13 Comments
Jun 5, 2023·edited Jun 5, 2023Liked by Spencer Tweedy

I've got a bunch of WWII patches, pins and badges from both the Axis and Allies that was handed down to me. It's interesting to look at and think about the experiences of the (mostly) very young guys who wore that as part of their uniforms. What the medal or unit badge might have meant to them, etc.

One thing that I've always found fascinating is that my dad collected it when he was a young boy -- like 9 or 10. It was given to him by vets who'd recently returned from overseas. I like to think that they carried it home with them and once they got back felt like it was all stuff for a different time and place in their lives. Now they were moving on and determined to make up for the time they were away fighting in the war. So it was easy for them to give it to a little boy in the neighborhood.

The stuff from Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan doesn't hold any more power than we ascribe to it. Sadly, some people draw the wrong lessons from the atrocities committed by those countries in the 1930's and 40's. I have to think those guys who gave the stuff to my dad and sacrificed so much in WWII would be horrified and furious at the glorification of those symbols by some in our country.

Expand full comment
Jun 4, 2023Liked by Spencer Tweedy

❤ “I just hate the happiness of fun music" 😄 ha!

❤ gorgeous knitted art!

❤ the natural rhythm of your writing:

"ricochet/where it may"

"I stayed aloft/ and the sun dried off/what the Ryobi had wet"

!!

Expand full comment

I get what you mean about that helmet. I had to shake my hair out, metaphorically, my entire youth. My father was a member of the Hungarian Nazi army in WWII. He was 50 years older than me and a million miles removed, philosophically. Nothing rubbed off, thank goodness.

Expand full comment
Jun 4, 2023Liked by Spencer Tweedy

Walked down Belmont Ave...that brings back memories..last night’s nature moment for me was the size and clarity of full moon in my windshield...

Expand full comment

that full moon last night was stunning!

Expand full comment
Jun 5, 2023Liked by Spencer Tweedy

Hi Spencer.

Thanks for sharing Katya's art - I think it's fantastic! Hope you have a fun time here in NC - I moved here (Carrboro/Chapel Hill) 7 years ago and love it!!

Expand full comment
Jun 4, 2023Liked by Spencer Tweedy

Thrillingly hilarious. Great words.

Expand full comment
Jun 4, 2023Liked by Spencer Tweedy

awww yeahhhh! An album from Sa; an evening in the clouds; a stroll with Liam; an upcoming gig with Sima.... you got some good roll going. Love that.

Expand full comment
Jun 4, 2023Liked by Spencer Tweedy

Good luck with the recording! Come down to Charlotte and say “hello” 😀

Expand full comment
Jun 4, 2023Liked by Spencer Tweedy

I’ve had similar experiences with old military gear at the surplus store. Even America (“our side”) gear retains bad psychic energy, as it’s all part of a war machine of some kind.

Expand full comment
Jun 4, 2023Liked by Spencer Tweedy

How can you Hate Happiness or Fun music? I dunno, man…..And sunsets are God’s etherial happening art…The Little Prince had such a small planet that he could watch 14 sunsets a day, just by moving his chair….WOW!

Expand full comment
Jun 4, 2023Liked by Spencer Tweedy

I LOVE the happiness of fun music!

Expand full comment

Any thoughts on Brandon Johnson so far?

Expand full comment