Why Are We Here?

                                                                         Meatwad

This is not an ontological, existential question. Nor is it meant to indicate a quest for the meaning of human existence. The "Why" is a set-up for a self-serving explanation of our existence in the blogosphere (the "Here"). The "We" is me, Nils and anyone else who can type into a comment box, to join in discussion of whatever spills across the pages of this space- politics, religion, the human condition; the past, present and future; food, music, art, culture high and low, the Earth and its biosphere--like I said, whatevah!

We chose Hog Roast as the name of this blog, because many of us have shared the experience of those Memorial Day weekend cavalcades of porcine frenzy in the valley of the Shenandoah: the pungent smells of burnt pork flesh, stale Rebel Yell on the breath, sweaty flesh slathered with cowpie-infused mud; vomit and bonfires; screams of joy, pain and despair- all mingling in a miasma of primordial proto-life, oozing purposefully toward. . .what, exactly?

To my mind, the essence of Hog Roast is the multitude of fireside powwows, a collective discourse fueled by hedonism and gluttony, but ignited by uninhibited free discussion that can only burn in an environment of the security of friendship and mutual respect. The base academic level of these symposia would undoubtedly cause Socrates to spew uncontrollably, but the brain scrapings produced are no less meaningful to those engaged.

To bastardize the words of Honest Abe, it is altogether fitting and proper that the debut of this blog occurs on Memorial Day 2010, the weekend of Hog Roast itself. This day is also the 20th anniversary of the conception of our boy, Jeremy during a Roast beset by a cataclysmic deluge. Aided by a bottle or two of premium spirits and a firm resolve to avoid the inundation, Robin and I set upon the path to unforeseen parenthood. (If the van is a rockin', don't come a knockin'!)

Ignite the bonfire!