One for Sorrow

I heard that podcast and remember that moment! I wonder if part of this is that in American mythology you're really not supposed to refuse the call. You're supposed to light out for the territory; you're supposed to feel internally dissatisfied and do what you need to do to make your life better. Teddy Roosevelt would not refuse the call. Don Draper would not refuse the call. James Kirk would not refuse the call--even in the new movie it's more that he's not sure it's a real possibility than that he actually initially refuses. All of the cowboys and pioneers in our past would not refuse the call. The pilgrims didn't even refuse the call. In American storytelling stasis is bad, it's deadly. You're supposed to reject the life of your father and find a new one of your own, however minimal that change might be.