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The Meddling Kids. A fine bunch they are.
One of the perils of doing the work that we do at The Running Iron Report is that there’s a tendency to focus on the negative. While we’re certainly about diagnosing the illnesses of the Empire, our true purpose is scouting out a path to a worthy, honorable way of living in these strange times. We cannot afford cheap and easy cynicism.
One of the beartraps along the trail is the notion that all is lost with a coming generation that is digitally addicted, obese, physically weak, and inclined to emotional incontinence. To be sure, evidence of all of this is found readily to hand. But evidence to the contrary is often ignored or overlooked. Despite our dire fears, I say the kids are alright. At least some of ’em are. I give you as Exhibit A, my weekend with The Meddling Kids.
We rented a seven-passenger minivan for Memorial Day weekend and hauled daughter Ceili and five of her University of Oregon tribe across the mountains for a couple of days of hiking and feasting and music. What a grand weekend it was! The weather gods graced us with fine, fair days — never promised in Central Oregon in spring. We hiked along the Metolius River, one of the most scenic spots in the Pacific Northwest, and we drank in the fantastical skyline of the Cascades. My wife Marilyn fed the starving college students spectacularly on excellent meats from Sisters Meat & Smokehouse. On Sunday the Rullmans joined us and Craig and young Will talked bees. Pete Rathbun provided sound gear and smack talk at the archery butts.
Ceili and Odin on the draw.
These are fit young folk, healthy in body and spirit, engaged in life; they are experience-oriented. They care deeply about each other and are authentically who they are, without pretense. The lads showed a fitting propensity to heave rocks and large sticks over cliffs and into rivers, as young men must. They are appreciative, helpful and have a work ethic that their generation allegedly spurns. They have a plan for the Zombie Apocalypse.
They are musical and poetical — we had us one fine guitar pull and a 30+ year age gap was as nothing. To have a couple of 19-year-olds initiate the singing of a 300-year-old Scottish song — “The Parting Glass” — pleases me in ways that are difficult to articulate.
Yep: The kids are alright.
So nice to see and to hear.
I’ve grown extremely tired of “millennials are so lazy/screwed up” headlines myself. Each generation will have its slackers and its go-getters. More of that “focus on the sensational/negative” 24/7 cycle from which we desperately need to break our pathetic addiction.
Extra points for the B.P.R.D. t‑shirt!
Matthew says
I agree. Every generation complains about their kids. Too often these people don’t live up with their own ideals and they are just running others down to make themselves feel good.
Also agree about the BPRD shirt.
Traven Torsvan says
Hey now, if they couldn’t rewrite and publish the same hectoring editorial about “lazy entitled millennials” and campus sjws” over and over, the editorial staff at the New York Times and the Washington Post would be starved for material. These guys weren’t exactly hired for being able to articulate original or insightful thoughts.
We try to stay ahead of the NYT.
deuce says
“The Parting Glass”? There might be some hope after all.
Thumbs up for the BPRD shirt.
RLT says
Looks like a good crew. I’m spending all next week roaming alone in the backcountry between the St. Joe river and the Montana border. When I told my freshmen students about it before school got out, there were more than a few jealous looks. Encouraging signs from the “youth” who also made it clear to me that, at 27, I’m an old man…
Oh, and x3 on the BPRD shirt.
Bring us back a scouting report… And enjoy.
RLT says
Will do. If I’m not back on here in a few weeks, I’ve done been et by a bear. Bury what’s left with my SKS.
Instructions received and acknowledged.
TJ says
Thank you for the positive sir. At MEPS doing the “hurry up and wait” pending my oldest kid
swearing into the United States Coast Guard.
Lots of hope for the future walking around here as well.
Congrats on that. My father-in-law served in the CG in WW II.
Annie M says
Sounds like a wonderful time with family and friends. I would have loved to hear Ceili sing “The Parting Glass”. When she sang the “Skye Boat Song” (Cork Cellar with music by dad) it gave me goosebumps. I believe that kids learn the importance of education, work ethic, cultivating relationships, inclusion in community, and life values are the product of parent involvement and parental life values taught to their kids. Jim and Marilyn, Ceili has become a beautiful, self-confident and talented young woman because of your parenting. Of course the musical talent and creative writing capabilities are in the genes! p.s. I’m a baby boomer so you’ll have to define BPRD for me. A couple of years ago I had to ask what LOL meant.
Thanks for the kind words, Annie. We’ll make sure you get to hear some of that traditional stuff this summer. As for B.P.R.D. — Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense. It’s a reference to the comic Hellboy, which is clearly well-loved hereabouts.
Matthew says
Just for Annie’s information.…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellboy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureau_for_Paranormal_Research_and_Defense
Lane Batot says
Always good to hear about any “throwbacks” out there. And I’m glad Annie asked about B P R D–kept me from having to do it! Even though I couldn’t properly appreciate the shirt(before I was enlightened), I could appreciate the high-end Neanderthal missile defense system he was toting(mainly because I am descended from Neanderthals, and weez got deep end-stinks on such like).….