Declaring independence can be tough

 It's Independence Day here in the United States, a time when we celebrate our nation breaking off from its mother country, the land of Sherlock Holmes. As Sherlockians, we find ourselves very dependent upon Victorian England for our pleasures, for the most part: Its history, both that documented by Watson and more reliable historians, its literary legacy, and its ties that that modern island nation where magical creatures like Paul Thomas Miller reside. But there are often parts of our own Sherlockian culture that we still need to declare our independence from.

One of the most common ones can be the depth of our nostalgia for those Sherlockian things that tripped our  triggers early on. That one book, movie, or TV series that we want to go to our graves declaring "This was the One. All must enjoy this as I have to truly be called 'Sherlockian.'" It comes naturally with the enthusiasm, and can be forgiven if one doesn't start denying everyone else's favorites in one's zeal to trumpet one's own. Every generation gets its own Sherlockian treasures, and further than that, every individual gets their own Sherlockian treasures. 

But declaring one's independence from being an asshole about what's good can be learned. The world rewards you for getting along with folks.

What's harder sometimes is getting over the shitty things that happened in your past. Even in the bright and happy land we call Sherlockiana there are dark moments, as in any human endeavor, and they can leave us with unresolved grievances, lingering regrets, and even a few emotional scars. Time doesn't heal all wounds, especially if they altered your entire journey through the hobby you love. But what time does do is give you some distance, a longer view, and removes reminders as the years pass.

The subject of oral histories came up a while back, and the fact that some stories will probably never make it into those records. We want to remember the good times. We want to let the bad times fade. "Those who don't remember history are doomed to repeat it" sounds good, but in truth, we're humans, just as those who came before. We tend to make the same mistakes for the same reasons. We can be helpful guides for those coming after, but maybe we don't need to keep reliving our own bad times just to be the town crier for the new members of the community.

I was handed some pieces of information recently that I put off exploring until today, mainly due to my own issues with all parties involved. Somewhat interesting, but just adding the details to something one could pretty much figure out just knowing said parties. But, like the age of dinosaurs, that time is past.

There is so much of Sherlockiana that is all about the past, but there are times when we need to declare our independence from some parts of it for our own good. There's a whole word out there here and now that awaits, and there's a reason windshields are bigger than rearview mirrors.

Happy Independence Day, my friends.