When I Was A Kid …

Waiting for the bus. January 1982.

My father-in-law would occasionally opine that younger folks had it easy. He’d say, “When I was a kid, I had to walk to school and it was uphill both ways!” As I’ve gotten older I’ve found that when I was a kid …

Recently, there’s been a thread on neighborhood social media, Nextdoor, about the weather. In essence it’s, “Has it always been this cold here?” And we old-timers cheerfully chime in, “You should have been here for the Halloween Blizzard!” Or, ” Winters just aren’t the same now. We used to get a solid month of below zero weather. Uffda, this ain’t jack!” And we’d be right. Things were different then. Our climate has changed dramatically over the last four decades.

Also, we old-farts can, regrettably, reminisce about perfect summers when the days would be hot and dry with the nights cool and refreshing. Nights when you could count on leaving the windows open to let Mother Nature provide the air conditioning. It wasn’t like that all the time, but it happened a lot. Now summers are hotter, more humid, and the weather more troubled.

We were fortunate to catch the tail end of the Holocene, a period that began about 11,000 years ago with the end of the last major Ice Age. The Holocene was marked by a mild, stable climate that was perfect for the growth of humanity.

Unfortunately, we are also standing neck deep in the first days of the Anthropocene, the first man-made geological age. We’ve altered the surface of the earth, the seas, and the atmosphere to the point that we have become a powerful geological force. Our greenhouse gases are more persistent and damaging than all but the worst natural catastrophes. Super volcanoes and asteroids crashing into the earth are about the only natural events that can compete with the long-term devastation we are visiting upon ourselves.

It doesn’t have to be this way. It will take significant changes and the discomfort of sacrificing old ways. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. But the payoff is worth it. If we can turn this planet into a desert, we can turn it into a garden.

When I was a kid …

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In the Quiet of the Night

My Muse, Oscar
02:30 – 01/27/2022

It’s late, about 2:30 a.m., and I’m finally winding down my day. I’ve become a night owl this winter. It started several months ago as the nights got longer and the days shorter. Now, I look forward to the solitude that the icy darkness provides. It’s just me and my muse, Oscar.

On this evening, as the arctic wind makes the bare trees shiver, producing a bone rattling sound, I’m sitting in my library, surrounded by dusty volumes of American history. By the intimate light from an equally dusty lamp, I make the last entries of the day in my journal. My buddy, Oscar, lays near-by on my desk. It’s a good time to unwind; cozy with my cat as the windchill plunges to a deadly -30 outside.

The house is creaking. It’s old joints, like mine, feel the passage of time and protest the passing of Summer’s ease. It is simply the nature of life; time passes, things change and we adapt, or we don’t.

Successful adaptation to a changing world requires three eyes; one on the past, one on the present, and one towards the future. This is not easy. We humans only have two, one is firmly fixed on the present while the second wanders, most often towards the past. In our long evolutionary trek, we adapted to a world of unchanging, immediate dangers. Getting eaten was top of the list and millions of years being dinner left its mark on how our brains are wired. We are best suited for threats that we can identify from previous experience and force us to fight or run.

Long-term dangers, situations that appear slowly, befuddle us. We adjust our thinking to accommodate slow changes, even when uncomfortable, failing to see the emerging menace. It’s like the snake that slowly coils and prepares to strike while the hapless mouse is too busy scrounging for seeds to see that lunch is about to be served.

But there are times when, if we let ourselves, we can see the snake. This ancient night is such a time. There are multiple predators who want to eat us. The easiest to spot are familiar and have been lumbering about for years. Russia and China come to mind. Both are traditional threats that our eye on history can identify. Within a few days or weeks we could be at war with one or both of them. Should Russia, NATO, and us get into a fight, China could decide to gobble down Taiwan and eliminate a primary source for electronic chips that are vital to our defense and economy. I wonder what would be for dessert?

Insurrectionists are an example of the snake slowly coiling to strike. They’ve been around since the Civil War and, because we are a racist country, we’ve ignored them. They are licking their chops. However, we have finally begun to see the patterns of racism and now can see the Insurrectionists slithering about. Time is short, but there is still time to act. How shall we have them, perhaps with Fava beans and a fine Chianti?

The biggest threat we face isn’t the historic predators that we’ve seen before. It is a monster that we’ve created and continue to feed. Climate change is already sitting at the table and having us for appetizers. The main course is in the kitchen and about to be served.

Even now, as the entire planet is being pummeled by historic storms, droughts, mass die-offs of familiar plants and animals, along with falling agricultural production, we still can’t get our minds focused on what is happening. The scope of this disaster goes beyond the present. It goes beyond our self-interest. Acknowledging our sole responsibility for this calamity requires a level of honesty that few of us seem able to muster. Understanding the significant changes that we must make, both as a nation and personally, involves an open-mindedness that is difficult for we judgemental Americans. And, to successfully respond to this threat, we must demonstrate a long-term commitment which, considering our demand for immediate gratification, appears to trump our self-discipline.

All is not hopeless. Our species, in one form or another, has been on this earth for hundreds-of-thousands of years. While we can not return to the old world that we’ve killed, it is possible to moderate the new one that is forming. We can make it less threatening, more sustainable, a place where we can continue to adapt. If we choose, we can overcome all of our short-comings.

But first, it obliges us to look about and see what’s for lunch. It’s us.

I sit with my muse, Oscar, listening to the wind sweeping in from the Canadian plains and the soft groaning of the house. Outside it is dark and cold. Winter has come. Yet inside, in the warm glow of a lamp, I pet Oscar, marvel at his soft fur, and calm my mind before going to bed. I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

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Remembering January 6th, 2021

On 9/11/2001, I sat in my office and witnessed the attack on the Twin Towers. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I couldn’t imagine what would come next. Now, 20 torturous years later, America has been changed forever.

One year ago, I sat in my office watching the tragedy that was the formal beginning of the Insurrection. It didn’t surprise me. For years, I’ve closely followed the growth of fascism in the U.S. and knew that eventually, some act would send us over the edge. A year ago, I was sickened as I saw us fall into chaos.

Today, I sat in my office listening to the speeches from the Capitol, remembering that dark day. Since then, it has become darker, much darker. In the intervening year, fascism continues to grow and violence spreads. The Big Lie fosters other lies that spread outrage throughout our society. Healthcare workers who defend us from a pandemic that has killed 855,000 fellow Americans, are attacked because they tell their patients the truth about their illness and refuse to administer treatments that are ineffective and dangerous.

Members of school boards are threatened for a variety of reasons, including whether schools should teach an accurate portrayal of our history and society, or parrot racist mythology. Local, state, and federal elected officials and their families are threatened with kidnapping, assaults, and murder.

And nation-wide, there are threats and attacks against our election system, its volunteers and officials. The core of our democracy is being eroded by the Big Lie.

Today, I heard speeches that will live on in history. They will be read for their wisdom and inspiration in future times of darkness. It has been an historic day that sets us on a path towards the resolution of this existential threat. Lines have been clearly drawn.

During an hour-long recess of the Senate, Congressional Historians gathered in the Cannon House Office Building for a discussion about how history furnishes a perspective for today. Moderated by Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, noted historians Dolores Kearns Goodwin and Jon Meacham reminded us that in this time of danger, our history has recorded other moments of existential crisis and provides us examples of the courage earlier Americans displayed when facing an unknown future. Our history offers lessons from which we can learn and take heart.

In essence, our nation has faced threats domestic and foreign since our inception, such as The Civil War, World War II, and the fight to pass Civil Rights. In each instance, Americans faced danger and did not know what the future held. Yet they persevered and their better angels led the way. In the end, in spite of the terrible price paid, our nation had expanded all American’s rights. We came out better for the experience.

In the decade leading up to The Civil War, America had two competing realities, Slavery and Abolition. These two forces had existed from the founding of the United States. By 1850s, though, the public in the North and South had begun to discuss slavery. But then, on May 22, 1856, the abolitionist Senator from Massachusetts, Charles Sumner, was beaten with a cane and severely injured, by South Carolina, Representative Preston Brooks. This galvanized people in the North and South to take sides. In the South Brooks was a hero and his violence cheered. In the North, the Abolition movement took fire. Ultimately, the incident led to the creation of the Republican Party and the election of Lincoln. Within 8 weeks of the election, the South had begun seceding from the Union and attacking Federal forts. Thus commenced the Civil War. In 1865, after over 600,00 deaths, the Civil War ended. Slavery was defeated and millions of Black Americans were free.

For a brief period after the war, Blacks used the power of the vote to enter government, improve their economic conditions and begin to improve solidify their communities. But, within 15 years, the White community started reasserting its power by attacking the right to vote, setting in place a set of laws, now called Jim Crow. Whites used these laws and violence, to once again oppress Black Americans, after a brief shining moment. It wasn’t until 100 years later, after a long peaceful but punishing movement, Black Americans regained their right to vote, enforced by the U.S. government.

That was only 57 years ago. People my age grew up during Jim Crow and whether in the South or North, its effects were felt. For many older Whites who support Trump and his corrupted Republican Party, still carry the expectation of the privileges enforced by Jim Crow.

In the past few years we have witnessed the reassertion of Jim Crow like laws, beginning with the Supreme Court’s gutting the Voting Rights Act. Bit by bit other rights are being undermined, such as a woman’s control of her body. A belligerent minority want to turn the clock back to an earlier, brutal time. That is what the Insurrectionists and their leaders want now, to take our power by taking our vote. They believe they are better than everyone else and have the right to do as they wish.

If one American is oppressed, all Americans are oppressed.

I don’t know what the future holds. There is no guarantee that this time we will prevail and democracy survives. I think we will, provided that all of us stand firm, demand justice, protect our vulnerable citizens, and if necessary, fight. Let our voices be heard and our votes count. Let us rise and support our representatives and volunteers. Let us speak Truth against the Big Lie and its mutations, staring down those that threaten our nation.

When I was a kid, my father told me, in his ironic way, “Always tell the Truth. It’s easier to remember.” The truth must be remembered. It is the foundation of our democracy and our future.

Lies are built on sand.

“I met a traveller from an antique land,
Who said—“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;
And on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

Percy Bisshe Shelley

The Image
The image is a composite, the sky and flag are individual images covered by Creative Commons usage.
I manipulated both images and color corrected so that they would work together.
The Flag is by Mike Mozart, JeepersMedia, CC-BY.
The sky is by Fractal Artists, CC-BY.
The image above, Stormy Skies 2, is mine, CC-BY.

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Guided Images, Guided Healing

The following two self-guided imagery and healing sessions are the creation of Becky Olson, a licensed clinical, hospice social worker for twenty-two years. She was always looking for ways to make her counseling more effective, providing the greatest benefit to the dying and their families. Becky received training in clinical hypnosis. She used these skills to train her clients to use guided imagery to relieve anxiety, pain, and stress.


The healing power of the mind-body connection is acknowledged in both ancient and modern traditions.

Guided Imagery opens the door to allow this connection to work. Carefully crafted images help you to relax and release negative forces in your body that promote or accelerate unhealthiness. Stress, pain, feelings of fear or frustration all surrender to guided imagery.

These two sessions combine carefully developed healing scripts with special soothing music. The result is an effortless journey to a place of relaxation, warmth, and healing.

Learn to relax, release the stress and enjoy the moment.

Please be aware that because of the relaxing nature of these sessions, they should not be played in a moving vehicle or in situations that require your attention.

Becky


Session 1 Free the Stress from Your Body (this may take a moment to load)


Download ( .WAV, 161 MB )

Session 2 The Healing Light Within (this may take a moment to load)


Download ( .WAV, 151 MB )


Music
Snow Flower by Jo Anna Burns Miller (1990)
Little Pond Productions
P.O. Box 20594
Portland, OR
97294 0594

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Christmas Cactus

Christmas Cactus 2021

Last night Christmas came early with about 10 inches of snow. I still get excited when we get a decent snow storm. Then I come to my senses.

However, earlier, my good friend Penny, who lives up in the mountains of Southern California sent me a great photo of her Christmas Cactus blooming after a rain.

I can hear the snowblowers going full tilt in the neighborhood. Yet I can look at this bloom and imagine I’m someplace nice and warm.

Thank you Penny.

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Thanksgiving Recap

Liberal with French Roast



For me, Thanksgiving was quiet. The Family Dinner was cancelled because unvaccinated members of the family were exposed. All but one appear to be OK. Worryingly, one has lost his sense of taste and smell. I hadn’t planned on going because I was aware that they had been exposed. Dinner is rescheduled for this Saturday. I was going but have reconsidered and cancelled. The simple act of seeing family for Thanksgiving has created a mental turmoil that has me questioning, if after the last two years of the pandemic, I’ve become Agoraphobic. Am I being rational or irrational?

That is not to say that my Thanksgiving totally sucked. Friends that knew and loved Becky, and whom we’d known for years, called and offered to share a portion of their Thanksgiving dinner with me. An act of caring that I’m grateful for. It was delicious. Later, I called my cousin in Ohio and we talked for over an hour. Again, a time for being grateful.

I pursue a fairly routine and contemplative life; reading, writing and photography. For me, everyday is much like the next; even this Thanksgiving. I finished off the evening by reading material that I wanted to think about and may use in future posts. I am profoundly grateful for being able to live my simple, almost hermetic life.

One of the things that keeps me going, along with the love of family and friends, is my curiosity. Life is endlessly fascinating, more so when it is fraught with a circus of perils. Even my decision to stay home, is it rational or fear-based, makes me curious.

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