The idea of group approval is a strange thing, pulling us this way and that, in directions that are sometimes worthy, other times ugly, asking us to constantly judge both ourselves and others, while hinting broadly exactly what that judgement should be. It’s not just music, or books, or film and TV that are ranked, … Continue reading Back to the Garden
Roundabout
Spring today. The geese went by – just 4, and not flying directly north. Only minutes before that, a breeze had come through the window, and I thought – spring is here. Whether I’m ready or not. Now it’s the sounds that have changed. A helicopter goes by, and the noise of the rotors is … Continue reading Roundabout
The End of February
Virgo Full Moon I went out for the first time in a few days. The weather was mild , and I had recycling to take out, and there is always a point at which the twitch in your legs feels like it must be heeded, spiky contagion or not. All the same, it’s always a … Continue reading The End of February
The World at ! (not a typo)
The World at ! (not a typo) Galileo said that The sun, with all those planets revolving around it and dependent on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as if it had nothing else in the universe to do And here we are, doing nothing else, when there is important work, like ripening … Continue reading The World at ! (not a typo)
what is love
More quarantine musings. Yesterday I went out for another walk. It felt good to move, although the snow makes it difficult to get past people. A woman went by, talking on her phone. She let out a long breath as she passed. Sometimes I think about the molecules of scent. If I can smell someone, … Continue reading what is love
Stromboli
Stromboli This is why you don’t read the preface, or worse, the introduction, first. It’s useful if you’re a student trying to grasp on immediately to what the conventional wisdom is about something, trying to pass a course. Dig in to what they expect you to know. On one level, so sensible. But for making … Continue reading Stromboli
Pandemic Playlist 1
Well. I just read an article. I wasn't even looking for the news. And there it was. 10 percent positive rate, 17 percent only a few blocks from me. Meanwhile, all the businesses are desperate. I want to help - but I don't want to see anyone, do anything. Maybe this is the final stretch. … Continue reading Pandemic Playlist 1
Sunday Morning
I woke up this morning intending to write something. It was quiet, and the sun was bright and low in the sky. Early morning, with blue skies and quiet. Yesterday, someone moved in to this floor of the apartment building. Four hours of the door squeaking open, then banging shut. Then squeaking open, and shutting … Continue reading Sunday Morning
Hope and Despondency
Today has not been a good day. Yesterday was not great either. Or the day before. In truth, this whole week has been surreal. Can the largest democracy in the West be crumbling? Once that notion was unthinkable. Now it seems it is terrifyingly possible. As Napoleon found out, winter should be about hibernation, not … Continue reading Hope and Despondency
The last day of 2020
Looking back Not sure that there is much more to say. Especially now, it feels like everyone has grappled for some new take on everything – some visionary look at all that has happened, or some clever tweet. How to turn a year of extremes and emotions into some secondary school genre exercise – do … Continue reading The last day of 2020
