Friday Mailbag - 3/19/21
On chore coats, atheism, and unbelievers
Hi, everybody. Welcome to the Friday Mailbag. Kind of a brutal week. Hope everyone’s doing okay.
Thanks for the all the great feedback on my Songs of the ‘60s. If you missed that entry, click here. The ‘70s are up next. I won’t promise it’ll be done by next week, but that’s my goal.
One last piece of news before we move onto the Mailbag: My friend, Joey Kappel, generously shared some thoughts about his favorite shirt. You can read them here.
AND NOW TO THE MAILBAG…
Loyal N.E.H. reader, Jonathan, asks:
Most essential item of clothing for spring?
Good question, Jon. I touched on spring essentials a couple weeks ago, but I’ve always got more to recommend.
Let’s turn our attention to chore coats. Chore coats split the difference between jean jackets and button-ups. They’re super practical when the weather turns. Think heavyweight fabric, big buttons, tons of pockets. Here are four good ones.
Knit Chore Coat in Sunset Orange by Todd Snyder ($348)
Coverall Jacket by Randy’s Garments ($225)
Indigo Basketweave Chore Coat by Naked & Famous ($225)
Iron Forge Hemp Chore Coat by Patagonia ($149)
As always, poke around on Grailed, Depop, and eBay for chore coats on discount. They look better the more they’re beaten up, so start a garden, take up woodworking, raise a child, or build a bicycle. Whatever it takes.
Loyal N.E.H. reader, Pat (no relation), asks:
“Would you consider yourself a true atheist? I used to think I was, but now I say I’m agnostic.”
Great question, Pat. Perhaps you read my entry on atheism in hardcore and wanted to know more. Well, I’m happy to say more.
I consider myself an atheist. I’ve felt this way since around 2006.
Atheism is more useful to me than agnosticism. I grant that the universe is a mystifying and infinitely complex place. Perhaps that’s why God (and by extension, agnosticism) appeals to people. I just don’t buy it. I don’t find any evidence of God in nature–beautiful though nature may be–and so I can’t leave open the possibility that God may be out there playing a role in the universe. I don’t give angels, fairies, demons, etc. the benefit of the doubt, either.
I admit I get tripped up when I think of the origin of the universe. That train of thought hurts my brain. I also hate that I’ll end up rotting in the ground or turned into ashes, my consciousness snuffed forever. That’s definitely a bummer. Heaven, as I understand it, seems pretty chill - full of old friends and epic record collections and cherub-made selvedge denim. Unfortunately, regarding the possibility of an afterlife: I can’t go for that (no can do).
And so I’m back at square one, searching for answers and finding only randomness, doubt, and confusion. Never God, though. Never God.
Got a question? Feel free to comment on this post or e-mail me at newexperimentalhours@gmail.com. Thanks!
Well, that’s it. Chore coats and the afterlife. God and Patagonia. Hope you enjoyed it. Have a great weekend. Go run or take a bike ride or something.