Monterey Quote by Joan Didion
““Flying to Monterey I had a sharp apprehension of the many times before when I had, like Lincoln Steffens, "come back," flown west, followed the sun, each time experiencing a lightening of spirit as the land below opened up, the checkerboards of the midwestern plains giving way to the vast empty reach between the Rockies and the Sierra Nevada; then home, there, where I was from, me, California. It would be a while before I realized that “me” is what we think when our parents die, even at my age, who will look out for me now, who will remember me as I was, who will know what happens to me now, where will I be from.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “On Self-Respect” in The White Album, 1979
The narrator reflects on travel as a metaphor for confronting mortality and the lingering need for parental guidance after loss.
In simple terms: Travel triggers thoughts about death and needing support.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge grief and seek new sources of support.
Themes
mortality
identity
loneliness
travel
family
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
personal essay
memoir
When to use this quote
- visiting hometown
- dealing with loss
- seeking mentorship
- reflective writing
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
memory
Questions to Reflect On
- How does returning home affect your sense of self?
- What new relationships can fill the void left by parents?
A Different Perspective
The introspection may romanticize loss rather than promote healing.
