It has to be the fairy tale vibe. I can’t think of another reason why anyone would be interested in the coronation of royalty. The jewel-encrusted crowns, the ridiculous robes, the pomp and circumstance, the crowd chanting “long live the king.”

Looming questions like “Why is this still a thing?”

At least it’s not breaking news about another mass shooting in America, which appears to be pretty much all that happens here in the states.

Heading back to PA after nearly two weeks in MA. The focus was supporting one another in the midst of Mom’s journey from hospital to hospice. The desired outcome, the hoped for progress, didn’t materialize, even as we all sensed the trends weren’t giving us any reason for optimism.

Mom had worked through a lot since the end of January, but the accumulated toll on a 9-decade old body ended up prevailing.

I’m looking forward to going back to PA, even though MA will always be home to me. I lived here long enough for it to seep into my bones, for better or worse. Allegiances and memories, a strong attachment to place, and all that.

Well, the weather is warming, the subdued greyness and chill of this past week have given way to sunshine. There must be a metaphor in there somewhere.

1000

We got to talking about human encroachment as we of Swedish and French descent sat around the dining room table enjoying our humble attempt at observing Cinco de Mayo.

Anyway, as we sat enjoying our soft shell tacos and Coronas with lime and a couple shots of really nice tequila, three does came into view and just lingered at the edge of the back yard. It briefly turned the conversation to an acknowledgement of the reality that even in this rather thickly settled, well established neighborhood, there are all sorts of animals sharing what remains of the woods and open space around us. And sometimes they come pretty close.

Deer, bear, coyotes, turkeys, woodcocks, even a fisher have been seen in yards and workplaces. The animals have found a way, and we are reminded of that with some regularity.

Mom died yesterday morning. And now a mix of feelings, but more relief than sadness at this point. She was suffering and fighting, and she doesn’t have to do that anymore. Whether or not God has taken her home, or she’s now with Dad, it is a weight lifted knowing that there is no more struggle for her.

The brief service at the entrance of the hospice center was perfect, enough for me, at least, to observe a transition, and to release us to a period of rest and then preparation for the gathering of family and friends who will want to pay their respects a little over a month from now, when we gather to remember and celebrate a life of consequence and considerable brightness.

I’ve never understood the snark and seeming dislike for Gordon Lightfoot. He was a trained musician who wrote memorable, melodic songs, and told great stories! Maybe it was because his music seemed to be everywhere for a while and people just got tired of him?

I don’t get the snide commentary and ridicule. It seems unfair and unwarranted. Though I guess musical tastes are like that.

R.I.P., Mr. Lightfoot.

Popstart. There’s actually a segment on one of the network morning shows that goes by this title. A breathlessly narrated segment that takes up 10 minutes or more of airtime, dedicated to all things Hollywood and music and whatever else can be squeezed into the category of Entertainment. It seems that the fluff and pomposity and ego feeding is just a thread in the fabric of who we are, and I couldn’t be any less excited about or proud of any of it.

In a related rant, Charles will be crowned king on Saturday. Yes, viewers will swoon over the royal spectacle and the tradition and the Who’s Who of guests invited to a centuries old rite that has no real meaning or significance any longer, other than, as one person observes, a tourist attraction.

If the consequences are as dire as many warn, why would the Republicans be so insistent on brinkmanship and refusing to raise the debt limit?

I’ll admit—on the surface, raising the debt ceiling sounds like a dumb thing to do, echoing advice one might hear in a parent/child conversation or Personal Finances seminar: don’t spend more than you have.

But this has been going on for a long time, a way of doing business, both parties complicit in this continuing practice. And it sounds like Kevin McCarthy and his legion of doom are holding the country hostage, threatening to do something he maybe considers fiscally responsible, but definitely politically valuable, while simultaneously ignoring the fact that doing so has grave consequences for this country’s and the world’s economic prospects.

What bothers me about this is that the Republicans appear to be ignoring the fact that it has taken the country a long time to generate such astounding debt—debt that is the result of decades of rubber stamping by both parties. To wield such power now, to be willing to suggest a cold turkey approach– to threaten the existence of longstanding entitlement programs!– seems reckless, dangerous, and as irresponsible as the idea of spending money we don’t have in the first place.

Stepping back, are we looking at a political party who is willing to risk tanking the economy so they can advance their prehistoric agenda? Sounds a bit suicidal.

Well, that ended poorly. Kind of figured it might, but not in the first round.

Though maybe that’s when it needed to happen—couldn’t let the team with the best record go too deep in the playoffs and regain the mojo they had for most of a record-breaking season.

Too bad- would have been nice to see them finish with the Cup.

Go Golden Knights!

Gas ranges in homes. Not exactly a recent development. What is relatively recent is the growing concern that cooking with gas in a relatively closed environment is not good for us. Nitrogen oxide, a lung irritant, is produced.

And this is something just recently discovered?

Natural gas and propane are fossil fuel, or fossil fuel byproduct, being burned indoors, maybe or maybe not with a window open, or some sort of adequate ventilation. The liberal media gets the blame, of course, for sounding an alarm, but doesn’t it make sense, simply from a logical standpoint, that this isn’t necessarily the safest way to cook your food?

Banning these stoves seems a bit over the top, but people need trustworthy, researched, and unbiased opinions so they can make a decision whether or not to look into some other means of cooking a meal or boiling water.

The transition from hospital to hospice has unfolded for Mom. Since it’s difficult to know exactly what she’s hearing and comprehending, because of the stroke, it’s also difficult to know if she has a sense for where she is. I told her both Thursday and yesterday about the coming move, but, again, it’s hard to tell what and how things are being heard.

Having said that, it seemed like maybe she was aware at some level. She was settled in at the new place, but there seemed to be a certain melancholy in her demeanor. It wasn’t fatigue, like she was nodding off to a short nap. It was more like disappointment and introspection, like perhaps she thought she was going back to her apartment and instead ended up in yet another unfamiliar place.

I don’t know. It’s hard to know for sure. But I wouldn’t be surprised, given her mental acuity up until the middle of April, if she has some idea of where she is, and what it means.

We’re hoping for a turnaround, that she may yet turn a corner on all this. But it’s best to be realistic.