Being a hobo is cool man

I must be getting old....Seeing kids who tune in and drop out is cool, these photos are amazing and full of feeling - but I can't help but see the fake theatrical costumes these kids are wearing. The vintage ties tied just "so" on a few of the guys, the 1800's vests, hobo hats and striped socks. It's fun to run around the woods pretending that the world we live in isn't dying. It's fun to pretend that you're a hobo and it's 1887 and nuclear bombs, global warming and over population is not slowly killing all inhabitants of this planet we live on. Yes, it's much simpler to pretend that gaslights have just been invented, cars are a thing of the future...we will live off the land, we will hand wash our clothes in streams and we will dance like gypsy's in front of the bonfires to music played on our vintage instruments that we bought because it looks so cool to play a mandolin. Yes, seductive to drop out and pretend....but then I notice the pictures of the babies and animals. These innocents are sleeping in the open, starving along with the camp and what will happen to them in a few years ? When their parents have no credit, no bank accounts, can not rent or buy a home, are too scarred in the face and arms to even attempt to get a normal job...what will these children do? Money is not everything, I know. Why are these animals forced to travel the rails. They would be strays otherwise, you could counter to yourself...I know, but why does the world have to be that way? Poor little kitty...it breaks my heart.
I scare myself because to whisper this aloud makes me feel like an old fogey , an archetypical holier than thou bag that has sold my soul to consumerism and the "MAN". But I haven't..I agree with living off the land, I believe in not following the masses and I believe in being young and free....what I don't believe, is when I look in this girls eyes, I do not see sincerity. I see a little girl who got mad at her parents for being wealthy and maybe she wanted to prove to them that she could make it on her own. I see a girl who is in a costume, playing the part - but not believing because she knows at the next stop all she has to do is call mommy and she can head home. I could be wrong...I could just be getting old...


See Mike Brodie's rail photos here ridin' dirty face
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