A Bubble with a View

Escaping Reality Through a Collection of Inspirations (and the Art of Looking Up)

Too often, there’s evidence out there where little care is shown from one human to another—compassion seems to be a thing of the past, taking a backseat to conflict, and the divide between us grows wider every day. I know that’s a dramatic statement, yet it also feels true. The energy out there is, well…heavy (and I’m very aware how that makes me sound like an old, bummed-out hippy).

That dramatic statement is just one reason why I’ve become who I am, somewhat of a recluse, an occasional hermit who skims the headlines, shakes his head, and retreats to a quieter, isolated life. You could call it a bubble, if you want, I don’t care—it’s my bubble and it’s where I connect best beyond the surface of this noisy world, where I choose reflection to replace reaction.

This self-constructed bubble of mine works like a shield, but it also filters many things to allow certain things through. What stays here shapes my values, my art, my heart, and my sense of wonder. It’s a private collection—priceless to me (even if most of it didn’t cost me a damn thing). Each piece is carefully positioned under protective glass, part of a strange and sacred shop of curiosities, and it’s someplace I visit often…in fact, All. Day. Long.

At the entrance of this isolated haven, you’ll find a quote hanging proudly above the doorway. It changes frequently, and today’s comes from an adopted godfather to this place, Fred Rogers (yes, Mr. Freakin’ Rogers):

“Our society is much more concerned with information than wonder, in noise rather than silence. How do we encourage reflection?” - Fred Rogers

How do we, indeed?

Inside these walls are the lighter things collected from every corner of my encounters, all sharing a common theme of creating, each with a similar result in reflections, pauses, hesitations, and moments of awe. Together, they work brilliantly as antidotes to that energy of a heavier nature.

In the past, this space has been organized more chronologically, from day one to this present day. Over time, it has changed, evolved, and morphed like any fancy gallery worthy of visiting. This week, everything is organized into specific categories: Books, Film, Music, and Art. Pick any, and the bubble somehow expands inward.

Each category overlaps with the other, all containing elements of words and images, a combination that’s as enduring to me as any love story. Each room, wing, or corridor contains many walls for display, yet there are no ceilings. Every area has an unobstructed view of the sky, where quotes float around freely. Quotes from artists, authors, poets, nature enthusiasts, etc. Quotes that only appear in those moments of pause.

As you enter the Art corridor, you’ll travel past many of the classics, including the mind-bending art from both Van Gogh and Dali. There is occasional appreciation for other impressionists and surrealists, but those two shadow all the rest. There are also many works here by those who loved the letter forms, the shapes of words, like Saul Bass and Milton Glaser. The space eventually opens further to an area not normally in such a setting, exploring the depths of comics, cartoons, and the like. In one corner are simpler literary pieces that also appear in the wing for Books. Harold and the Purple Crayon, many Dr. Seuss adventures, Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are, and, of course, The Little Prince. Those seem important in this area as much as in literature, just like how there’s also a deeper focus on comic strips here from the days of newspapers. The most celebrated being The Far Side, Bloom County, Peanuts, and best of all, Calvin and Hobbes. All of which still fuels this open-minded kid at the heart of all I do.

Photos from a recent trip to see the Calvin and Hobbes exhibit at the Fenimore Museum in Cooperstown, NY

The Music collection is vast and ever-expanding, requiring its own dedicated wing that seems like more of a chapel. After all, Music is the language of the divine, is it not? This area has a feeling of a hall of fame, including the bands that shaped my teens—U2, The Police, INXS, The Fixx—and ones that came to me later in life and have dug deeper into my soul, like Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Stones, and of course, Pink Floyd. Song lyrics float above, and album covers garnish the walls. New bands weave into the mix, Mt. Joy, The Heavy Heavy, French Cassettes, and Royal Otis, to name a few.

At the center is a special display reserved for singer/songwriters. Neil Young, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, to name a few. Newer artists are added as they come into the space, Tyler Childers, M.J. Lenderman, Father John Misty, Jason Isbell, Trevor Hall, Xavier Rudd, Valerie June, Hannah Cohen, the list goes on and on. One artist has the strongest presence here, and you can feel his influence from any room. An artist who has been with me my whole life, the humblest of icons: Paul Simon.

“The trick, as I know it, is to care like hell and not give a damn at the same time.”
- Paul Simon

From my earliest memories, I can recall my parents listening to Mr. Simon along with his earliest works with Mr. Garfunkel. At an altar in the Musical chapel, there is an audiobook that captures a conversation with Paul and author Malcolm Gladwell. It’s called Miracle and Wonder, a name borrowed from the lyrics of his tune, The Boy in the Bubble (coincidence?). I rarely get into audiobooks, but this one has grabbed my attention three times now, making it a special addition here. I get something different out of each listen, and it hums with the light that fills this place—part memory, part muse. After all, how could I not be enamored by someone who recommended listening to the sounds of freakin’ silence?

Books and Films are on display under the category of Storytelling, an area that has grown to over half the size of this entire place. There are various examples on display here, though they aren’t as organized—piling up in stacks on the floors. There’s a smaller private room to the side that is held only for the Books that have crossed over into Films. A comparison always occurs here, resulting in a shift of energy, where clouds form and lightning flashes, though rarely do any of the Films win the argument of a successful adaptation, though there are a handful that flip that script.

At the back of this section is an area titled Top 10 Books and Films.* Here, there are many lists, and not one entry is more apparent than the rest, as the Best Overall Films plays here on a loop. The Top 10 Overall Books are also proudly displayed but revisited less often, yet still honored and discussed extensively. There are also lists varying from Top 10 Scariest Films to Top 10 Sci-fi Films, and there is even a list of Top 10 Stephen King Books (if you didn’t know, his books are my guilty pleasures, and coincidentally, one of them was made into a Film that achieved the rarity of being better than the Book).

“Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies” - Andy Dufresne

Even though there are these lists, I don’t believe any one single entry can have a number one in their category, and none are listed in any order of importance. This would simply be too subjective, yet I still adore a good top 10 list. Yeah, this part of the bubble is filled with contradiction, and it’s certainly a mystery why I find comfort in such a juxtaposition.

Yet, as mentioned, this is my bubble, and the more I return here, the more it fuels its existence, and the better the view becomes from within. A view only possible upon the shoulders of those who came before.

Before you leave, I’ll offer one last quote from Malcolm Gladwell’s Miracle and Wonder. These words have been humming above this place since I first heard them. Floating around each room of this bubble, reminding me of why it’s here.

“The purpose of Art is to bring Joy to darkness, and find truth through imagination” - Malcom Gladwell

I’ve called this bubble my escape for many years, but now it feels like a place with more purpose.

As we leave, you may notice a small area under construction. It’s always in a state of repair and somehow shows progress, too. You could categorize it as a gift shop of sorts, of course, located near the exit, just like those fancier museums or galleries, though it’s not a place to purchase anything. It’s a place where new curiosities arrive as I figure out what to do with them. I suppose that’s where I end up most days, after reminiscing about all that’s been collected. Considering what to do with what comes to me, and how to return it to the world outside this bubble. Perhaps it would be helpful to have a garden outside that area to allow these gifts to bloom—yes, a garden filled with outrageous Tim Burton-type sculptures, of course.

So, yeah, that’s where I go. My place of quiet, whimsical reflection.

Though indeed, the world’s noise is still out there, and it can still create a barrier when seeking this place’s entrance. Moving past the noise is always possible though, and can be done in various ways—yet there’s one way that works best. Perhaps this can help others get to their cozy bubble of their own design. It’s what works for me, so perhaps it will work for you. Take a moment, take a second, take a breath, and look up. The never-ending sky is a perspective we all have, so keep that view clear and take it in when needed. It can transport me to exactly where I need to be.

Inside an ever-changing landscape…that always fills my cup.

May the wonder always be with you!

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This post was written, illustrated, and conceived by Bernie Freytag (with very mild editing and proofreading by AI).

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*Jump on over to this page for an extensive collection of Top 10 lists, some of which were mentioned above.