GayPatriot

The Internet home for American gay conservatives.

My Next Cross Country “Odyssey”

by

As I’m about to finish up the chapter in my dissertation on Athene and the Iliad, I will soon move on to the Odyssey. At the same time, should I continue to write as I have done these past two months, I am preparing an odyssey of my own, though much different from that of the wily Ithacan.

His epic has more to do with his return home than about the current connotation of the word based on the book about said return. According to dictionary.com, an odyssey is also “a long series of wanderings or adventures, esp. when filled with notable experiences, hardships, etc.” I don’t expect mine to be filled with hardships, I expect it instead to be filled with friendships and family.

Because my niece’s Bat Mitzvah (in New York) in May is just a few weeks before my college reunion (in western Massachusetts) in June, I intend to make an adventure of it, driving east and then visiting friends, family and “sacred” spots along the way.

Right now, the route has me passing through Vegas, Denver, Omaha, Des Moines, Chicago, Pittsburgh.

From New York, I expect to head down to D.C., Charlottesville, Charlotte, Atlanta, then back up through Nashville, Cincinnati, Cleveland and on into New England.  The return route is yet to be determined.

Drop me an note if you’d like to help arrange a gathering for GayPatriot readers along the way.

Comments

  2. Fun fact about The Odyssey: Only one-sixth of the epic concerns his actual odyssey. The rest is mostly bitching about his wife’s suitors.

    Dan: it sounds like Mass. is the farthest north leg of your trip. But I might be able to road trip down there for a beer, if you’re doing a public GP sit-down. Keep us posted.

    Best wishes,
    -MFS

  4. MFS, you’re right about the paucity of time devoted to the actual journey, but wrong about the bitching. Much of the epic involves Telemachus’ journey. Nearly as much space devoted to that son of Odysseus as to the Ithacan King’s actual adventures.

  5. Dan: I’m actually going through a second listening of Prof. Timothy Schott’s Foundations of Western Thought lecture series. If you haven’t heard it, it’s one of the better talks on greco-roman and early hebrew philosophy. Hell, he even throws in some great military theory from Victor Davis Hansen. Anyway, that’s where the 1/6th figure came from.

    The bitching line was merely my poor attempt at humor. 😉

    Best wishes,
    -MFS

  8. MFS, I’ve heard that lecture–Barnes and Noble series, right?

    I’m not disagreeing with your point about the limited references to Odysseus’ actual “odyssey,” but am only disputing with the point about the suitors.

    At least one quarter of the book is devoted to Telemachus, his search for and reconciliation with is dad.

  9. Yes! I used to be a buyer for B&N corporate back in the day. That’s the one.

    Dan, I cracked a horrible joke and retract it completely. (I know just enough classical literature to warrant rolled eyes from professional scholars at off-campus soirées.) You are of course correct and I now owe you a drink when you get to New England!

    Oppido dolens,
    -MFS