Saturday, April 3, 2021

OVER THE TOP



HATS OFF
While millinery may be out of fashion,
however many will don Easter bonnets tomorrow.
Hence to cap it off
it's time to celebrate all things heady.
Ready, set, let's go
over the top!

 

Friday, April 2, 2021

A TALE OF TWO CITIES

Opposites attract
We all have our comfort zone. Living our lives
in ways that suits us. Along with acclimating
to the world around us. Finding our groove.
Going with the flow. Along with establishing
our individual - personal versions of status quo.
Yet ultimately said personal sphere of influence
skews our perception of the world at large. Post
designating Lewistown, Montana as our "home"
for over ten years we've become as "local" as
we can be. Accepting, embracing, and at times
putting up with the foibles of living in our quite
isolated circumstances. Yet somehow it works
for us. And all is good in our "world".
Theory of relativity
Our only challenge is when those who live far
from Lewistown, Montana make assumptions.
Not understanding is that everything is very far
from here. Thus the quick solutions they have
come to expect are rarely available. Don't get
me wrong - the world is at our fingertips via the
internet. But even with Prime it can take a few
days to get here. The fact is "normal" changes
wherever you live. Which hit me last night as 
four deer slowly strolled across Main Street.
Not noticing the guy in shorts carrying a sign
protesting wearing masks. Nor the old man
driving by on his ancient ride-on mower.
Chumps off the old block
In the past our hood was Central Park South.
Bergdorf Goodman and the Plaza sat at end
of our block. Hipster hotels, posh eateries,
and the cities most expensive apartments 
lay within steps. A world in which we were
quite comfortable in. Now we've adjusted to
our subsequent chosen place. Cherishing our
alternative reality for both the good and bad
that comes with it. Fortunately our Covid 19
crisis seems almost at an end. Which will
enable us to reinstall balance in our lives. As
in soon traveling back to a Manhattan that is
quite different than the one we left. 
Mixed messages
Time marches on. And fortunately we all adapt
to our circumstances. Our collective challenge
is being able to respect the differences between
"us" and "them". Wherever one lives - there is
a world beyond that differs greatly. Within the
melting pot context of a democracy such as ours
we're forced to mix. And hopefully leveraging
said melange of diverse experiences into the
ultimate expression of equality. Hence while
there's a big difference between bumping into
a Park Avenue matron on Fifth or a doe and her
fauns on Main - BOTH make us who we are.
A living manifestation of the American dream.

Thursday, April 1, 2021

HAPPY DAZE

Land of good and plenty
As a baby boomer I grew up in a world full of
conflicting forces. During my youth America
seemed to be a stable land of opportunity. One
where "new" was deemed far better than "old".
Hence across this nation super highways were
built, rebuilt, and upgraded yet again. Cutting
cities in two. Further isolating their poor from
those more fortunate. Urban renewal bulldozed
"slums" and replaced then with huge housing
projects that ultimately proved to be failures. 
Thus one's memories of said era differ greatly
depending on who, when, where, and what you
were at the time. Often fantasy versus reality.


For better or worse
Said golden years were also times of confusion
and conflict. The assassinations of President
Kennedy, then Martin Luther King, and next
Bobbie Kennedy left us all unnerved. Plus the
shooting of then Alabama governor, candidate
for president, and racist George Wallace. Then
of course there was the conflicts over the war
in Vietnam. And the rebellion of those young
enough to be drafted into fighting against their
free will. Along with the disenfranchisement
of those brave enough to do just that. Many
of whom still suffer its consequences today.
The residual impact of which is still torture.

Now and then
Yet many cling to rose colored memories of
those years. With a reverence that now makes
them seem all the better. Even if when in fact
the post war years were anything but that. In
part our concept of said times is now fueled
by a legacy of films, TV programs, magazines,
plus family photos and movies. The majority
of which were skewed in a purposeful attempt
to portray America as perfect. When in truth
American's hate, racism, violence, and sexism
made life beyond challenging. One hopes that
hind sight is 20/20. in that it is what it was.
Not the modern equivalent of paradise lost.