Way back in a moment when it mattered, almost 30 years ago, I overheard a respected member of the congregation to which I was recently called say, in reference to me, that I was the real deal, or something to that effect. I was buoyed by that for a while, even as I knew I couldn’t let such things go to my head, and even as I felt I must have somehow pulled the wool over her eyes.
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It’s such an easy fix, right? A convenient cudgel you can hold over everyone’s head? You have more money than most everyone else, along with the power and visibility, and you yourself don’t even have to get your hands dirty—someone else is always doing your work while you float around in your own little bubble, shitting on the First Amendment and looking for the next poor shmuck to threaten with financial ruin.
Litigation is your bread and butter, right Donald? Threaten someone with a long, drawn-out process and financial burdens, and they’ll stay quiet.
That’s all you’ve got, though most days that’s probably enough.
Watch Him Like a Hawk
Don’t be deceived.
The attack in Yemen, the claim he can negate or reverse Biden’s pardons, the threat to annex Greenland and make Canada the 51st state, the Gulf of America, and other outlandish things– these are all distractions, smokescreens and lies, efforts to get us to focus on stuff that’s unlikely to or shouldn’t happen, apart from Trump’s penchant for retribution, sabotage, and ham-handedness.
The real action is right here, and especially in Washington– tariffs, the attack on DEI, the dismantling of agencies and departments, the firing of significant segments of the federal workforce, the true weaponization of the Justice Department, the weakening of the EPA and HHS and NOAA, ignoring court decisions, withdrawing from agreements and leaving former allies out in the cold, threatening the free press…
Keep your eyes stateside, folks. This is where the action is, where the newsmakers are. Trump, Musk, and the rest are hoping you won’t notice or care about any of it.
It should be a familiar playbook by now.
Real Leadership
“The world will little note nor long remember what we say here…”
Lincoln’s humility was refreshing. He picked up on cues, took the temperature, understood his role and the horrendous and illogical nature of war—especially a war in everyone’s own back yards.
He wasn’t perfect, of course. I suppose your average detractor could pick him apart over one thing or another. But at least he was focused on preserving what the founders had created. He knew what we had here, and didn’t want to lose it. Or blow it up. On purpose.
Road Trip
Daily writing prompt
You’re going on a cross-country trip. Airplane, train, bus, car, or bike?
Flying, with some sort of vehicle rental awaiting at the other end, sounds appealing but also expensive. And we’ve often talked about a train trip, since we’ve never done that. I suppose if we did the math, we might have a better idea of what makes sense from a cost perspective. Still, it would probably be by car, though I’m not sure I’d want to take either one of the ones we have now. They’re both eleven years old. We’d have to get the OK from a mechanic before venturing out on a long trip.
Car, though, gives us flexibility, makes a change in plans or spur-of-the-moment side trip a lot more feasible. And we’d have the time.
… and the elevator you rode in on
With enough spin and a command of the English language, we end up in the place where we are—constant shouting matches, verbal gymnastics, a constant stand-off, where the only rules involve who can conceive of the best words, who can create mythic reality and “truth” merely by repeating something over and over again.
Still, I and many others know in our collective gut that something is seriously off about Donald Trump and JD Vance and Elon Musk, Curtis Yarvin, Kevin Roberts, Steve Bannon, Stephen Miller, Peter Thiel, Russell Vought, and the Freedom Caucus, among others.
Trump and his machine convinced enough voters that he was going to fix the economy, secure our borders from the imaginary hordes of hoodlums and lowlifes, and make America Old Testament Christian(?) again… The only things missing have been the magic wand and ruby slippers.
The “Republican” machine dulled peoples’ Spidey sense, bludgeoned them with repeated assertions that they alone knew how to conjure greatness for America, when all that’s actually happened is that they’ve elevated lying and deception to art forms, and fascism and authoritarianism have once again reared their ugly heads under the auspices of trimming fat and saving money.
America is and probably always will be a target, because at its core it is an experiment in trust—trust in leaders, trust in the electorate, trust in institutions established to respond and to maintain balance. America is an attempt at flying in the face of human nature, ambitious and honorable. Some people hate honorable.
What Trump and the rest want is for us to trust in and obey them, which is, of course, a fool’s errand. They deserve no such compliance. At a minimum, they deserve a derisive laugh and a boot out of town.
Better for Knowing Them
I guess the relationship is brother-in-law by marriage– not sure. Anyway, this guy is willing to try just about anything. He’s a craftsman, a blacksmith, a carpenter, a surfer, a skier who uses skis he makes, a connoiseur of fine homemade spirits and good wine, beer– you name it. I’ve never met anyone quite like him. It seems there’s not much he won’t try and fewer people he won’t strike up a conversation with. I think it’s a combination of confidence and unbounded curiosity.
A close second would be an uncle on my mother’s side. He’s 91 now, slowing a bit but still active, a jack of all trades. There’s little that he hasn’t tried his hand at and not done well. He spent his life as a mechanical engineer and consultant. He loved pulling his boat and being on the water, fishing and exploring– whether fresh or salt. He and his wife– my aunt, who was a bundle of energy and endlessly curious herself– traveled to remote Alaska, among many other far-flung places, for years. They were the world travelers of the family, quite the couple. They made a good team.
Amazing people– to see such a zest for life, and blessed with a certain fearlessness.
Just Say No
The quiet parts out loud…
The attempts at silencing, along with acquiescence, are already in progress. How long before the protester suppression and disappearances and violence start? If Trump and Musk and others get frustrated enough, who can say they won’t contemplate or even resort to such tactics?
Remember, MAGA—no one will be safe. Well, except maybe those January 6 pardonees.
Has there ever been such a collection of misfits and cretins in one place? There’s no reason to find assurance in their reassurances. No reason whatsoever. They’re blowing smoke, just saying shit. When it comes to competent governance, they have no idea what they’re doing, except that they’re following someone’s orders. No action plan, other than tearing everything apart and watching it burn, trying to render us desperate enough to have to turn to the Almighty Donald and his thugs for daily sustenance and a reason for being.
Tight corner, indeed. For all of us. The price of eggs somehow seems like a quaint notion, anymore.
A Modest Tool Box
I’m not quite sure which negative feelings are implied here– competence, self worth? I’ve never had many strategies. Most times, I wallow, mope, and scowl for a while, hoping that “this, too, shall pass.” I sometimes try to explain what I’m feeling, but most times I muddle through, knowing that it will subside and life will go on.
Having said that, I think I’m getting a bit better with letting certain things go. Self-criticism– as opposed to self-loathing– has its place, but it’s easily overdone, mis- or excessively applied. Writing, sometimes reading, taking a walk, exercising, having an honest conversation (the hardest), and working on some project are all ways that divert my attention, pull me up, and improve the mindset. There was a time when I would have enthusiastically added prayer to this list, but there’s a caveat anymore: I wonder who I’m praying to, if anyone is listening.
Remarkable
Lately, we’ve been checking the Big Bear Eagle Cam, always live from somewhere out in southern California. There’s a pair of adult bald eagles—Jackie and Shadow—with three hatchlings. It’s been interesting and enlightening to tune in and see what they’re up to. Often times, there will be long stretches of stillness with one or the other adult sitting in (not really on– it’s pretty big) the nest protecting the young, occasionally and daintily feeding them, calling for the partner or maybe communicating with the young ones.
The nest looks to be placed high in a pine tree overlooking what I assume is Big Bear Lake. Weather conditions have varied. Sometimes it’s perfectly still and clear, no wind. A couple of days ago, the wind was howling and I found myself hoping the nest would hold up in the gale.
Yesterday, it was snowing, and there was little movement. Jackie was sitting on the hatchlings, covered in snow, hardly moving the whole time. I got to wondering if this was an annoyance and difficult, but then realized that, of course, she’s built for this. She and all other wild creatures don’t ever go inside where it’s warm and cozy. They’re outside their whole lives. Eagles have feathers, and powerful instincts.
Sitting in a nest, high in a tree, feeding and protecting their young in gale force winds and snowstorms and from occasional incursions from intruders—it’s all in a day’s work. They come by it naturally, and it’s somehow inspiring to watch.
3 Cents' 