THIS THING WE'RE LIVING IS NOT A LIMITED SERIES

As I was getting ready for  our morning walk, I turned on the news to see what is happening in Ukraine. I think we all do some variation of this throughout the day, usually several times. Mostly, I turn on to see if Zelensky is still alive. And as I was watching the coverage, I realized that in some weird way, a lot of the Ukraine invasion has become a sort of limited series we are all watching. Something we care about, but still can turn off whenever we need to so that we can go to our jobs, or go grab a pizza or whatever. And as I'm thinking about that, the newscaster announces "price of gas above $4 a gallon for first time in years". 

And I think, how fucking awful is it that while this network is streaming onto our screens images of people who are literally fighting for their lives that the same network felt it was worth mentioning that we might be paying more for gas. 

If the fact that gas prices go up is as important as an invasion that could very possibly set off World War Three, the time, as Hamlet said, is out of joint.

We need to all take a step back and consider what is important.

On a system wide basis. We have really got to find a better way to run this world we live in. It just feels like the current one, where corporate interests run by a small percentage of the population do everything they can solely to make money at the expense of everything else, does not lead us to a healthier lifestyle.

And of course, there's the added bonus of how we are killing the planet.

I would think that would cut into profits, not having anyone alive. But what do I know.

Anyhow, my main thought is that we have to remember, every day, that what is happening in the world is not a limited series on Netflix. It is not an overlong Tik Tok video. It is not a rant by Tucker Carlson or a song by Bob Dylan. 

Those are all reflections, impressions, sales pitches, and ways people express themselves.

But they are not that elusive truth we all seem to inherently want.

This blog is just my what I happen to think and typed three days a week. Nothing more or less. 

I am all for entertainment. For thoughts and ideas being expressed. 

But we have to also balance that with critical thinking. And Experiencing life in the moment, not filtered through the internet or television or a book or blog or poem or song. 

Those are things meant to augment our lives, not replace them. 

As David Mamet wrote in his adaptation of Uncle Vanya before he lost his frigging mind, "This thing we're living? It's our life!"

Watch the news. Read books and magazines and blogs. Especially this one. Listen to music. 

Fuck yes.

But also take a long walk. Meet a stranger and say hello. Go talk in person with someone you haven't talked to in person with for a long time.

Touch a flower. Feel the sun on your face. Tend to your garden. 

Yeah. Tend to your garden, like Voltaire said to do at the end of Candide.

Here's today's song. It's Make Our Garden Grow from Leonard Bernstein's Candide.

And in honor of the state of Florida, please, all of you, Glitter and Be Gay.

  

TIME HAS COME AND I AM FULL OF HOPE

Dreamt I was buried alive. Well, not buried. More like planted. I was in this warm, sandy mud, and I could breathe, and the mud was filling me with strength, and I was growing, like I was a flower bulb, or a potato or something. I remember thinking "this is great!", and then my dog barked to be let out, and I woke up. I wonder if that is what is happening right now, what has been happening for the past few months as we have all sat in our homes, worrying and crying and laughing and staring into space and gardening and taking walks and calling our loved ones and getting angry at the lack of response on a federal level and marching in protest. Have we been growing, evolving, mutating into stronger, more capable people? Feels like it to me. I see the people marching, protesting, seeking truth and justice like the heroes we all are. And I feel great pride and joy in being a human being. I feel hope.

I do think some of the flowers and potatoes have been pulled early for various reasons, and are not living up to their full potential. They seem stunted, angry, sad. And make poor decisions that hurt themselves and those around them and the country and the world. We need to help these people see the light. We need to raise up our brothers and sisters, our neighbors, our friends, our enemies, our cities and nations and the entire world. We have to grow into the leaders we want and need. And I think we are. I think, in some strange way, this whole shut down global pandemic economic depression racial injustice has brought about a change that is just now beginning to be seen, like a plant just popping out of the earth. What it will grow into remains to be seen, but I have, as I said, great hope.

Last night, we had a zoom with Lisa's son and his girlfriend, who have gone to three marches so far in NYC. They live in Brooklyn, and are right in the thick of things going on right now. Hearing them speak of what they saw, listening to them share their hopes and fears and ideas was inspiring. I also saw a photo my best friend in the world shared of his niece at a protest in Montana. She is standing her ground, speaking her truth, while this man looms over her, clearly enraged. And the niece looks fierce. So inspiring.

All these people, rising up, going out in this pandemic, it's amazing. And in contrast to the protests just a few weeks ago from those who were demanding we open up our society,  most of the current protesters, who seem much larger in numbers, are wearing masks and not carrying rifles. There is rage being expressed, to be sure. And there are some who are taking advantage of the marches, just as I'm sure there were some who took advantage at the earlier protests. But the overall vibe of the moment feels like my dream last night. Vital. Full of life. A signal of change.

To bring back a phrase, yes we can. We can and we will. We shall not only overcome, we shall grow.

Here's a song. It's The Chambers Brothers, live, doing  Time Has Come Today.