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 Imagine, and 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–maybe–just maybe–Siri connected to my neural network–

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