Wondermental
by Nico Vassilakis
Being old and getting old all at the same time.
An amalgamation of moments and an accumulation of fragments.
Birdsong, coyotes howling, tornado warnings instead of honking, bodega vibes and subway stops —
A true change indeed.
Wondermental is an amalgamation of musings on the changing landscape — a collection of the ways time passes and people adapt (or don’t) in response to a contrary modern world. Vassilakis chronicles the ten-year aftermath of picking up and moving from New York City to Greenville, IL, an unfolding that veered between bewildered urban dweller and a contender for farm life.
Wondermental entails living through the early rigors of Covid and obsessing over the poison issuing from political theater in the media — and describes it through fragmenting thoughts, mournfulness, and a hunger for something more.
Nico Vassilakis is a poet and visual artist who drives long distances from his home state in rural Illinois, where he works as a home healthcare therapist. His clients include farmers, coal workers, truck drivers, accountants, and bank clerks who are recovering from injuries and health issues.
Wondermental will be released December 3, 2024.