Skip to main content

Homesick

In this episode, Homesick . . .

"You can never go home again." –Thomas Wolfe.

We've been watching a documentary about the 1970s – 1971, to be exact, on Apple TV+. The Year That Music Changed Everything, how music influenced culture. The Beatles were breaking up, John Lennon recorded the classic Imagineand many Pop bands emerged to protest the Vietnam War. Marvin Gaye's iconic album What's Going On was released in 1971, addressing social issues like poverty, war, and racial injustice. The music from the documentary reminded me of who I was in the 1970s, a time of social and political upheaval. Hippies, with their long hair and anti-war protests, challenged traditional values. Their emphasis on peace and self-expression resonated with many young people, including myself (See Captain Fantastic).

In short, there was political and social unrest throughout the world. It was my sophomore year in high school, and in my world, life was about exploring science, math, space travel, and science fiction. What brought all this to mind?

A few weeks ago, for my birthday, Lori and I traveled to Los Angeles. As you may remember (Griffith’s Glory), we visited Griffith Park. However, since we overnighted in Glendale, CA, we also went to the Glendale Galleria, where I had one of my first jobs after graduating from GIA in 1985 and where Lori and I met.

The Galleria had been remodeled–expanded–featuring an "outdoor" open-air section. While walking through this area, we decided to visit the Barnes & Noble store. It had the feel of the old Barnes and Noble store in Manhattan, with its three floors. Plus, the addition of CDs, LP records, children's toys, and a section dedicated to science fiction. It's been years since I've read classic works by Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Michael Crichton, or Robert Heinlein.

Scanning the titles in front of the rows of bookshelves, I tried to remember my favorite books from that era. However, as the saying goes, "You can never go home again." Although that may be true, books allow us to revisit 
timeless emotions that seem to be buried deep in our subconscious.

Out of sheer curiosity, I selected a copy of Nightfall and Other Stories by Isaac Asimov.

Over the recent Labor Day weekend, I was immersed in stories that had ignited my passion for science, mathematics, physics, and astronomy since childhood. Asimov's suspenseful narratives continue to captivate and challenge the bounds of imagination long before scientific advancements have mirrored those depicted in fiction.

For example, the story "Nobody Here But—" was written in 1953 and first published in Star Science Fiction Stories. It’s about two scientists, Cliff and Bill, who have created a small but powerful computer. Bill, who is shy and hesitant, struggles to propose to his girlfriend, Mary Ann. Sensing Bill's emotional state, the computer offers advice and suggests specific lines for the proposal. As Bill follows the computer's guidance, he becomes increasingly reliant on it, believing that the machine's suggestions are infallible. When Mary Ann finally agrees to marry him, Bill is unsure whether the proposal is his or the computer's idea.

This story explores themes of artificial intelligence (AI), human relationships, and the potential for technology to influence our decisions and behaviors.

Is this beginning to sound all too familiar? So, why reminisce about the 1970s?

Quietly, while selecting this book from the racks, I heard–in my mind–“Mr. Ball, haven’t you ever been homesick?”

Or–maybejust maybeSiri connected to my neural network

I'm Patrick Ball; thanks for listening. See you in the next episode.

Comments

Don Hanley said…
Thanks PATRICK for reminding me to feel free to go back and appreciate my journey up until forever.

Most Popular of All Time

History Isn’t a Museum

✨ In this episode, History Isn't a Museum—It's a River . . .   History isn't a museum—it's a river, and like it or not, we're already swimming in it. Its waters carry timeless lessons forward, flowing through each generation, waiting to be rediscovered . This profound realization struck me while reading Marcus Aurelius's Meditations . Imagine: a Roman emperor and philosopher two thousand years ago, writing notes that sound like advice from a modern mindfulness coach. When he says, "You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength," it feels like he's speaking directly to us. The water may change, but the river is the same. Examining this writing with a fresh, childlike perspective and a wealth of experience, I realize how consistent human nature remains over time. Every generation faces familiar challenges, marked by frustration, peace, courage, faith, baseball, and the search for meaning across the ages...

We Need Awe More Than Ever

In this episode, Why We Need Awe More Than Ever Yesterday morning, I slipped into the cool stillness of my backyard before dawn. The air was crisp, the silence deep—broken only by the faint rustling of leaves and the familiar calls of birds waking early. Then I looked up. A thin crescent moon hung low in the east, with Venus just above it like a shining jewel. The sky was clear and full of stars, and for a moment, I felt something I hadn’t in a long time: Awe! For thousands of years, the heavens have carried on their steady dance, untouched by human noise. No ruler, no election, no breaking news has ever changed their rhythm. And yet here I was, tempted to reach for my phone—to trade the eternal for the urgent. Instead, I stayed. I watched the moonrise, the sky slowly lighten, and the world around me stir. Ducks passed overhead in a loose V, hummingbirds zipped past to visit their feeder, pausing mid-air as if curious about me sitting so still. Little by little, the static in my mind f...

The Silent Grid–Part Two

In this episode, The Silent Grid – Part Two Sirens split the night as Greenwood went dark. Marvin knew instantly—the blackout wasn’t an accident. It was a warning. In this quiet town, where life once unfolded at a predictable pace, a sleek, intuitive smartphone—a so-called gift from the future —has arrived. But it’s no tool for connection. It’s a silent force, erasing individuality and turning neighbors into something less than human. Marvin Gellborn, a man who values independence, sees the truth. His device isn’t helping; it’s testing him, watching him, and quietly embedding itself into the life of Greenwood. Welcome back to On the Fly . In this week’s episode of The Silent Grid , GridBot tightens its grip. After a hopeful community gathering, Marvin and his robot companion, Norman, notice a troubling absence—the very generation they hoped to reach has vanished into the neon glow of The Signal Box , a youth tech hub pulsing with digital obsession. When Greenwood’s lights vanish, Marvi...

Lessons from 1872

In this episode, Lessons from 1872: Travel in the Age of No-WiFi . . .   Imagine having 80 days to explore the world, with no smartphones, no jet planes, and no money concerns. A thrilling thought, right? That’s the fantasy Jules Verne implies in his classic adventure, Around the World in 80 Days , and it's a question I've been pondering from my easy chair in Vista, California. This week’s On the Fly , we're traveling back in time with one of the most thrilling literary adventures ever written. Early on, it’s clear this is Phileas Fogg’s story—a man of clocks and calculations, whose every move is measured. His journey isn’t about discovery, but a bet—a mathematical challenge involving money, schedules, and perfect timing. But when you think he’s the engine of the story, someone else quietly steals the show. Meet Passepartout: The Heart of the Journey. Jean Passepartout, Fogg’s new valet, is Fogg’s complete opposite. A former circus acrobat seeking a quiet life, he joins Fo...