I called an old friend a week or two back, just to check in and catch up. We've known each other 30 years and more, but he lives some distance away and we don't see each other so often these days. But he reads this blog regularly.
"You're doing a fine job with your blog. I really like it," he told me. "Although the tone's gotten a little darker lately."
Tell me about it.
Frankly, the financial news is getting me down. The state of the world is getting me down. I like to stay on top of things, and so I frequent certain quality financial blogs where you can get a more accurate picture of the state of the economy than the TV news will give you.
But not only is that a grim world to visit on a daily basis, it's populated in part by hysterics screaming about the death of "fiat money" (no, you don't buy Italian cars with it) and the end of the financial world as we know it, with copious pain for all and no place to hide. And it gets more pessimistic from there.
So I'm getting some contagion off that. And if that wasn't dispiriting enough, I had a very interesting brush with the legal system -- as a prospective juror -- that led me to believe that the criminal justice system is close to hitting the wall. Along with the financial system, the educational system, the health care system, and every other system. Obama's going to need a lot of magic pixie dust to fix this sucker.
And these things and other things translate into worries about my own personal life, mine and Rhumba's. The future's full of unknowns. And unknowns aren't happy things.
I took a look back at some of my older posts yesterday. And while I've always been a cynical cuss, some of them read like wild-eyed ecstatic affirmations of life compared to what I'm churning out these days.
But today I stepped out for a walk at lunch. And all that faded away.
The day was gorgeous. Truly beautiful. Dry, with the ruddy sunlight of winter: blue of sky, mild of wind and temperature, air moving like silk on the skin. A day you could walk through for a million years, if only that were possible.
It affected everyone. Right outside the front door I ran into a guy who usually has a lot of work for me. "I'm out for a walk right now," I told him.
"Then don't let me stop you. Go!" he said, squinting in the sunshine. "God! It's so beautiful!"
"Right here, right now, there is no more pleasant place on earth than this very spot," I replied.
And it was true. And is true. Had a hell of a walk. Made me feel good. And that's put things into perspective for a while.
So I give you all permission: if ever any of my posts get too gloomy, feel free to say "Boomer! Go for a walk!"
Even when the weather's not perfect, it's a fine thing to be doing.
Friday, January 16, 2009
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5 comments:
I don't mind the gloomy ones. But I'll still tell you to take a walk.
I know what you mean although, ..sometimes...I feel a little guilty with the snow piling up on other parts of the country. then again, we never (almost never) get to throw snow balls,
POD:
Thank you, I'm sure I'll need it.
emikk:
No guilt here. In some of the worst of those freezing areas you can get a house for 80K and there's little or no state income tax. I figure we're all paying so much to be here that no guilt is required.
Went for a walk today, Feb 2, on Westcliff in the 75F temp and marvelled at the vista. What a place to live and grow anything you can think of growing. The mandarins are plentiful this time of year and the only worry is how to punch a hole in the wall to get the grey water from the kitchen sink to the fruit, root, vegetable and clover crops next summer during the drought.
Of course the economy is a shambles elsewhere but it hasn't hit SC yet in any big way. It will. We're just still above the mean high tide and the moon and stars are not yet quite right...or wrong. All the best to you and yours.
"Fiat lucre!" I like that idea. Gimme some!
I wasn't reading too carefully and thought at first The Other Anonymous was talking about, you know, Mandarins (Chinese), and then thought maybe mandarin *ducks* (plentiful? my mind went, and decided it was time to reread...)
Remember, you not only need fairy dust but also beautiful thoughts. Straight on till morning!
xxx,
Mog
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