It has only been five days since I returned from Boston, so this is one of my most promptly written travel blogs.
Buffalo’s endless summer continues. It is expected to reach 80 degrees today and remain sunny throughout the week. In a few hours, I am heading down to Hamburg to do some Stand-up Paddling (or mostly on my knees, unless Lake Erie is flat as glass, like it was on Saturday when I swam there).
I got a short GoPro video of my friend Mark. I was hoping to get some good fish photos, but I only saw some minnows.
Writing outside is a luxury I won’t have for much longer, so I am settled with some Tim Horton’s iced coffee and The Grateful Dead playing. Fifa was out for a little while, but then asked to go inside. Maybe too hot for her fur coat.
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Sunday, September 21st. Buffalo to Brookline.
I visit Boston almost every year for Passover in the spring and then for either Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur in the fall. My sister L lives there, and my mom always flies up from Boca. My nephews J and B are always there, and usually my kid comes too, but they couldn’t get off work this year.
There are fewer direct flights on JetBlue than in the past, so I had a very early morning flight there. I wasn’t planning to wear a mask for the flight, but there was a child with a hacking cough by the gate, and luckily I had a mask in my backpack. I had gone to a concert a few days earlier with someone who tested positive for Covid the next day, so I didn’t want to take any chances. I had received both the Flu and COVID vaccines two weeks ago at Wegmans, but I had contracted the Flu last year, and it wasn’t very pleasant despite being vaccinated. I was the only one on the flight with a mask, and I could pick out the MAGA-Trumpers as they did the eye-roll when they saw my mask. Of course, I could have been someone with a bone-marrow transplant or protecting THEM from my cough, but they would still glare.
The flight was smooth after a 30-minute delay waiting for it to be fueled. I got a nice photo of the Hudson River near Troy, NY. And then some good approach ones into Boston.
The weather was perfect on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday!
I am always so happy to see my favorite nephew, SNOOPY.
He loves chasing his toys! A few days earlier, he had been barking furiously on the back deck, and L and G saw a COYOTE crossing the backyard. We have always had them in Amherst, but they are definitely spreading more across the northeast. Romeo and Juliet are big celebrities in NYC.
I was supposed to attend a New York Mets game with my Albany Med classmates, Chris, James, and Peter.
My campervan being held hostage made my planned journey from Buffalo to the Jones Beach 70.3 IM race, then the Mets game, driving to Boston for Rosh Hashanah, and then back to Buffalo impossible.
I guess just as well, as I missed the tough 2-3 loss to the awful Nationals. I had seen Chris and James in Albany in April at our 35th reunion, and would see Peter in Boston. And of course, the Mets lost yesterday when a win would have gotten them into the playoffs! I am more of a Yankees fan, but I try to support the Mutts also. The Yankees won the last game of the season yesterday, but damn, Toronto also won, so the Yankees lost the division and now must play the Red Sox tomorrow in the wildcard playoff. (why is it ALWAYS the Red Sox).
The Mets game wasn’t on TV, so instead I watched the now-awful Patriots football game with the relatives.
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Monday, September 22nd. Walden Pond.
I have visited Walden Pond at least a half dozen times over the 35 years my sister has lived in Boston, but I had never swum in the pond. Since I have started incorporating open water swimming (OWS) into my travels, I checked on my last visit and found out it is allowed to OWS in Walden Pond. But the weather was not good the day I had available last time. This year, the weather was perfect, and the website reported that the water temperature was 68 degrees.
It was an easy 30-minute drive north (against the rush hour traffic), and parking was only $8! If I lived in Boston, I would be there at least once a week (on days when not swimming in the ocean).
While adding the sign photo, I saw something move in front of me, and it was a cute squirrel heading across the lawn. I have also seen a big dragonfly, some small, whitish-yellow butterflies, and some bees and grasshoppers.
It was only a few minutes to walk from the parking lot (next to the visitor center) across the street and down a trail to the lake. I saw a cute chipmunk! 🐿️
Two people were swimming in the lake, one canoe, and a kayak. There was also a group of five young people in sweatshirts sitting on the beach in the sun (the air temperature was only 55 degrees at 8 am).
I could tell when I stepped in the water and splashed my face that it was well over 68 degrees, probably more like 72. I had only planned to swim for 30 minutes, but the water was so warm and clear, and the day so perfect, that I completed a full loop of the entire lake and then took off my wetsuit to swim another 15 minutes in just my Speedo. I saw many minnows, bluegills, and a few small bass. The people in the canoe were fishing in the center of the lake; maybe the bigger fish were out there. At the north edge of the pond is “Walden Cove,” which is very close to the site of Thoreau’s cabin. He would bathe daily in the pond and get his drinking water there. In today’s disastrous world, I think two years in a small cabin by a pond would be amazing (except in the depths of a New England winter…).
Before I took off my wetsuit, I had seen a swim buoy not moving by the shore and swam over to investigate. There was a guy in a wetsuit with just his head out of the water, pointing a GoPro at the shore. I thought maybe there was a turtle on a rock, but it was actually a Green Heron.
I typed “green heron” into my Mac Photos app, and it found this photo I took in 2004 in the backyard at Royalwoods! AI is one step closer to “Terminator”.
I went back to the car and put on some clothes for a short hike. I had brought my pocket Thoreau that I have had for decades. I read it occasionally on my van trip across the country in April 2022.
The back cover says that all the proceeds went to support the site, so I am getting my money’s worth!
After I got out of the water, I noticed several more swimmers, and a few more were heading down to the lake as I started my hike. The temperature had warmed a bit, and the young people had stripped down to swim trunks and bikinis and were wading in the pond.
It was a pleasant flat trail along the north shore of the pond. I saw a lot of chipmunks, one even ran just past my shoe.
I saw a few people, but I mostly had the same solitude as Thoreau. I was the only one at the cabin site.
The site of his cabin is very much in line with his beliefs. There are just simple wood and stone markers.
I loved how the cabin was just a few hundred yards from the pond on a slight rise. In his book, he mentions how the view of the pond changed over the seasons. I walked down a short path to the edge of “Walden Cove”, where I had seen the bluegills while swimming.
The path back through the woods was tranquil except for the sounds of birds and chipmunks. The trees were very tall and varied.
At one point, I heard a lot of skittering and saw two chipmunks playing a game of tag. One of them finally paused long enough for a photo.
I liked this VERY rustic bench.
There were some nice interpretative signs along the trail.
The replica of the Thoreau cabin is located right next to the parking lot by the visitor center, making it accessible to all visitors.
I thought it seemed VERY cozy. And if I were able to live in a van for two weeks, two years here would be great. I really liked the writing desk.
I hadn’t been to the visitor center in many years and was excited, but then I was disappointed to see how small it was—basically just one room.
I found the log history very interesting. It marks key publications by both environmentalists (Rachel Carson, E.O. Wilson) and civil rights leaders (Gandhi, MLK Jr.).
There was a giant map of the world on the wall with information about critical nature preserves and a visitor book where one could write about one’s own “Walden” (or “own private Idaho..? “).
Thoreau was a powerful advocate against slavery in Massachusetts and also against the Mexican-American War.
All men recognize the right of revolution; that is, the right to refuse allegiance to and to resist the government, when its tyranny or its inefficiency are great and unendurable. But almost all say that such is not the case now.Henry David Thoreau, “Civil Disobedience” (1849)
#resist
Unjust laws exist: shall we be content to obey them, or shall we endeavor to amend them, and obey them until we have succeeded, or shall we transgress them at once? Men generally, under such a government as this, think that they ought to wait until they have persuaded the majority to alter them. They think that, if they should resist, the remedy would be worse than the evil. But it is the fault of the government itself that the remedy is worse than the evil. It makes it worse.Henry David Thoreau, “Civil Disobedience” (1849)
#trump=fascist
“Much has been said about American slavery, but I think that we do not even yet realize what slavery is. If I were seriously to propose to Congress to make mankind into sausages, I have no doubt that most of the members would smile at my proposition, and if any believed me to be in earnest, they would think that I proposed something much worse than Congress had ever done. But if any of them will tell me that to make a man into a sausage would be much worse—would be any worse—than to make him into a slave—than it was to enact the Fugitive Slave Law—I will accuse him of foolishness, of intellectual incapacity, of making a distinction without a difference. The one is just as sensible a proposition as the other.”
― Henry David Thoreau, Slavery in Massachusetts
#blacklivesmatter
There is a small theatre that shows a 15-minute movie about Thoreau and his legacy. Gandhi studied Thoreau’s writings on Civil Disobedience while protesting racism in South Africa as a young lawyer, and then incorporated them into his philosophy to liberate India.
From “On Civil Disobedience,” by Mohandas Gandhi
July 27, 1916
“There are two ways of countering injustice. One way is to smash the head of the man who perpetrates injustice and to get your own head smashed in the process. All strong people in the world adopt this course. Everywhere wars are fought and millions of people are killed. The consequence is not the progress of a nation but its decline. Soldiers returning from the front have become so bereft of reason that they indulge in various anti-social activities. One does not have to go far for examples. Pride makes a victorious nation bad-tempered. It falls into luxurious ways of living. Then for a time, it may be conceded, peace prevails. But after a short while, it comes more and more to be realized that the seeds of war have not been destroyed but have become a thousand times more nourished and mighty. No country has ever become, or will ever become, happy through victory in war. A nation does not rise that way, it only falls further. In fact, what comes to it is defeat, not victory. And if, perchance, either our act or our purpose was ill-conceived, it brings disaster to both belligerents. But through the other method of combating injustice, we alone suffer the consequences of our mistakes, and the other side is wholly spared.
This other method is satyagraha. One who resorts to it does not have to break another’s head; he may merely have his own head broken. He has to be prepared to die himself suffering all the pain. In opposing the atrocious laws of the Government of South Africa, it was this method that we adopted. We made it clear to the said Government that we would never bow to its outrageous laws. No clapping is possible without two hands to do it, and no quarrel without two persons to make it. Similarly, no State is possible without two entities (the rulers and the ruled). You are our sovereign, our Government, only so long as we consider ourselves your subjects. When we are not subjects, you are not the sovereign either. So long as it is your endeavor to control us with justice and love, we will let you do so. But if you wish to strike at us from behind, we cannot permit it. Whatever you do in other matters, you will have to ask our opinion about the laws that concern us. If you make laws to keep us suppressed in a wrongful manner and without taking us into confidence, these laws will merely adorn the statute-books. We will never obey them. Award us for it what punishment you like, we will put up with it. Send us to prison and we will live there as in a paradise. Ask us to mount the scaffold and we will do so laughing. Shower what sufferings you like upon us, we will calmly endure all and not hurt a hair of your body. We will gladly die and will not so much as touch you. But so long as there is yet life in these our bones, we will never comply with your arbitrary laws. ”
Martin Luther King, Jr. learned and incorporated the philosophies of both men.
Nelson Mandela studied Gandhi and incorporated his anti-colonial philosophy.
Thoreau is also known as a key member of the Transcendentalist movement in Concord, MA. Here is a little synopsis.
- Birthplace of the Movement: Concord is considered the hub and birthplace of Transcendentalism, a uniquely American philosophical and literary development.
- Core Tenets: The movement championed the inherent goodness of man, the profound importance of nature, and the power of individual intuition over strict logic and reason.
- Key Figures:
- Ralph Waldo Emerson: Known as the father of Transcendentalism, his work Nature (1836) was a key text for the movement.
- Henry David Thoreau: Author of Walden, he explored the connection between man and nature in Concord’s landscape.
- Bronson Alcott: A key figure who influenced the movement, and father of author Louisa May Alcott.
- Intellectual Hub: Emerson, Thoreau, and the Alcott family lived within a few miles of each other in Concord, forming a tight-knit community for discussion and writing.
- Influence of Nature: The natural beauty and landscapes around Concord, such as Walden Pond, were central to the Transcendentalists’ philosophy, serving as a source of inspiration and a place for spiritual connection.
- Literary Output: The collaborative environment in Concord led to the creation of influential works that shaped American thought, literature, and philosophy
https://www.britannica.com/event/Transcendentalism-American-movement
The last time I visited Concord, I went to the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery and explored “Authors’ Ridge”.
Interestingly, Thoreau was influenced by Hindu philosophy… as The Dude says…
- Hindu Texts: Thoreau borrowed and integrated concepts from Hindu scriptures, especially the Bhagavad Gita and the Laws of Manu, into his work to articulate his views on the divine and nature.
- Transcendentalism: Indian philosophy resonated with the core beliefs of American Transcendentalism, particularly the idea that the divine is within nature and the individual, and that a spiritual life is paramount.
- William Emerson: His friend, William Emerson, was influential by translating Sanskrit texts, introducing Thoreau to Hindu literature and the concept of the divine within nature.
Integration into Thoreau’s Work
- Walden : In Walden, Thoreau employed Hindu imagery and structures to express his biophilic view of nature.
- “Theatrical Performance” Theme: He used a common theme in Indian philosophy where worldly activities are like a theatrical performance, with the transcendent soul acting as a witness, as described in Walden.
- Nature as Divine: Thoreau elevated nature to a divine status, similar to God, by integrating religious structures to appreciate it.
Conceptual Parallels
- Monism: Thoreau’s interest in Hindu philosophy was monistic, aligning with the belief in a single, underlying reality.
- Pandeism/Pantheism: His rejection of a separate God, in favor of God being present in the world, aligns with the pandeistic or pantheistic approach found in Hinduism.
- Jnana Yoga and Karma Yoga: Thoreau identified with the concepts of Jnana Yoga (the yoga of wisdom) due to his intellectual pursuits and Karma Yoga (the yoga of selfless action) through his renunciation of worldly pursuits.
On the drive home, I stopped to pick up the chopped liver (none for this pescatarian!) for Tuesday’s Rosh Hashanah feast (and some hamantaschen). Waze took me through Cambridge, and if I had more time, I would have visited Harvard Yard, where I haven’t been in decades. I drove right through Boston University as well, and hundreds of college students were enjoying the summer weather.
The house smelled great when I got back, as my sister and mom had been cooking.
Snoopy snuggled on the couch with me after I walked him.
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I ran out of writing time the other day. Had an incredible afternoon SUP on Lake Erie while my friends Michael and Mark swam. 82 degrees and water still 68. The end of summer on America’s North Shore!
Tuesday, September 23rd. Brookline, Boston, Sharon.
My college (Johns Hopkins) friend Alan lives in Brookline Village, just two miles from my sister. He is a runner, and we often manage to run together in the morning when I am in Boston (or coffee if the weather is bad). He asked if 7 am was “too early,” and I reminded him that I am an anesthesiologist and triathlete! Al is an endocrinologist at Boston Medical Center. He went to medical school in Buffalo, so I also get to see him when he attends reunions here. His son and my kid are the same age.
We ran a slow, chatty 3 miles to the hospital, being careful not to get hit by Boston’s rush-hour drivers and avoiding all the people walking to work on a perfect fall day. I didn’t take any photos until after saying goodbye to him. I didn’t plan to run so far, but it wasn’t until after I looked at my phone map that I saw my run had been a perfect straight line East, so there was no “shortcut” back. Luckily, I had brought a water bottle with me and was able to refill it at a park.
I found the original Brigham Hospital tucked in behind the huge current campus. It had a sad display about opiate deaths.
Snoopy wanted to play as soon as I was back!
I spent a few hours working on my essay/post about John Cage and Zen. Lisa’s coaster was very appropriate.
My mom and sister looked very nice when they returned from the temple.
When my child was young, we used to attend services with them, but now I only enter houses of worship for weddings, funerals, or Bar Mitzvahs, or as a tourist.
Relive made a very short video of my run.
https://www.relive.com/view/vr63e39Rk8v
Peter, my classmate from Albany Medical College, lives about 45 minutes south of my sister, and I try to see him whenever I’m in Boston. As the weather was so glorious, I suggested we take a short hike rather than having our usual meal or coffee. On Google Maps, I found a big green area between Brookline and Easton. It was the Moose Hill Audubon Refuge in Sharon.
I arrived first and went inside to pay the $4 entry fee. I also bought a bottle of maple syrup that they make themselves for my sister.
There were miles of trails to choose from, but we took a short one to see a fire tower.
There were several old rock walls.
The fire tower was locked, and the trees were so high at the summit that we had no view. Foxboro/Gillette Stadium would have been to the NE.
When I got back, the table was set, and Snoopy cuddled with his furry friends.
We were 10 people for dinner, but the only photo I got was of Snoopy.
I guess we were having such a good time that we all forgot to get a group family photo. Here is an archival one from April 2025.
I got lots of food selfies at least. L had salmon for me as I don’t eat cute 🐑.
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Wednesday, September 24th: Boston to Buffalo.
I had an early flight back. It was a little rainy.
I saw on Facebook that I was going to get back too late to see the replica Erie Canal boat begin its journey from Buffalo to Manhattan to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the canal.
I had seen the Seneca Chief being built in a shed at the waterfront a few times over the last two years. They used traditional materials and methods.
Once we got a little west of Boston, the skies cleared, and it was sunny in Buffalo.
Home is where the pup is!