From my house, if you take a left through the woods, then a right up a dirt road, and then another right up another dirt road, you come to a really old farmhouse. That’s where Leland lives, and where he’s thinking things over. Last week he agreed to talk with me about some of these things. Death, deep space, and Revolutionary War reenactments. Welcome.
The music in this show is from the remarkable Carla Kihlstedt. Learn more about her HERE.
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec reenactment. Three generations of Kennedys.
LINKS
| Carla Kihlstedt's Music |
Loved this.
Thanks Erica and Leland.
Leland must be some fun at an encampment, soaking up all the stories about crazy George the Third and our very own rabble rouser Ethan Allen.
Ethan and his rowdy Green Mountain Boys are probably the very folks that keep him awake at night.
And smart for him to go into the fife corps instead of being just another drummer. He has already figured that any colonial farm kid can bang on a drum. Better to be a specialist and a fife is easier to lug from one battlefield to the next.
And what about his views of space? The snow globe captures things pretty well.
Carl Sagan would be proud.
What an articulate 10 year old. I love his way of explaining things.
Yeah and it’s hard to imagine anyone who hates taxes as much as Leland. Right? He hated them like four times…..
Great piece, Erica. The music is a perfect match for Leland’s musings. Living on the side of a mountain in Vermont has its rewards, among them children who have lots of time”to think things over”. As for Leland needing just one reason to clean up his room: because he can…in time, he’ll be big enough to chop and stack wood among other things. That’s what families do.
Leland’s ‘papa’ who does reenactments with him. Heavy thinking for 10.
LELAND HATES TAXES!
What 10 year old is coming up with snowglobe space theories like this?! I want to meet this kid. I want to tell him that he will totally NOT be bored as an adult. At all.
Awesome piece. I think you should make it a series and take topics from the audience. Get his thoughts on school, dinner, girls, driving… Sky’s the limit. Thanks for sharing.
I’m actually thinking of doing a whole series called ‘Kid’. So yes yes! This is what I have in mind. We never HEAR kids on the radio and it’s a shame. Anyway. I’m glad you want to hear more from Leland. When we walked into the room where I recorded him, he said,’is this the interrogation room?’
I love Leland.
Ever since I heard this episode (which was great) I’ve been thinking that one could do an entire series on kids. Passionate, articulate kids. Then follow up in 5 years. And again in 10. What happens to their passion over time? Our neighbor is passionate about bugs, specifically beetles. And grubs. At age 8 he knows far more than most adults. We have much to learn from these interesting conversations. Let me know if I can help down here in Bennington…
Unfortunately……folks tend to pay no mind to youngsters…..dismiss them out of hand. There are no classes for developing critical thinking much less mind-wandering for kids these days….so many get mired in the world of electronics and over-involvement in extra-curricular sports and such. Not enough emphasis on just thinking, vocabulary and stringing those two together. I sat in a silent, utterly amazed state of being, listening to this segment yesterday morning….I actually cheered several times and was deeply moved by Leland’s perspectives; it made me wonder how growing up in Vermont has influenced him, and the influence his most likely very astute and connected to the Universe Parents have had on this remarkable young man. Would a child from the inner-city, south side of Chicago or Harlem know how to–and be given the opportunity to–shine as brightly? Is it stellar genes, environment, or both?
Great show…..it made my day and has given me much to ponder….many thanks!!@
Reminds me of your amazing work on “Good Night Moon.”
Billboards! What 10 yr old even pays attention in the car long enough to realize we don’t have billboards in Vermont. Great plug for authentic learning in history. More I want more wisdom from Leland
Wow! What a beautiful young human. And it’s great to hear someone with the same theory about space that I’ve always had! More interviews with Leland please and the music was perfect! Thanks for your work Erica…it’s a comfort to hear from thoughtful people, young and old.
Be careful what you ask him. He might break your world.
You’re right. That kid lives outside the matrix.
Good thinking, Leland. As you grow older some of your opinions may change, but you’ll always have good reasoning
behind them.
Erica: perfect music as a background. I want to hear more, from Leland and Carla; you’ll be there to ask the right
questions; no easy task.
Leland’s snow globe cosmological theory reminded me of these verses from “The King of Aspiration Prayers: the Aspiration for Noble, Excellent Conduct.” The idea of worlds within worlds has a long history.
On a single atom are as many worlds as there are atoms;
in those worlds are Buddhas beyond imagining,
dwelling amidst children of the Buddhas.
I shall observe and emulate their enlightened conduct.
Like that, in any and all directions, too,
in each hairʹs breadth are oceans of Buddhas,
oceans of realms—as many as ever were, are, or will be.
I shall abide in this experience for an ocean of eons.
Leland is very old and very wise.
Another great one Erica. Leland is kind of a visionary. I look forward to hearing more from you as you apply your skills as a story-teller to kids. You’re 100% right that they have a lot to add to public discourse. I’m glad you’re working on it.
Hey Leland, You are a very interesting young man and I can’t wait to hear more of what you think about.
Hello Erica, I never listened to your program before, although I have heard of it. The opening sentences of your story, which you posted on FPF, made me click on and listen. Fantastic story. Being a mentor, and knowing other mentor/mentee relationships, makes me think there are other Lelands out there. I look forward to hear more of your reporting. Thank you.
Wonderful, truly a great presentation. Tell me, do I hear a “Vermont accent amongst the others?
You mean leland? I don’t know…I almost think Leland’s voice sounds like he comes from his very own country….
When you die…I think that just happens in air, your soul just thinks.
I had a great conversation with Leland once when he was in kindergarten or first grade, wonderful. Thanks, Erica, love your work.
This is wonderful, the questions, Leland’s musings, the music. Leland- yes, adults have a lot on their minds, including taxes, but they also have more freedom than children do, so they can decide a lot more for themselves. With some hard work and good luck, they can have wonderful, exciting, really fun lives. I hope you will look forward to all the stages of your life. Erica- I will subscribe, and I look forward to hearing more from Leland and other young people.
Erica,
I sat down with my family tonight to listen to your piece with Leland. My boys were full of questions about the topics he brought up and fascinated by his ideas on space. Thanks for giving Leland such a powerful platform to tell his story.
Kate
Thanks, Erica and Leland! I love the two-way chain of snow globes, and the fact that you (Leland) are thinking about these things, and (you) Erica are taking them down! Nice.
I loved this piece. Thank you Leland for sharing your thoughts and Erica for documenting them. I would love to hear more from local people, both kids and adults.
Erica, Finding these programs late during a sleepless night is a blessing. Leland is a blessing, as are many of your subjects.. Wonder how he has grown since this piece. Thank you.
Leland is going strong. Drove by the house the other day and saw
A revolutionary war era cannon in the driveway. So I’m assuming he’s…busy.