140 Comments
May 30, 2023Liked by Chris Bray

Love this. We were out in Wyoming last year and a woman dishing up ice cream for us said “why do they keep telling us we hate each other?”

We don’t. Talk to real people, in real life, and you’ll know the lie for what it is.

Expand full comment
May 30, 2023Liked by Chris Bray

Dear Chris, Just returned from France visiting my sister and kids in a beautiful town called Divonne Les Bains. It’s a different world. Zero signs of insanity. Looked at the kids school schedule. Physics , math, geography, history. Deep intelligent conversations with a 13 yr old and 15 yr old. They chuckle at the stories they hear from their mom and dad about the woke crap peddling .

Did plenty of hikes in the Jura mountains. Tons of young teens hiking and picnicking mountaintop . The farmers market filled with people enjoying wine , cheese bread all locally made.

I went off Twitter months ago as well my only Substack is Trish Wood and you. The reality around me even here two hours north of Toronto in a small town called Thornbury on the shores of Georgian Bay doesn’t reflect what I was reading. Dinner parties and gathering with friends never broaches the garbage subject matter.

Now having returned from my sisters village and a trip to Provence my spirit is renewed. Lots of happy people enjoying life , the scenery , the food and wine. I looked at the cafes full of happy people and said to myself “ good luck to them with their great reset . It’s all bullshit. The world will go on in spite of them. Your never going to take foie gras, away from the French, or having a good time in America

Expand full comment

The prevalence of screens have made much of the world homebound invalids. You provide an important service by reminding us all that we are not confined by invisible chains, but are "free to move about the country" where reality is so sweet. Thank you.

Expand full comment
May 30, 2023Liked by Chris Bray

"so oftentimes it happens that we live our lives in chains and we never even know we have the key; but me, i'm already gone" - eagles

Expand full comment
May 30, 2023Liked by Chris Bray

I've often thought about what Chris is writing about here. What we see on the ground, our experiences with other people, people not like ourselves, whether it is race, religion, sexual orientation, whatever, is NOT what is portrayed in the news or on TV, and definitely not what is on the internet, fb, instagram, twitter, etc. Pretend they don't exist; you'll be much happier.

To slightly change a phrase from the past: Tune Out, Turn Off, Get Out!

Expand full comment
May 30, 2023Liked by Chris Bray

My husband and I took our six kids camping up near Payson, AZ this past weekend. On Monday morning, the key to our dump out compartment broke so I called the Home Depot to see if the key department could make a new key out of two pieces. The lady in customer service told me they don’t have the right machine but “call Ryan who owns Rytek Security. He’s a great guy and I’m sure he can help you out. Or if not, call the guys over at Ace Hardware.” I LOVE that the lady at Home Depot referred me to a person she actually knew. Because Ace was close by we went there and the men running the key department were able to make us a new key. Everyone was so friendly! It’s always great to go to a small town hardware store - it always restores my faith that there are plenty of good people doing things with their hands and helping people out. When we got home to Phoenix we went out for dinner and there were two women at the booth next to us who had rainbow masks on -- in the restaurant. Seemed odd because firstly, they were below the Covid layer that has always existed at restaurants. And secondly, they were all alone in a corner of the mostly deserted restaurant but also sitting nearly on top of each other on the same side of the booth. Anyway, I guess you could say I saw the real world this weekend AND some of the twitter world in living color.

Expand full comment

"Twitter's not a real place."

Expand full comment
May 30, 2023Liked by Chris Bray

Your work is medicine. Grateful.

Expand full comment
May 30, 2023Liked by Chris Bray

Love your trips and the stories and photos of them. I do agree that we don't hate each other as much as the leftwing outlets claim. Remember, they are all communists or anarchists and their power comes from dividing people up by race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual preference. They have done this for over 100 years and it's a winning formula if you want to destroy a society. But most people know it's not true, by and large, that's why when the media pans the long lines of illegals coming north, or show any from naturalization events, virtually everyone of the people are black, brown, or yellow: very few whites ones. we are th society, with the greatest culture, ever! And you're right: turn off the TV, lap top, I Pad, "hand help device, and go outside and do something, or nothing. Lots of great open spaces, even in large metropolitan areas. Keep taking your trips and sharing them with us.

Danny Huckabee

Expand full comment
May 30, 2023Liked by Chris Bray

I seldom post comments on the various blogs that I read. I am retired and live in SC near Charlotte, NC. My wife and I, now that the worst of Covid is gone, go out now...mostly her...she likes to shop (ha, ha). I do the grocery shopping and other trips she asks me to make, plus a few days a week at our public golf course. Everywhere both of us go it's like 'pre' Covid. People are nice. Regardless of their gender, ethnicity, etc, when I open a door for them they say 'thank you'. They open doors for me and/or my wife and we say 'thank you'. People are civil in the stores. We don't hear much about shop lifting/violence. None of the stores in our area are closing due to shop lifting/etc. No one is protesting about 'Nazi' police, DEI and/or systemic racism. People are nice...just like before Covid. My wife and I both comment that there are lots of 'Hiring Now' signs. And we know a number of our extended family who don't want to work because their 'public assistance/support' and/or other family members are allowing them to not work...but that's another story. These days, when I read 'headlines' about violence, etc...I'm thankful that we live where we do.

Expand full comment

Just spent a week at a retreat in Texas. Took the Amtrak from California (first time). Two and a half day ride. I loved it. I've always loved my road trips but not driving is even better!

Half the people on the train and at the retreat were of color. We all got along fabulously. Everyone on the train was kind and sociable.

Expand full comment
May 30, 2023Liked by Chris Bray

The news really is fake

Expand full comment
founding
May 30, 2023·edited May 30, 2023Liked by Chris Bray

Mr. Bray -

as the Black Crows sang; 'Jealous Again'

I feel like you're taunting us now with all these awesome photos...I think this is your 4th time in as many months.

On another note:

Did anyone else spend countless hours driving around during covid trying to make sense of what was happening? It kept me sane.

Expand full comment
May 30, 2023Liked by Chris Bray

Are there any parents bold enough to take away all the technology their kids are addicted to? Gluten free? Hell, they should be cellphone free, it would do them much more good! How about any new parents or about to have kids? Dare to not let them plug in? Make a promise to yourself now so you can stick to it no matter what the "other" kids are doing. There is so much more to life than what's online.

Expand full comment
May 30, 2023Liked by Chris Bray

Breath of fresh air--thank you!

Expand full comment
May 30, 2023Liked by Chris Bray

Last week, reading a history of the French Revolution, I realized that if you lived 100 or more miles away from Paris, chances were you paid very little attention to those events, and until your taxes were due, maybe they didn't matter to you. The wars that followed were different, and if your local elites were forced out of power, that impacted you. But, the general idea is that keeping your head down and living your life has its appeal.

Expand full comment