More Than a Rock

60Stories of My Generation

Whoever wants music instead of noise, joy instead of pleasure, soul instead of gold, creative work instead of business, passion instead of foolery, finds no home in this trivial world of ours.

—Hermann Hesse

I sometimes like to imagine the life experiences of other people. I do so often when visiting ancient dwellings and cultural places. I try to imagine the daily routines of those who built and occupied these places; what it was like to be a child growing up there, what the proverbial “day in the life” was, and how these people responded to the natural beauty of the place, in a world without industry and electronics and motorized vehicles. I try not to romanticize too much. Modern life, I’m sure, is much easier in ...