Samhain \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Moon of the Winter Solstice<\/p>\n
Earlier this summer I went outside and found holes dug under the orchard fence. \u00a0Vega and Rigel had figured out a new way inside. \u00a0Once in they dug up the earth around three of our apple trees, in one case exposing about half the close in root system to the air. \u00a0When I saw this latest breach of our attempts to lead two live, dog owners and gardeners, I froze. \u00a0Something just crumpled. \u00a0I couldn’t deal with another one. \u00a0Not again. \u00a0This was one time too many, the straw…well, you know how it goes.<\/p>\n
I told Kate how I felt. \u00a0She said she understood since it was the way she had felt the last couple of years working for Allina. \u00a0That got me. \u00a0What I experienced was almost disgust, a visceral abhorrence and she had felt that toward her employers. \u00a0Wow.<\/p>\n
Later on, after the feeling waned, I once again repaired the breach, came up with a new system of entrance denial, which Vega and Rigel promptly conquered. \u00a0So, I went at it again, then winter came. \u00a0We’re on hiatus now till spring with the ground frozen.<\/p>\n
When I flipped on NPR today, as I drove over the pharmacy to pick up my drugs, there was a debate beginning on gun control. \u00a0When I heard the opposing arguments, I had that same reaction. \u00a0Disgust. \u00a0Ultimate weariness. \u00a0A not again feeling. \u00a0I turned it off immediately. \u00a0This is not the first time I’ve had this feeling about political discourse.<\/p>\n
Each time I have it I turn off the radio, put down the newspaper. \u00a0Put my fingers in my ears and go lalalalalala. \u00a0Then, I think about all the years when I didn’t react like this. \u00a0When, instead, I joined with others of like mind and took political action.<\/p>\n
Each time I turn my head away from a political debate, I feel a frisson of guilt. \u00a0If folks like me don’t stand up, then who will? \u00a0And, the only necessity for the advancement of evil is for good men to do nothing. \u00a0I know this. \u00a0I believe it. \u00a0I even realize the self-righteousness trap in this logic and know it must not defeat action. \u00a0Still, at times, like yesterday, I turn away.<\/p>\n
Am I certainly right? \u00a0Of course not. \u00a0Is my opinion as important and as valid as anyone else’s? \u00a0Of course it is. \u00a0And I’m not alone. \u00a0Yet, at times, my feeling is that the political world has moved past me. \u00a0That I’m too old, too short term, too distant, too something to do anything. \u00a0At some point, I know, as with Vega and Rigel, I’ll lean in again, listen, parse, perhaps even organize.<\/p>\n
Right now though. \u00a0It’s lalalalalala all the way.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Samhain \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Moon of the Winter Solstice Earlier this summer I went outside and found holes dug under the orchard fence. \u00a0Vega and Rigel had figured out a new way inside. … Continue reading Lalalalala<\/span>