There are literally no correct answers when it comes to the pandemic right now. It's a systemic problem that has no individual fix. All we can do is our best and keep trying to take steps with the compassion you reminded us of a couple weeks ago.
Cherry Apsley-Garrard's "The Worst Journey in the World" might have been my favorite book I read in grad school. Someday I might read it again (it's a big one), but in the meantime will fully enjoy the intrepid bravery of people who aren't privileged white dudes!
Thank you for this post. It reminded me of two of my favorite words, kindness and persistence.
In my opinion, here on the right side of the dirt, these words and their meaning are what get us through the day either across the Antarctic or just around the house. It's all about putting one foot in front of the other fueled by kindness. You might recall this little ditty:
Great and thoughtful writing as always! I don't have the exact numbers on hand at the moment, but both your books were in the top 5 bestsellers at Fact & Fiction this year.
To quote Tony Kushner’s Angels in America: “The white cracker who wrote the national anthem knew what he was doing. He set the word 'free' to a note so high nobody can reach it. That was deliberate. Nothing on Earth sounds less like freedom to me. You come to room 1013 over at the hospital, Louis, I'll show you America. Terminal, crazy and mean. I live in America, Louis. I don't have to love it. You do that. Everybody’s gotta love somethin'.”
Only you would have a t-shirt that reads, “Make America Mexico Again.” I love it.
As for Cora Neumann, anyone you endorse is good with me.
Thanks for the Preet Chandi info. Fantastic. I’ll stop my whining now.
I’ve been enjoying your latest book. I especially love your note of placement for each poem, whether in your room, on a hike, etc. I can almost picture you.
I’ve joined an online morning meditation/then we DANCE group for a month and I’m LOVING it.
there is so much I love about this--I was going to comment on your last post that I can't see the flag any longer with anything but disgust really--I think it changed for me after the Bush years. But what really cinched it was volunteering in my son's class in first grade and watching them all stand up to recite the pledge of allegiance each morning. I was seriously naively thinking we didn't make kids do this shit any more. I called my best friend ranting about it, who teaches education and she told me it's the state standards, probably. It varies. It's chilling--cultish, weird, unnerving. It led to me finding another school. Earlier this week, I watched a bus load of Jan. 6 folks reciting the pledge to one another and my son, now 15, cited it as well as being one of the most chilling things leading up to the attack. Patriotism, nationalism....feels like manipulation. I want to offer loyalty and honor to those in community because of shared love and friendship. But to a higher power....that feels like something personal, you know?
Also Elizabeth Bradfield! I know her a bit and absolutely love that book. I recommend it to others often--so was so happy to see it here! Yay!
Chris, I started reading your essay and your readers' comments over my morning coffee. An hour and several google forays later... You always provide food for thought :-) To me, the national anthem is another glorification of war, and the ritual of singing it at sporting events amounts to nationalist indoctrination. "And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air..." I googled the lyrics of the 1812 poem, and it gets far worse. Since childhood I've marveled that the grown-up leaders of our world try to solve problems like bullies on the playground. Childish. And we memorialize war with fireworks every May and July. What a horror that must be for veterans who suffer from PTSD. And the Battle Hymn of the Republic? Sung reverently in churches with the flag prominently displayed next to the altar. 'Cuz that's what Christ was all about? That was the last straw for me with Americanized Christianity. To me, it's all brainwashing bullshit. I mourn the good things we could have funded the past 60 years instead of wars. Maybe I've become a bitter cynic in my old age. But I could see the insanity of it all as a child.
We are really in bad shape as regards Covid. Up until now we have not been using the N95’s, just the cloth masks. But, last night I spoke to my niece who is a doctor, and she insisted on sending us a care package. She told me that as long as we’ve been vaxxed and boosted(we have), and as long as we wear the N95’s, and as long as we avoid crowds, we are doing all that we can. Unfortunately our local hospital is drowning. It did not have to be. And I wonder why the N95’s have not yet been distributed by the government. Do they fear that half of the populace would burn them? You have to admit that we are living among a substantial number of misinformed citizens.
Kudos to Preet! Wow. I cannot imagine accomplishing such a feat.
"And more than one great singer has made a nightmare of it by doing too much. Keep it simple, people. Save the vocal wankery for your own miserable grammy-winning ditties that I’ll never choose to listen to."
Okay, this just made me snort out loud at work. : )
Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead is a rich fictional story of a daring young female explorer, and it’s set in Montana! My e-book of Great Circle is half finished and will be due at midnight, so I should probably get back to it!
There are literally no correct answers when it comes to the pandemic right now. It's a systemic problem that has no individual fix. All we can do is our best and keep trying to take steps with the compassion you reminded us of a couple weeks ago.
Cherry Apsley-Garrard's "The Worst Journey in the World" might have been my favorite book I read in grad school. Someday I might read it again (it's a big one), but in the meantime will fully enjoy the intrepid bravery of people who aren't privileged white dudes!
Thank you for this post. It reminded me of two of my favorite words, kindness and persistence.
In my opinion, here on the right side of the dirt, these words and their meaning are what get us through the day either across the Antarctic or just around the house. It's all about putting one foot in front of the other fueled by kindness. You might recall this little ditty:
I'm a fat,
barely employable,
middle-aged Native guy
with a chip on his shoulder
and no health insurance,
living below the poverty line
with huge love for much and many,
and you can believe
I have a stake in this.
Great and thoughtful writing as always! I don't have the exact numbers on hand at the moment, but both your books were in the top 5 bestsellers at Fact & Fiction this year.
To quote Tony Kushner’s Angels in America: “The white cracker who wrote the national anthem knew what he was doing. He set the word 'free' to a note so high nobody can reach it. That was deliberate. Nothing on Earth sounds less like freedom to me. You come to room 1013 over at the hospital, Louis, I'll show you America. Terminal, crazy and mean. I live in America, Louis. I don't have to love it. You do that. Everybody’s gotta love somethin'.”
Only you would have a t-shirt that reads, “Make America Mexico Again.” I love it.
As for Cora Neumann, anyone you endorse is good with me.
Thanks for the Preet Chandi info. Fantastic. I’ll stop my whining now.
I’ve been enjoying your latest book. I especially love your note of placement for each poem, whether in your room, on a hike, etc. I can almost picture you.
I’ve joined an online morning meditation/then we DANCE group for a month and I’m LOVING it.
there is so much I love about this--I was going to comment on your last post that I can't see the flag any longer with anything but disgust really--I think it changed for me after the Bush years. But what really cinched it was volunteering in my son's class in first grade and watching them all stand up to recite the pledge of allegiance each morning. I was seriously naively thinking we didn't make kids do this shit any more. I called my best friend ranting about it, who teaches education and she told me it's the state standards, probably. It varies. It's chilling--cultish, weird, unnerving. It led to me finding another school. Earlier this week, I watched a bus load of Jan. 6 folks reciting the pledge to one another and my son, now 15, cited it as well as being one of the most chilling things leading up to the attack. Patriotism, nationalism....feels like manipulation. I want to offer loyalty and honor to those in community because of shared love and friendship. But to a higher power....that feels like something personal, you know?
Also Elizabeth Bradfield! I know her a bit and absolutely love that book. I recommend it to others often--so was so happy to see it here! Yay!
Chris, I started reading your essay and your readers' comments over my morning coffee. An hour and several google forays later... You always provide food for thought :-) To me, the national anthem is another glorification of war, and the ritual of singing it at sporting events amounts to nationalist indoctrination. "And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air..." I googled the lyrics of the 1812 poem, and it gets far worse. Since childhood I've marveled that the grown-up leaders of our world try to solve problems like bullies on the playground. Childish. And we memorialize war with fireworks every May and July. What a horror that must be for veterans who suffer from PTSD. And the Battle Hymn of the Republic? Sung reverently in churches with the flag prominently displayed next to the altar. 'Cuz that's what Christ was all about? That was the last straw for me with Americanized Christianity. To me, it's all brainwashing bullshit. I mourn the good things we could have funded the past 60 years instead of wars. Maybe I've become a bitter cynic in my old age. But I could see the insanity of it all as a child.
Keep that mask on tight.
Hi Chris!
Thank you for sharing the woodpecker capture!
We are really in bad shape as regards Covid. Up until now we have not been using the N95’s, just the cloth masks. But, last night I spoke to my niece who is a doctor, and she insisted on sending us a care package. She told me that as long as we’ve been vaxxed and boosted(we have), and as long as we wear the N95’s, and as long as we avoid crowds, we are doing all that we can. Unfortunately our local hospital is drowning. It did not have to be. And I wonder why the N95’s have not yet been distributed by the government. Do they fear that half of the populace would burn them? You have to admit that we are living among a substantial number of misinformed citizens.
Kudos to Preet! Wow. I cannot imagine accomplishing such a feat.
Thanks again for all of your good work.
Sincerely,
Melissa
"And more than one great singer has made a nightmare of it by doing too much. Keep it simple, people. Save the vocal wankery for your own miserable grammy-winning ditties that I’ll never choose to listen to."
Okay, this just made me snort out loud at work. : )
Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead is a rich fictional story of a daring young female explorer, and it’s set in Montana! My e-book of Great Circle is half finished and will be due at midnight, so I should probably get back to it!
Be safe in your teaching, Thanks for the stories as always and the poem
Irony is on full display in Lake County.