My grandmother is basically blind, and my grandfather is basically deaf— but yesterday I called them to get a peanut butter pie recipe. My grandfather pulled a recipe card and tried to transcribe my grandmother’s scrawl to me over the phone, while my grandmother shouted corrections in the background. I wrote it all down on a piece of paper. I resisted the urge today to find a recipe online to compare it to (just in case!). Instead I made it just how it was shouted out to me. It’s lovely. Lovelier for the way it was given, and not sourced. Thanks for this poem. It also felt given.
What a blessing to have this! I have been trying for years to get my Nana’s recipes since she passed but my uncle is holding them hostage… she was a multiple blue ribbon Pillsbury winner and owned a restaurant when I was a wee hobbit. Notebooks full of recipes—collecting dust.
my baby and I were gardening with my dad (76) and there is a wild purple flowering plant that has appeared. He isn’t sure the name of it, so he said he would be emailing a photo to his close friend who used to own a plant nursery.
I remember thinking I could very easily look it up, but how much sweeter it is to lean upon someone’s life work to create connection.
You've captured the mood that AI puts us in so well... good-humored but painfully poignant, even pathetic--our reaching for readymades. It's like Hallmark cards on jet fuel. We've been moving in this direction since mid-century last with television, telephones... now "smart" phones -- with texting, which is actually a retreat from telephone calls (and telephone calls were a retreat from face to face coffee, tea, and scones). Call me a Luddite, but much technology has a sulfurous smell to me, and AI has full-on demonic overtones. One of the titles given by the Apostle Paul to the devil is Prince of the Power of the Air. I don't think it's too much of a stretch to update that to "Airwaves".
This makes my morning! Well, after walking the dogs and picking up their poop and stopping every 7 cm to smell the most amazing scents, and starting coffee and oatmeal, reading this makes my morning like the blueberries that are on my oatmeal. So gorgeous. Thank you
Gertrude Stein anticipated AI exactly when she wrote “There is no there there.” There is always imperfect but oh so particular and personal. AI is the modern condo built on the lot where our childhood home once stood.
The slower way is usually the way of Jesus, the way of love. So sad to see the world opt for artificial and efficient instead. Loved this article and shared it!
Yes, Shawn! Yes! These are the exact thoughts I have been discussing in my community! I wrote my own poem to AI called “Intelligence,” but this angle towards leaning away from our communities is HOT on my mind. I love how you wrote through it. I will say it was your provocative title that brought me here. Bravo.
My grandmother is basically blind, and my grandfather is basically deaf— but yesterday I called them to get a peanut butter pie recipe. My grandfather pulled a recipe card and tried to transcribe my grandmother’s scrawl to me over the phone, while my grandmother shouted corrections in the background. I wrote it all down on a piece of paper. I resisted the urge today to find a recipe online to compare it to (just in case!). Instead I made it just how it was shouted out to me. It’s lovely. Lovelier for the way it was given, and not sourced. Thanks for this poem. It also felt given.
I love this story so much. Not to mention how happy they were to hear from you!
"given, and not sourced". I really love that. Beautiful.
What a blessing to have this! I have been trying for years to get my Nana’s recipes since she passed but my uncle is holding them hostage… she was a multiple blue ribbon Pillsbury winner and owned a restaurant when I was a wee hobbit. Notebooks full of recipes—collecting dust.
You make real, human life seem so messy and inefficient and gloriously wonderful. May we always champion our humanity in such a way.
Amen.
my baby and I were gardening with my dad (76) and there is a wild purple flowering plant that has appeared. He isn’t sure the name of it, so he said he would be emailing a photo to his close friend who used to own a plant nursery.
I remember thinking I could very easily look it up, but how much sweeter it is to lean upon someone’s life work to create connection.
Thank you for this read
Leaning upon someone else's life work! Yes!
that first preview in my notifications had me hooked, you scared me for a minute there. been such a fan for a while, idk why i ever doubted you😂
That's hilarious :)
You've captured the mood that AI puts us in so well... good-humored but painfully poignant, even pathetic--our reaching for readymades. It's like Hallmark cards on jet fuel. We've been moving in this direction since mid-century last with television, telephones... now "smart" phones -- with texting, which is actually a retreat from telephone calls (and telephone calls were a retreat from face to face coffee, tea, and scones). Call me a Luddite, but much technology has a sulfurous smell to me, and AI has full-on demonic overtones. One of the titles given by the Apostle Paul to the devil is Prince of the Power of the Air. I don't think it's too much of a stretch to update that to "Airwaves".
Thanks, Bruce! I'm a huge fan, by the way. Love your work!
Thanks brother!
This is wonderful, wonderful. Thank you.
Thanks, Tracey!
This makes my morning! Well, after walking the dogs and picking up their poop and stopping every 7 cm to smell the most amazing scents, and starting coffee and oatmeal, reading this makes my morning like the blueberries that are on my oatmeal. So gorgeous. Thank you
Ha! Thanks!
Gertrude Stein anticipated AI exactly when she wrote “There is no there there.” There is always imperfect but oh so particular and personal. AI is the modern condo built on the lot where our childhood home once stood.
Yes it is.
This is my new favorite piece of writing. Thank you, Shawn.
Thanks, Laura.
So beautiful
Thank you!
The slower way is usually the way of Jesus, the way of love. So sad to see the world opt for artificial and efficient instead. Loved this article and shared it!
Thanks, Melissa! Yes, slowing down.
Yes, Shawn! Yes! These are the exact thoughts I have been discussing in my community! I wrote my own poem to AI called “Intelligence,” but this angle towards leaning away from our communities is HOT on my mind. I love how you wrote through it. I will say it was your provocative title that brought me here. Bravo.
Thanks, Sarah!
Thank you. 🙂
Thanks for reading.
YES! All of this!!!! Beautifully said
Thank you, Erin.
I love this……a lot. There’s so much we’re missing out on all in the name of “efficiency” & speed. So many human connections that are so important.
Ugh, efficiency. Thanks!
Ugh! This took a turn I wasn’t expecting! (as a person who would 100% use AI to look up the recipe and plan the vacation…👀)
I'm sure it has many wonderful uses :) But whenever a human can fill that space, I think it's important we keep leaning on each other!