Two days ago I leaned about the North Pond Hermit, a man who has lived alone in the Maine woods for 27 years. In all that time he remained hidden, and had only spoken to another human being once. He didn't know if his mother was still alive, but he knew who the Kardashians were! (He survived by stealing everything, including food, propane tanks, sleeping bags, tarps, and books & popular magazines.)
The only reason I mention the North Pond Hermit is that I don't know who the Kardashians are. I've heard their name (and that they raise eyebrows), but I don't know who they are, what they've done, or anything else about them. And I don't care, so please don't enlighten me. I am happy living in my Ocracoke Island cocoon, not a hermit, surrounded by family, friends, and a supportive community, but blissfully ignorant of much national and world gossip.
This month's Ocracoke Newsletter is a tribute to a wonderful man who did
much for Ocracoke Island, Marvin Wyche Howard (1897-1969). You can read
it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news052113.htm.
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Have you heard about NC's coastal hermit, Robert Harrill, who lived at Fort Fisher in an old bunker? He lived near the ocean and entertained travelers with his stories and common sense take on life. Sadly, his story has a tragic end.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the lead. It reminds me of Ocracoke's own mid-1950s hermit who lived in a WWII bunker near Loop Shack Hill. Your comment has spurred me to gather more information...maybe even write about him one day.
DeletePlease do, sounds like another interesting story featuring another of our state's many unique characters.
DeleteAbout the Kardashians, it's really best not to know! I wish I didn't!
ReplyDeleteAll I know about them is I think one of them had a big expensive wedding that did not work out.
ReplyDeleteHoward, you are truly better off not knowing who the Kardashians or any of those other so called "celebrities" are.
ReplyDeleteYou're all the better for it too, and, quite honestly... I don't really know much past the fact that they're on TV... I think...
ReplyDeleteIf you have heard of OJ Simpson you have heard of the lawyer that fathered some of the youngsters. oops I have said too much. Wait you have heard of a Hermit a hermit that lacks a big power house marketing er communications machine but you never heard of the Kardashians that do have a big power house.....!!!
ReplyDelete"blissfully ignorant..." but you heard of this Hermit. Hermit is such a word that softens the edges of thief --if this guy exists by taking from others this is wrong. If people know of this person and care ===the milk of human kindness must flow to this guy. why don't they bring him things, so he doesn't have to forage like a Ferrel cat. He probably contributes to the demise of song birds by trapping them and eating them too. This is a sad story of a man who has abandoned an obligation to look after his mother -- the threads of family have been teased apart, a reflection of society that sees dysfunction on tv and considers it normal, DD
ReplyDeleteI don't live in a place as remote as the wilds of Maine, or even Ocracoke...but I've managed to not learn anything about them either. It continues to amaze me how people are so fascinated with celebrities and folks on TV. I just don't get it. Who cares?
ReplyDeleteI'm actually in Portland right now. I'm up here on vacation.
ReplyDeleteWhere is Loop Shack Hill?
ReplyDeleteLoop Shack Hill is on your right as you approach the village from the north. A monument has been erected there to honor the "Beach Jumpers." I will write more about the Loop Shack later.
DeletePlease do, sounds like another interesting story featuring another of our state's many unique characters.
DeleteMy best friend and I met the hermit who lived on Ocracoke while there during school break in the spring of 1965. I can't remember his name , but I remember some of the strange vegetables he was growing and how much we thought he resembled pictures of Jesus.
ReplyDelete