20 Comments
May 13Liked by Andrew Smith

Definitely the more depressing one of all Hills named after food.

Blueberry Hill, on the other hand...

Expand full comment
author

Ever see the movie "12 Monkeys"? The song figures prominently.

Expand full comment
May 13Liked by Andrew Smith

The Bruce Willis time-jumping mind-melter that isn't "Looper"? Yup, a long time ago.

Can't say I recall the Blueberry Hill song in it though.

Expand full comment
author

Yep, with Brad Pitt (but don't hold that against the movie- it's his best role). It might be worth watching again some time if you're in the right mood.

Expand full comment
May 13Liked by Andrew Smith

Brad Pitt has plenty of good moments, so nothing against the guy. (I enjoyed his goofball character in Burn After Reading - the entire movie is a delight.)

I'll put 12 Monkeys on my "To Watch" list. It'll be #1782 in line.

Expand full comment
author

There's a spinoff show that I also enjoyed, although it takes place in a different universe.

Expand full comment

What about Afghanistan (both wars) and the second Iraq War?

Expand full comment
author

Sure does seem that way, especially Iraq. Ugh.

Expand full comment
May 13Liked by Andrew Smith

Although it's not a hill, Bagram comes to mind.

Expand full comment
author

Bagram, and maybe Afghanistan as a whole?

Expand full comment

we get stuck on our own hills that can seem massive and all important in the moment but in retrospect look small and inconsequential. So if that rock keeps rolling back and crushing you - maybe you don’t need to climb this particular hill right now or … ever!

Expand full comment
author

TL;DR: Life is short, so choose your battles wisely!

Expand full comment

The hill of “right and wrong “ has seen innumerable deaths and divisions…

Expand full comment

Yeah, that sounds more accurate. If American soldiers give English geographical names to places on foreign shores, there's usually a logical reason for it.

Expand full comment
author

I think about Göbekli Tepe right away. It means something like "potbelly hill", which is kind of hilarious.

Expand full comment
May 13Liked by Andrew Smith

“and a reminder that a fight that seems all-important when you’re in the middle of it can seem shockingly trivial when you’re far away.”

What a beautifully written and powerful insight. One I am painfully aware of everyday now that grief has touch my life so personally.

There aren’t many hills I think are worth dying on these days. But I do still find pleasure and grit in climbing to the top to see soak in the view, but not every view needs to be seen and knowing the difference is a challenge I still struggle with.

Thanks, Andrew! You’ve given me something to meditate on today as I go about it- I will take this into class with me. 😉

Expand full comment
author

The nice thing about jiu jitsu is that there are lots of hills to climb.

Expand full comment
May 13Liked by Andrew Smith

And many to abandon. I think it’s why I love it so much. Every person is puzzle that I must solve… and climb on. lol

Expand full comment

One of the movies about the Vietnam War is named after "Hamburger Hill". I thought that was a weird name, but it clearly has significance.

Gregory Peck made a film about the Korean War called "Pork Chop Hill", and now I think that might have been named for the same metaphorical reason.

Expand full comment
author

Sounds like Pork Chop Hill was so-named due to the shape of the hill.

Expand full comment