Toby was upset. The City government had promised him a paycheck of a certain number of dollars and then given him a paycheck with fewer dollars.
Toby was confused. Why did the City lie to him. Why were they so mean.
Toby complained to his friend, Chris, who worked with Toby on the City’s garbage truck.
Chris did his best to explain tax withdrawal to Toby. Toby did not understand. A promise was a promise. He was upset, very upset.
In his frustration he sputtered, “Well, then, I’ll run away to Canada and be a Herman, and live with the lions and tigers and bears”!
Thus sayeth, Toby, to his friend.
We can all emphasize.
True, it’s hard to be a Herman in Canada these days, and the lions, tigers, and bears are few and far between, but there’s nothing mentally disabled about Toby’s sense of mendacious betrayal. Mendacity and it’s friend betrayal are too much with us. What gentle person doesn’t dream of running away and becoming a Herman?
Unfortunately, becoming a Herman is tougher than ever. You can’t get away from people without getting away from the urban utilities to which we’ve become accustomed.
Even in 1854 Thoreau opted to compromise his ambition to live the life of a Herman with some back-up support. He built his cabin-in-the-woods within walking distance of his sister’s house, and her ready supply of milk and homemade cookies.
It’s worse now. Most of us are no longer much good at hunting, gathering, farming, or scavenging. Living like Thoreau in his simple cabin would be too hard for us.
We’ve lost the self-sufficiency of our forefathers. We’ve traded their hardy can-do gumption for electricity, indoor plumbing, and central heating.
Modern comforts have become necessities; to do without them - unbearable.
Any life apart from the support of other people would likely be brutal and brief.
What can an aspiring Herman do to get away from the lies and conniving?
I have some ideas: Keep a low profile. Live simply. Avoid unnecessary human contact. Befriend the little local birds and animals. Avoid current events. Mind your own business. Daydream. Play music. Read. Relax. Pray - Thank the Lord for the blessings you have.
Wait a minute. That’s what I do now.
Am I a Herman?