For most of my adult life I have looked out at
the world from massive cities. Recently, however, I moved to rural Western
Massachusetts. I am using this time of transition from metropolis to hamlet to
reflect on what I will affectionately call “the progress narrative.”
Recently, fatigued by trying to write a certain
research proposal, I decided to explore the Phoenix Sonoran Bikeway going
south: a bike trail that I have noticed is marked by special signs through the
nicer neighborhoods in downtown Phoenix.
The question of
whether volcanoes are Luddites is relative. A student of mine was fond of
pointing out that in her native country of Peru, earthquakes are part of life’s
routine and are not seen as emergencies or catastrophes at all.
