the mountains and seeing the world from a completely different view. I really understand why Thoreau did what he chose to do and why he chose to write his works. Going in to nature probably taught him a lot and I am sure if we all went out to nature for a while we could learn a lot as well.
I believe a great example of Thoreaus philosophical lifestyle is my really good cousin Vince. Actually he is more like a big brother and I look up to him. He is around 27 and his lifestyle is so Thoreau’s. He lives a simple life with simple ideals. He doesn’t go through the materialistic life of society therefore he is extremely humble. He doesn’t have anything to show off or doesn’t want any praise for anything. He is a guy that gets him noticed by his humility. He does things for himself at his own time and own pace and doesn’t let society influence his abilities. He gives really good, very positive and uplifting advice like Thoreau. Simplicity is all you need. All your worries are just the trouble of the future, he says. His job is pretty interesting. He is a missionary. A missionary is someone basically goes around the world preaching the good news of God like a prophet in Jesus’ days. He is very religious and his life is the Lord. Of course, he doesn’t make a lot of money like those big CEO’s in those companies but he loves what he does and he loves what he gains. He gains a sense of fulfillment that he is changing someone’s life for the better. Thoreau’s simple life compare to Vince’s simple life- and their advice as well. He appreciates the small things in life which maybe is the reason why he is always happy and calm.
whatsup mr. fiorelli this is jonmay and im in history class but im just seein what ur up to nowadays without. hit me up
I think that my neighboors are like Thoreau because of their love for the outdoors. My neighboors, Arny and Sue, are a middle aged couple who spend most of their free time outside. I see Sue every morning before school. She is always walking her dog, Buddy, on a long leash and enjoying the sunrise as she takes him on a walk. Arny watches her from their porch, sipping his coffee from his rocking chair and watches the birds overhead. This couple loves nature, and instead of watching TV inside, they enjoy doing active things outside. No matter what the weather is like, I see them doing something outside almost everyday. Sue loves to garden, and she is very proud of her beautful garden and landscaping. This couple seems to never be bored, and they are always content just sitting outside and enjoying the wilderness that surrounds them.
The person that I feel is most like Thoreau is my grandmother. She does not live in the woods and she is not secluded from everyone, but her daily routine is very much like Thoreau’s routine in his book Walden. A few years ago my grandmother’s husband died, he was obviously my grandfather. Ever since then she has become somewhat lonely. She wakes up often goes out on her porch and reads a book or goes for a walk. She lives in Ridgewood New Jersey. The town is normal size and it is one of the richest towns in New Jersey. However, she doesn’t act rich or snobby she just does what she likes. She lives right in front of a high school so the students keep her young. She loves to play scrabble and she enjoys nature. She doesn’t get to lonesome because she has six children and she found a new scrabble partner, his name is Bert. My grandmother goes to church every Sunday and she is very close to god just like Thoreau was. Even though my grandmother is a lot like Thoreau she still loves to be around people and she travels all the time. She went on a cruise in the Mediterranean Sea last year. Even though she is like Thoreau she isn’t a mean hag. She loves her grand children and her six sons.
I believe that my uncle and his family live a sort of life that could be perceived as being "So-Thoreau." My uncle lives in a small town outside of Elkton, Maryland. He owns a small house, a barn, and three acres of land. Over the years his family has owned a number of different pets. They have owned fish, rats, lizards, six dogs, and ducks. My uncle is a hunter and most of their dogs have been hunting dogs. He also goes crabbing often. He and his family have a love for the outdoors. They go camping at least once a year and go on a canoeing trip as well. Unlike Thoreau they love to have company and parties such as their annual pigroast, but i believe they are still similar to Thoreau in their love and appreciation of nature.
A relative of mine that is much like Thoreau is my Uncle Harry. He lives in Maine and researches wildlife for personal pleasure. He lives mostly in solitude and spends much of his time with nature. He tells me that he likes being alone because he feels so at one with nature and he finds it very peaceful. He loves learning about new wildlife and keeps a journal of all the new plants and animals he finds. He comes over at least once a year and shares all of his interesting finds with us. He is the typical stock character of a woodsman. he has a bushy beard and and wears a large amount of animal skins. He is a very interesting person to be around because he always has such great stories. When he comes over, he always goes in the back yard and tells me the names of all the plants and trees that he has found back there. I always learn so much from him and he reminds me of Thoreau in the highest regard.
I think my Uncle Joe is like Thoreau. My Uncle lives out in Wisconsin now, but he is constantly moving. My Uncle and his wife love nature they are always going to different sites in nature that are beautiful. They have been to the grand canyons every year for the last five years. They go hiking and camping almost every weekend. One summer my family went out to visit them in Ohio. We went hiking and white water rafting. I really enjoyed the four days we spent with my uncle and aunt. In the winter my uncle and aunt go skiing. They have been to Colorado, Utah, and California. I never get to see my uncle and aunt because they are always traveling. My uncle and aunt live a simple life and do not get involved in the busy world of today. I really admire their way of life. I think my uncle reminds me of Thoreau with his way of life.
Drew Mink Red
I think my Aunt Beth reminds me of Thoreau in a few ways. Although I haven't seen her in a few years, she is a psychiatrist and has a fine love for nature and goes camping alot. She is a very old fashioned, quirky woman even though she isn't very old. She is a vegetarian and lives in an a log cabin that has a wood burning stove. She realizes the beauty of nature wherever she goes, and has a unique love of life. She feels that everyday of her life is blessed. She has even written a book, although I don't know the name of it. My Aunt Beth has the ability to sit on her front porch from dusk till dawn and watch the birds, as Thoreau did. She is a modern day example of Henry David Thoreau.
Out of everyone I have ever encountered in my life, I believe my grandmother's lifestyle is most similar to Thoreau's. She lives by herself in Cumberland, located in the mountains in western Maryland. Every year for the past 25 years, between May and September, she runs a camp at a local state park, spending the majority of her time with kids ages 4 to 13. She, along with her counselors, takes the children hiking, canoing, fishing, swimming, and much more, keeping herself and the campers in great shape. The kids absolutely love her, and she treats them as if they were her own children. In my eyes, this is the epitome of a selfless life and a life in touch with nature, much like Thoreau's. She takes a significant amount out of time every day working with these kids, making sure they have unforgettable childhood experiences, which she unfortunately did not have.
Out of everyone I have ever encountered in my life, I believe my grandmother's lifestyle is most similar to Thoreau's. She lives by herself in Cumberland, located in the mountains in western Maryland. Every year for the past 25 years, between May and September, she runs a camp at a local state park, spending the majority of her time with kids ages 4 to 13. She, along with her counselors, takes the children hiking, canoing, fishing, swimming, and much more, keeping herself and the campers in great shape. The kids absolutely love her, and she treats them as if they were her own children. In my eyes, this is the epitome of a selfless life and a life in touch with nature, much like Thoreau's. She takes a significant amount out of time every day working with these kids, making sure they have unforgettable childhood experiences, which she unfortunately did not have.
I can only think one person that is truely like Thoreau. He is my mother's cousin's father's uncle and he likes deep in the wilderness of Brazil. His name is Malachi Oppenheimer. He originally went down to Brazil to do some kind of research on the effects of genetically enhanced bananas on monkeys. Eventually the monkeys became increasingly aggresive and the entire project folded. Anyway, after that he decided to stay in the jungles of Brazil. He really felt Brazil was meant to be his natural habitat. He loved the different animals and the natives. He always sends us post cards and fresh fruit when he visits Brasilia. We got a post card last New Years and he is doing well. Apparently he is living in a bamboo treehouse where he now studies the native children. He performs on them to see how they react in certain situation. He really loves wild rainforest of Brazil and he will probably stay there for the rest of his life. He truely is like Thoreau because he lives deep in the Amazon and is as close to nature as possible.
The one person that I know that is like Thoreau is my Dad. He is like Thoreau in his life style. One way he is like Thoreau is that he owns about 800 acres of land that he can go out to end enjoy, and hunt on with his friends. He doesn’t want a very complex life; he likes it simple even though he has a complex job (he is a doctor). He enjoys to go out to his land and walk hike around on it and just think about things, which is just like what Thoreau liked to do when he was at his cabin. My father and Thoreau both loved nature in every way and form even if they were down on their luck or just had a bad day. It is the biggest thing my Dad and Thoreau looked to brighten up their days. That is why my father is like Thoreau in his life style, and I believe his philosophy is like Thoreau’s in the same way.
The person that I think i like Thoreau the most in lifestyle and philosophy comes from a book that I read. The characters name is Kamahl the savage warrior. Kamahl becomes fed up with his reign of killing and goes to the forest o sleep forever so that he will not hurt others again. While he sleep eternally the forest began to merge with him covering him in moss and vines. When all thought that he had turned to stone he emerged from the green dome surround him. He was dressed in the clothing of the forest and his aura had changed. His out look on life had changed he began to see the beauty of creation and was more relaxed. His knowledge had also grown and he claim the wisdom of the forest had set in upon him. This is like Thoreau's expierence. Both gained great wisdom and new meaning from nature. Thoreau and Kamahl's auras had changed and they had new purposes for their lives.
Chblue
My uncle is very much like Thoreau. He is very philosophical and likes to teach, he works at Stanford in California where he teaches writing and French. I'm not sure how to explain it exactly but he just seems to know a lot about the world and people in general. although he loves nature he lives in San Francisco because he wife doesn't want to leave. He takes a lot of bike rides across the national parks of California, some of which last days at a time. He studies old movies and wants to start a class that teaches students about the philosophy and creation of film. I think if Thoreau was alive today he would be very much like that.
The person I think is most like Thoreau is my uncle Roy. He lives in upstate New York and is a gym teacher for mentally challenged children. In addition to this, he loves being outdoors and appreciating nature. Whenever I visit him, he always asks me about the sports I do and asks me and my other cousins to help him do something outside. He doesn't like technology and probably doesn't know how to use a computer. He runs a mile around his neighborhood two times a day. He always talks about how nature is important and that we should always take care of it.
David Thoreau’s writings express the importance of unity with nature, individuality from society, and simplicity in everyday life. My younger brother is a perfect example of a “modern Thoreau”. No one I know loves animals more that him. He constantly watches animal planet. He loves to go to the zoo and aquariums fascinate him. He never passes up the chance to go and play outside. All of god’s creation id beautiful to him. He also lives a simple life. Little things make him smile and material possessions are not the basis of his happiness. He exudes joyfulness and love which, in my opinion, is the result of his simplistic lifestyle. My brother is also “so Thoreau” because he is very content by himself. He has complete satisfaction playing outside by himself. He does not get caught up in society’s standards and lives his life as the individual that God created him to be. I admire my brother and think if more people live their lives based on Thoreau’s ideas the world would be a more peaceful place.
My Dad's parents are very much like Thoreau in their lifestyle and way of thinking. They are religious and go to mass everyday at the catholic church in walking distance from their house. They rarely travel by car and my grandfather used to love to catch fish from the ocean, also in walking distance, for dinner. They walk miles everyday just for the fun of it. All around Bethany Beach DE and the surrounding area they stroll sometimes talking to one another but mostly just listening and observing nature. This summer and every summer i walk with them on the beach in the early morning. They get up around four and are out of the house by five. Thoreau wrote about how simplicity is the best way to live. My grandparents have no cell phones, and no computer. My grandmother still frequently sends letters by mail. I think they are a good example of the Thoreau way of life.
I would have to say that my great grandfather reminds me of Thoreau. He lived in a rural house down in Coral Gables in Florida. He believed highly in going on walks and bike rides by himself and was a very big supporter of thinking about things by yourself without having to consult other people for help. When he was younger he came over to America on a boat and had worked in a factory in Buffalo New York without any family and not that many friends for about 7 years. He then sent money over back to Italy to bring the rest of his family over after he made enough money. Later in his life he had gone and visited Asia and China for about 3 years. He told me that it had been the most peaceful and natural experience of his life. I truly think my great grandpa is an epitome of a Thoreau follower.
i believe that my grandparents are the most Thoreau-like in their lifestyles. They live in a moderate sized house at the beach during the summer and down in Florida during the winter. They house in Florida is on the side of a lake with many trees and animals around the lake. They spend alot of their time either sitting in their house watching the lake or taking walks near the lake. They also have a pool that is a shelter to many types of frogs and lizards. At the beach they live in their house mostly in the small town of Lewes. They sit around most of the time and watch their garden and sometimes take walks into the forests near their house. They also sometimes take walks on the beach. My grandparents have a clear love of nature
I think that my neighbors are very much like Thoreau. They are never inside, like literally never. They are constantly working on their garden and on their house changing someone up. They are very quiet for the most part but have been a big part of my life. They are basically my second parents, they are the ones i go to for advice sometimes and the ones that help me out with life delemas. They arent much of modern day people either. They dont have anything over the top. Just standard living conditions. They are very smart people. Read alot and write alot. They prefer to just only use the things to get by rather than make life harder by having to worry about money and things of that nature.
My Mom-mom and Pop-pop, I would consider, are like Thoreau. They live in quiet, wide-open spaced Ridgely, Maryland. Their house is surrounded by forest in the back and on the sides. On one side of their house they have a pond where my dad, Pop-pop, and I will fish occasionally. My Mom-mom and Pop-pop love the outdoors. My Pop-pop usually is working on the yard outside, building something in his shed, or fishing. Him and my dad use to go hunting, but decided not to hunt anymore when I was old enough to protest that they were "killing Bambi's mom." My Mom-mom enjoys working with my Pop-pop on the yard also. Sometimes we will go swimming or visit their neighbors who own some horses. Also, when I was about ten years old, mom Mom-mom, Pop-pop, and I took the motor-home and went camping in Blackwater Falls, West Virginia. The trip was a lot of fun and we spent much of our time outdoors and enjoying nature. Hopefully we will plan another camping trip soon. Also, another activity with nature that my Mom-mom and Pop-pop and I like to do is take walks on the road leading to their house. The walk is very nice, quiet, and peaceful and I feel very in-tune with nature.
If I would chose anyone out of my family who is most like Thoreaus, it would probably have to be my great grandfather. I used to call him "pop-pop with the birdies." We called him that because he had a whole flock of birds in his basement that he took care of. He loved nature so much that every time he would go outside, he would feed all of the animals who were in his yard. He used to feed this one squirrel so much that it would never run away from him. He actually bent down and petted it one time. Another reason why he was like Thoreau was because he used to live his life so simply. He would spend his days feeding animals, reading the newspaper, and doing the crossword. He also very much appreciated life. He would always give me philosophies of how to enjoy life because I could always die tomorrow. He also never used technology. He rarely watched the television, listened to the radio, or went on the computer. He didn't even know how to work most things like that anyhow. My grandfather enjoyed life extremely and I appreciate the things he did for me and taught me.
The only person I know of that is like Thoreau is my great uncle Jim, living in Colorado. I don't him too well since I have only met him once when I was six. The stories my parents tell me are actually really interesting. When I was two he moved away to Colorado to get away from the pressure of work life. He said, since he loves skiing, that Colorado would be the perfect place. My parents say he lives in a log cabin in the Rockies, only to talk to someone when he's buying essential things for life. He built his house himself with the money he received from his previous job. He has no TV's in his house, which amazes me. Besides skiing, Jim hikes all the time, hunts, and fishes since he lives pretty close to a small lake. I've seen pictures of his land, and it really is beautiful. The view is spectacular. I know he still lives around people, but moving away from your family, I consider, is like moving away from civilization.
The closest person I know to a modern day Thoreau is my Uncle Karl. He and my Aunt Kathy live in Virginia so I only see them a couple of times a year. They live on several acres of land which means they don’t really have any neighbors. The reason they live on so many acres of land is because they used to own three beautiful horses. I remember when I was little they used to let me ride them when I visited. They also have three German Shorthair Pointers named Rose, Chip, and Chance. They are dogs that my uncle trained to hunt birds. He trains them with the pigeons that he keeps in the backyard. My Uncle Karl also works on a huge farm. It is his job to take care of all the animals. He took me and my brother to the farm one day and we got to stand near these huge cows. I am not going to lie; I was a little scared to go near them at first. My uncle basically lives a very simple life just like Thoreau. He gets enjoyment out of long walk and a good book and I really admire him for that.
Thoreau is a very nature-loving person. He writes around Mother Nature and is inspired by it. This reminds me of my Oma, which means grandmother in Dutch. She is a very solace person. She lives with my grandfather who is somewhat of a homebody/ TV lover. In their house there is only one TV and very few technological, up to date devices. While my Opa, or grandfather, is always watching TV my Oma does not mind one bit. Every day, even during the rain or snow, she will go out side to fill up the various bird and squirrel feeders she has. She is much more contempt watching Mother Nature at it’s best then any old re-run show in TV. She loves seeing and being one with nature as much as Thoreau. Also, even though she lives in a quite small house in a neighborhood in Wilmington, during the summer and spring her backyard is like a forest with blossoming beautiful flowers. It is mind-boggling to know that she lives in a city. She works hard with Mother Nature because she loves its beauty so much. The reason I say works hard “with” is because when anyone compliments her on her beautiful garden, she always says she can not take the credit because Mother Nature is beautiful with or without her. This is why she enjoys bird watching and gardening. She loves and respects Mother Nature just as Thoreau does in his writings.
So Thoreau
KB Yellow
My uncle is like Thoreau in his lifestyle. Although he can not completely separate himself from society like Thoreau he tries to as much as he can. He has always liked nature and liked to just sit and take in the wonder of nature. When he was a bachelor he would go camping in the woods very often whether it was with friends of just by himself. After he got married and had kids it was harder for him to get out and leave the babies, but as they grew he began to go more and more. Now he has made enough money to buy a house in the woods near a lake in a small town in Massachusetts. When i go to his house i always feel very in tune with nature and i can see why he bought the house.
A person in my life that is very Thoreau-like would be my friend, Jack. Jack used to lead a very busy life, working two jobs, and taking care of a wife and three kids. After the passing of his wife, he was heart-broken. His kids had grown up, and he had nobody left to comfort him. He told me that he felt as if he “lost himself”. In order to try and soothe the pain, he moved down to Fenwick Island to try and escape reality. He spent his time sitting on his back porch, looking at the bay. He lived a simple life, and didn’t even own a TV. He found joy and happiness in the garden he grew in his backyard. Most of what he ate consisted of ingredients from the garden. This Thoreau-like experience really must have cleared his mind and gave him a new look on life. He became a very relaxed, friendly person. I met Jack two years after this experience. He is a good role model because whenever something goes wrong or gets a little crazy, he always keeps his cool. He now has a part-time job, and lives in a cozy townhouse with his brother. Jack is definitely the most Thoreau-like person I have ever met.
Contemporary Thoreau’s
I think my uncle is most like Thoreau because although he lives in this area he is always outside whether it is his job or his interest in birds. I have no clue how he got into it but he loves birds he has a book and some binoculars, as sometimes he will try to find some. His interests in nature and birds make me think about Thoreau in a way because Thoreau loved nature and even lived outdoors he harped on simplicity and wrote many books. I would not say my uncle is the kind of person who lives in the wilderness and writes books but his ideals and love for nature are very similar. My uncle is also great for advice because he is only about 28 or so I can relate to him more so than someone a lot older. Not only does he tell me about nature and birds but also he tells me about life and tells me about life and to appreciate the little things.
I know people that are Thoreau like. My grandparents, although it is normal for them to be quiet and happy due to their age, are very much like Thoreau. They live in a distant area in Pennsylvania and usually spend their days sitting at home. To me and my cousins, or the younger members of the family, they seem to be boring or almost awkward around each other. But if you think about it, theyre more comfortable with each other than most. Their days consist of thinking, reminiscing and just spending quality time with each other. Thoreau believed in almost little to none work. He found more interest in just living life the way you should live it, and not how everyone else has. Just be yourself and keep to yourself. You will find an inner-happiness, and in our world today, older people do the same. Especially my grandparents.
I think that my grandfather is a lot like Thoreau. He is very funny and always makes jokes, so him and Thoreau are not similar in their philosophies; however, my pop-pop is in love with nature. He loved to take us to Wisconsin every summer for about two weeks to live in a cabin. While we would sleep until eleven, my grandfather would always be outside on the dock looking out at the lake. His love for the simplicity of life is what makes him very much like Thoreau. Chipmunks would actually eat out of his hand. It was very cool to see because the chipmunks would only eat out of his hand. My family no longer goes to Wisconsin. Instead, we go to Daytona Beach, but my grandfather still goes to Wisconsin every summer. His love and respect for nature is almost overwhelming. Even at his house, which is in Delaware, he lives in a secluded neighborhood in the woods. While he does not talk like Thoreau, he definitely acts like a modern day version of Thoreau.
I think that my grandparents' lifestyle is very much like Thoreau. Their house is in Virginia in the mountains, away from all the other houses. My grandparents love nature, and they are always outside. They love going for walks or sitting on their porch enjoying the beauty of nature. They go often are going for hikes or bike rides. Their backyard is full of trees, flowers, and animals. During the day, they spend a great deal of time in their backyard. They also sit inside and watch television, do crosswords, and spend time with eachother. At night they sometimes like to sit out on their deck and look at the stars or relax in their hot tub. My grandparents' lives seem very simple and peaceful, and it sometimes makes me jealous.
Henry Thoreau, a transcendentalist, went into the woods to escape the fast-paced way of life. While living away from society, Thoreau discovered how nature affected him and learned that simplicity is a key factor in life. Annie Dillard and Edward Abbey are good examples of contemporary Thoreaus. They both separated themselves from society to experience the more simplified way of life that Thoreau wrote about in his novel, Walden.
Another example of a modern Thoreau is my grandmother. As a child, my grandmother lived on a large farm, with nature surrounding her everywhere she turned. As she got older, her lifestyle seemed to be changing; it seemed as though society was becoming more technologically advanced and more fast-paced. After my grandmother got married, she began to truly miss the peaceful lifestyle she had experienced on her childhood farm. Because of this, she and her husband decided to move to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The natural and more serene setting was the perfect fit for my grandmother. Just like Thoreau, my grandmother stepped away from the fast-paced way of life and decided to live a more simplified way of life. Her communion with nature calmed her and helped her better understand herself, nature, and the world.
I would say that the people I know who are most like Thoreau would have to be my grandparents. They are both retired and enjoy living a plain and simple life. Their house has woods right behind it. My grandparents are both very interested in nature. My Mommom is always taking care of her flowers around the house or her garden. My Poppop likes to take walks in the woods and they both like to sit on their swing and take in all the beautiful nature. Aside from just living so close to nature, they also like to getaway and camp in their RV. They go camping mostly in the spring and fall, and they travel all the way from Florida to Maine. When they go camping they leave all the hectic aspects of life behind. Even though I don't like camping very much, I went with them once and I enjoyed being with my family and being surrounded by nature. My grandparents reminded me how important nature is. I feel like everything they do revolves around living a simple and happy life and always being in tune with nature.
tv yellow
I would have to say my aunt reminds me of Thoreau. She loves her privacy and to work in the garden. She doesn't go out very much but she reads the paper everyday and is very up to date with the news. (Not very Thoreau like though) She loves animals also. Sometimes she'll come over to get acorns out of our yard to take home and feed the squirels with. Her main thing is spending time in her garden. If she doesn't work in it for about 4 hours a day in the summer she gets angry or something. She loves life being simple. My family took her to the movies once and there was a lot of traffic on the way over and she got very frazzled. Therefore, I am lead to believe she is somewhat of an example of a Thoreau follower. I believe this because of her simple life, love of nature, and love of her garden.
In a way I like to think my dad is a temporary Thoreau. Every few months he goes on a hiking trip through the Appalachian Mountains for about week each time. He claims he only goes to get away from the girls in my house; he’s the only boy. But I know he does it because he truly enjoys nature. He would rather be hiking, bike riding or even just sitting outside. Whenever he goes on a camping trip he always takes pictures and records a little journal about his experiences there. Also, he brings back a little momentum he found on the trial and will eventually have them all put into a box and keep them forever. His goal is to travel the entire Appalachian trial. Although he is not as hardcore as Thoreau he still enjoys nature.
I would like to tell you about a character from a book. The character is Brian Robeson, from the book “Hatchet”, by Gary Paulsen, and other stories that follow with the same character. Brian Robeson is “so Thoreau” because after the first story about him surviving in the wilderness for fifty-four days, he wants to go back and live in the wilderness. In “Brian’s Return”, ever since he was alone in the wilderness and was saved he loved it, and wanted to go back. Brian did not like his life in the city, and when he got in a fight with a boy, and he got caught by the police and sent to a counselor. After talking to Brian, the counselor realizes that there is nothing wrong with him except that he misses nature. He tells Brian that he should go back to the woods. Brian decided to go visit the Smallhorns, a family he had met. Brian got his knife, pots, bow and arrows, to take to the woods. He ends up living in the wilderness hunting for food and continuing to learn how to survive through harsh conditions. He goes through the process of killing a deer and using every part of it for something useful. He realizes that nature is where he belonged because he didn’t fit in with the normal society ever since he survived the first time. That is why Brian Robeson is “so Thoreau”.
I think my grandparents are indeed like Thoreau. They live in a log cabbin in the middle of the woods. My grandfather built the house by himself. They are both retired and spend their days at home. My grandfather can always be found sitting on the porch or down by the creek. He enjoys fishing and building. ahe cuts down trees to build whatever they need. He builds chairs, benches, tables, and whatever else they need. My grandmother loves to take walks through the woods and look for birs. She loves all birds and has at least twenty feeders around her house. She enjoys the birds different songs and listens to them every night. She knows the different sounds of the different birds and indentifies them, which I find impossible. They both wake up and watch the sun rise togethehr. They just enjoy being away from all the hustle and bustle of society and living peacefully by themselves.
I believe that my friend Chris' Dad would be a great example of a modern day Thoreau. He is very involved in nature and wildlife. It seems like that he is on a camping trip or something like that every week. Every time I go to his house, he has a new story to tell me about his adventures. He's a very relaxed guy and is different from a lot of other fathers that I know. He also knows a lot about wildlife. If I have a question about something like nature, then I know to go and ask him. He keeps a journal of all the places that he has hiked and camped. It is almost full and he has a little something about each of his trips too. Another reason would be that his house is the most unelectronic house that I know of. Chris' parents are divorced and he says he doesn't like being of his Dad's house sometimes because he doesn't even have a computer. Along with a computer, he doesn't own a cell phone, a microwave, and only has one television in house. If even though he isn't that intense with nature, he is the most like Thoreau person I know. In this day of age, it is very difficult to get much more like Thoreau then that anyway.
Perhaps the most Thoreau like person I know is my Uncle John. This man is one of nature’s best and favorite companions from saving rain water to staying in cabins instead of hotels. My uncle is such a nature lover he decided that he was going to be the greatest backyard pond ever seen just because he wanted to be near the lake which in this case was a baby pond. The most interesting thing my uncle does is when he travels all over the country to watch my cousin/his son Michael play lacrosse for Notre Dome, he stays in cabins in state parks. Without a doubt he loves nature more than any person I have every met and even rivals the nature loving Thoreau himself. My uncle started trying to make me into a nature freak beginning when I was two years old taking me to parks to go camping ground to see groundhogs day live. It was probably the most eye popping experience of my life up to that time.
My friend Captain Bob is very much like Thoreau in the way he lives his life. He owns a sail boat and lives on it year round. He has been doing this since he was 18 years old. He doesnt just stay in a marina though. He travels the world on it, and has been doing so for 10 years now. He had the oppertunity to play football at LSU, but decided that was not the life he wanted. So instead he spent his college money on his boat. He just stays out at sea and comes in when he needs supplies. He has so many interesting stories and is a great man. He just wanted a simple life and is doing very well with it.
My stepdad Pete reminds me of Thoreau's lifestyle and his philosophy. Pete was a landscaper. He loved nature so much that that was what he wanted to do for a living. He spent every day outside, in trees, putting grass down, and planting flowers. He also loved animals. We had a cat, Smokey, and still have a dog, Buddy. Pete loved these animals so much and treated them like humans. He did many things for animal life. We had a million bird feeders in our yard for the birds to eat. One of his favorite things to do was to go hiking with the family. We would have so much fun exploring around. He also liked to spend time on his boat. We would dock and just swim in the river for hours. Pete's life was very simple, but pleasurable to him- family, nature, and animals.
I think my aunt is like Thoreau. She has a lot of house plants and a very nice yard. Actually her whole house is surrounded by plants and animal life. She likes to just sit and watch the cardinals and blue jays in her backyard. She takes great pride in just sitting and observing nature around her with a nice cup of tea. And she is also very self reliant like transcendentalism suggests. She lives alone and she commutes for two hours everyday. And as far as a belief in an over soul I am pretty sure she fits the category. Even though she only goes to church every once in awhile she lives a Christian life. In these ways I think she represents a modern and some what less radical Thoreau.
My uncle Jim who live down in Florida has somewhat adopted a Thoreau type lifestyle. For starters he has a house surrounded by all different kinds of plants and trees to make it seem like he's in the woods. Also, he has a garden with plants and stuff that I have never seen or heard of before. My uncle Jim also likes to bird watch and listen to all the different songs that they sing. He lives a secluded life with his wife and likes to take vacations to places such as Yellowstone Park and go on hiking trips. He finds this kind of stuff relaxing and soothing. Finally, he likes to keep to himself and doesn’t get out much except when he goes on vacation.
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