Allan G. Hunter's Blog, page 3
February 1, 2021
Diary 318
[image error]
Diary 318
Sunday, January 31st
I’m learning a lot about creativity, and joy. Zoe (almost 8) saw a pack of old fashioned clothes pins and immediately knew what to do with them. She created a fashion show. We also went out and did some snowy things. I will spare you the pictures taken of me as I rode an inflatable, rainbow striped unicorn sled down the slopes, laughing uncontrollably. Perhaps Zoe’s expression will give a hint as to how she thought of it all.
January 31, 2021
Diary 318
[image error]
Diary 318
Saturday, January 30th
Snow tends to bring out the fun and creative side in people. Here are a few examples. Joy and creativity hand in hand? Sounds like a pretty impressive combination to me. It’s all the more important to cherish these qualities as they are the exact opposite of the rage and destructiveness of the right wing just now. Let us call those ultra right people what they are: anti-life.
January 30, 2021
Diary 317
Friday, January 29th
[image error]According to reports in The Guardian our unlamented ex-‘president’ has been a KBG asset for forty years. He was manipulated, yes, but oh-so-willing to do the Kremlin’s bidding and reap the benefits. Am I surprised? Can’t claim that I am.
January 29, 2021
Diary 316
Thursday, January 28th
The good news is that General Motors is planning an all-electric line up for 2035 and will be carbon neutral by 2040. I’d have liked it to be sooner than that, but I’ll take what I can get.
Also, today marked the 208th anniversary of the publication of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ – in 1813. Think of that in Historical terms: Napoleon running rampant in Europe, modernizing it in ways that we take for granted now; Miss Austen pursuing other, different, truths and raising the status of women in the process.
Oh yes, and Enrique Tarrio, leader of the proud boys, turns out to have been an FBI and CIA informant all along. His friends should be happy to hear that.
January 28, 2021
Diary 315
Wednesday, January 27th
On my dresser is a picture of my granddaughter. It’s her school picture from pre-covid days, and she’s wearing her favorite dress at that time. She has that half-smile that conveys what it’s like to be in a crowd of kids, waiting to do whatever it is the teachers want you to do, when you’re a little bit shy, a little bit tentative, and unsure what it is that’s required. It’s perhaps not the best picture, but looking at it I’m reminded of what it must feel like to be in first grade. It moves me every time I look at it.
And so in the ordinary we discover illumination.
January 27, 2021
Diary 314
Tuesday, January 26th
Snow in the early evening and more promised. Once upon a time, and not so long ago, snow would have meant that everything perforce would have to be scaled back, slowed down, and coped with. It was a signal to slow down and roll with the weather. Now, even though covid has calmed us down in some respects, I still see people rushing around, defying the weather.
If we can’t respect the variations of the seasons, how will we ever respect the problem of global warming?
January 26, 2021
Diary 313
Diary 313
Monday, January 25th
One of the offshoots of Covid and the inability to travel has been that various people are creating virtual tours of popular spots. My favorites among these are the tours of Rome, including ancient Rome as reconstructed by the experts, which one can ‘fly’ through in a rather wonderful way. It’s not the ‘same’ as an actual visit. But in some ways it might be considered better, perhaps. Youtube really can be useful.
January 25, 2021
Diary 312
Sunday, January 24th
Thinking of all the finger-pointing and blaming that goes on in our government; it seems everyone is busy scoring points off each other. Right now the Republicans have delivered a vote of censure against their senators who agree that the former ‘president’ should be impeached. Evidently Republicans do not want anyone to vote their conscience. This made me wonder if this is some sort of collective neurosis, one we all buy into at some level. It set me thinking.
Why is it that I remember so acutely all the times I did or said the wrong thing, the times I messed up, the times I tried hard and did exactly what was not needed? That internal critical voice can be brutal. It’s based on what we expect others to say.
And yet, if I pause that action I can bring up a different memory process. I can recall moments of beauty and joy and bliss – although these seem to be fewer in number.
How would life be if we all chose to focus on the many things that go right, that are good and true and involve our integrity, every day?
January 24, 2021
Diary 311
Saturday, January 23rd
We all want to change the world just a little bit – whether you’re a gardener trying to get your lawn to grow, a protester in Russia railing against Putin, or a reformer in DC who wants to kerb the influence of wealthy CEOs. But what about the Megamillions lottery winner in Michigan yesterday; one person scooping $1.05 billion?
That would be a life changer, and just possibly more than any one person could manage.
January 23, 2021
Diary 310
Friday, January 22nd
Today four red-tailed hawks circled above me during my walk, effortless in their sweeps through the sky.
I’ve a feeling it’s a good omen. After my father died a red-tail flew over me in Mt Auburn Cemetery and perched on a gravestone very close by. The name on the stone? Grieve.
Since then I’ve aways had a special fondness for hawks.
