Measuring authenticity

Here is an entry I made in my journal several years ago relating to Hobo authenticity.

It has always been a wonder to me how much Hobos' love trains. After all, does a cowboy love his horse, does a swagman love his walking stick, does a vagabond love his shoes or a hitchhiker his thumb?

The point is that measuring roadworthiness on tangible things like miles, diesel fuel ridden, technical rail know how and crew changes is nothing more than a chest beating exercise.

I measure road-worthiness by how self-reliant and free we are between our own ears. On whether we have discovered a "drift" in time and place that suspends the hold our ‘ought tos’ have on our will. Riding freight trains doesn't guarantee that one has found inner peace. It does, however offer the opportunity to free our minds from the committee of chaotic voices that scatter our inner peace. Some of us are capable of totally shedding responsibility for a time…to walk to the edge of a cliff…and purposely choose to live.

Freedom is about making choices.  Living in civilizations rut, our minds stuck on autopilot…routines followed rather than choices made…makes us a prisoner in the freest country on Earth. But being on the road...living spontaneously...confronting a myriad of incidences everyday, random events poping up so quickly we must read the situation, concoct a story and deliver it in the same moment is living fully and creatively where one cannot count on routine to survive. Having the audacity to live reckless and free in order to live a life in techno-color brilliance! And to do so while drifting across the Dakota’s in the dark of night to witness the firefly’s dance above the sleeping sunflower fields."

Comments

[Rose Coles]

Beautiful! I watched the documentary, leading me to hobo times - thanks for sharing!
Rose W. - the North Dakotan Nomad.
PS - the guy called Captain Cloud - I think is a friend named Paul, last name I cannot recall. If you know him, have look me up in Devils Lake, ND at Leevers County Market (I work evenings). Leaving here in June to AZ. Big Thanks!