Maybe it's just me, but it sure feels like we could all use a night off. Tonight's image comes from Peter Ralston, again. It's called "Holding Ground," and in case the boat at anchor in the rough water makes people worry, here's what Peter says about it:
As a quasi-amateur sailor I can not begin to describe how appropriate this image is and the comfort Dr. Richardson’s and Mr. Ralstons description is and the comfort it brings me. The comfort of natural chaos as opposed to man-made chaos. The sea is a profound place and time spent admiring her natural chaos is indeed time well spent. As always, my grateful thanks to Dr. Richardson, Mr. Ralston, Buddy and everyone here who join for the common good. Each and every day my mind is eased by the enlightened discourse here.
Thank you Heather. Wonderful photo from Mr Ralston.
My take from the photo is the fact that we have done all that we could. What ultimately happens, will. Lets hope the safeguards are in place. We are all standing on shore watching a force stronger by nature than we are. Several years ago, I watched a relentless winter storm pound the shores of Lake Ontario. There was an old boathouse that was being broken down by the winds and high waves. I watched that boathouse disintegrate into the Lake. It saddened me to helplessly watch this happen thinking of all of the generations that had used that boathouse. In the Spring, a new boathouse was built. Taller, wider and stronger to take on the next storm that would eventually come. Because there always will be another storm.
I love that image – thank you, Professor. The water off the coast of Maine – so alive, so cold it takes the breath.
I wrote a poem about that water after spending time on the Maine coast and I was looking for it this morning when I stumbled across a poem from 2016 that I’d forgotten.
I also read something this earlier morning that got my goat, Ross Douthat’s opinion piece in the New York Times (The Texas Lawsuit and the Age of Dreampolitik). I’m not going to summarize it – you can subject yourselves to it if you feel the need – but one of his assertions is that we (Democrats and Liberals generally) imagined all nature or horrors that would result from a Trump presidency and continue to do so. I confess to imagining some pretty grim outcomes – some of which have not (yet) come to fruition.
So, here is the poem I wrote following the Republican convention in 2016. I hope you will indulge me for including a poem in this forum, and I wish you a healthy and restful Sunday.
"Nobody knows the system better than me, which is why I alone can fix it." Donald Trump July 21, 2016
Hearing Joe Biden introduce his latest cabinet choices the other day and then listening to them speak has confirmed for me that we will be okay! Smart, experienced, compassionate (non criminal!) people are stepping up to the plate with enthusiasm and a genuine desire to serve. There is a tremendous amount of work to be done, but we will get there. We almost lost it, but the anchor is still there!
I’m so grateful for the educational letters and videos that you put forth that provide perspective to some really crazy and stress inducing events. That so many people are paying attention to you also gives me hope!
The metaphor for the days we are in is perfect. I just sent it to a large crew of people. I treasure these letters and your days-off messages are always equally welcome. At my lowest -- these days it seems daily -- I look forward to hearing from you to better understand the historical context, to draw comfort from the fact that other people are out there who will be trying to help keep this country together. I have so little hope these dark days, but you have put a visual and words that I will lean into. I do hopes that all of the attention paid to our ground tackle these last 250 ish years, despite the fact that we let it accumulate a lot of rust below the water without paying enough attention to it . . will reward us in the end . . .
I sailed and raced off New England shores for many years growing up in New England, and many times experienced the power of the sea and also the helplessness at times it evoked in me. Today, I am powerless over the destructive whims of men and women who have openly defied our country’s Constitution. But, I am NOT powerless over my own opinions, my own actions, and my own faith in a power greater than myself. That power, whom I choose to call God, will somehow find the appropriate “punishment” for these treasonous human beings.
I’m 90 years old and have, in all my years, never had to be a bystander as these seditious human beings openly defied our Democracy and our country’s history. Remembering all the terrible acts committed by people through the centuries as our young country sought a path towards a true democracy, I am horrified by the callousness and the sheer audacity of these people. They should be accused and tried for sedition. I truly hope that at least some form of censure will be forthcoming.
Holding steady in rough waters. The waves will wash over but never sink us. Thank you, Heather. Thank you, Peter Ralston. And thanks to everyone here who help keep me grounded in these rough waters.
You check your gear and check it again, then a huge "sleeper wave" comes out of the Southwest and rushes into the cove. Anchor line snapped while you are down on the bottom "popping" abalone and when your come to the surface, lungs screaming for oxygen, only to watch helplessly while the back side of a monstrous wave travels toward the rocks carrying your tiny inflatable boat and your dive partner with it. As if that wasn't enough you look out to sea and ride to the top of another "freight train of water" and witness the white water streaming over the top of the wave indicating that it has "broke" between you and the boat. You look at your watch in anticipation of the accident report of when you last saw your partner, when you see a head bob up. You swim to him and try to assure him that you are in the best of condition and can push him ahead of you back to where you launched the boat. The sea is chaos with waves breaking in a "potato" patch, but you both survive to dive another November in the "Pacific" ocean because you were prepared!
We're all praying our country's anchor to democracy holds, indeed!
As a quasi-amateur sailor I can not begin to describe how appropriate this image is and the comfort Dr. Richardson’s and Mr. Ralstons description is and the comfort it brings me. The comfort of natural chaos as opposed to man-made chaos. The sea is a profound place and time spent admiring her natural chaos is indeed time well spent. As always, my grateful thanks to Dr. Richardson, Mr. Ralston, Buddy and everyone here who join for the common good. Each and every day my mind is eased by the enlightened discourse here.
Wonderful metaphor.
Thanks to the Supreme Court decision I have a little more faith that the boat will be there in the morning.
Thank you Heather. Wonderful photo from Mr Ralston.
My take from the photo is the fact that we have done all that we could. What ultimately happens, will. Lets hope the safeguards are in place. We are all standing on shore watching a force stronger by nature than we are. Several years ago, I watched a relentless winter storm pound the shores of Lake Ontario. There was an old boathouse that was being broken down by the winds and high waves. I watched that boathouse disintegrate into the Lake. It saddened me to helplessly watch this happen thinking of all of the generations that had used that boathouse. In the Spring, a new boathouse was built. Taller, wider and stronger to take on the next storm that would eventually come. Because there always will be another storm.
Be safe, be well.
I love that image – thank you, Professor. The water off the coast of Maine – so alive, so cold it takes the breath.
I wrote a poem about that water after spending time on the Maine coast and I was looking for it this morning when I stumbled across a poem from 2016 that I’d forgotten.
I also read something this earlier morning that got my goat, Ross Douthat’s opinion piece in the New York Times (The Texas Lawsuit and the Age of Dreampolitik). I’m not going to summarize it – you can subject yourselves to it if you feel the need – but one of his assertions is that we (Democrats and Liberals generally) imagined all nature or horrors that would result from a Trump presidency and continue to do so. I confess to imagining some pretty grim outcomes – some of which have not (yet) come to fruition.
So, here is the poem I wrote following the Republican convention in 2016. I hope you will indulge me for including a poem in this forum, and I wish you a healthy and restful Sunday.
"Nobody knows the system better than me, which is why I alone can fix it." Donald Trump July 21, 2016
This is the Donald the Press built
This is the lie
That spewed from the Donald the Press built
This is the nation
That swallowed the lie
That spewed from the Donald the press built
This is the election
That ruined the nation
That swallowed the lie
That spewed from the Donald the Press built
This is the chaos
That followed the election
That ruined the nation
That swallowed the lie
That spewed from the Donald the Press built
This is the war
That mirrored the chaos
That followed the election
That ruined the nation
That swallowed the lie
That spewed from the Donald the Press built
This is the world
That was torn by the war
That mirrored the chaos
That followed the election
That ruined the nation
That swallowed the lie
That spewed from the Donald the Press built
September 1, 2016
Hearing Joe Biden introduce his latest cabinet choices the other day and then listening to them speak has confirmed for me that we will be okay! Smart, experienced, compassionate (non criminal!) people are stepping up to the plate with enthusiasm and a genuine desire to serve. There is a tremendous amount of work to be done, but we will get there. We almost lost it, but the anchor is still there!
I’m so grateful for the educational letters and videos that you put forth that provide perspective to some really crazy and stress inducing events. That so many people are paying attention to you also gives me hope!
A perfect photo and caption.
You were outstanding, along with Steven Harper, on Bill Moyers' podcast. Brava.
It’s not just you. Tonight I took a mental break by watching the Netflix documentary about Dolly Parton.
May we get past this dark period in American history and emerge a better and stronger nation, recommitted to democracy.
The metaphor for the days we are in is perfect. I just sent it to a large crew of people. I treasure these letters and your days-off messages are always equally welcome. At my lowest -- these days it seems daily -- I look forward to hearing from you to better understand the historical context, to draw comfort from the fact that other people are out there who will be trying to help keep this country together. I have so little hope these dark days, but you have put a visual and words that I will lean into. I do hopes that all of the attention paid to our ground tackle these last 250 ish years, despite the fact that we let it accumulate a lot of rust below the water without paying enough attention to it . . will reward us in the end . . .
Merry Chrismukkah HCR and everyone.
I sailed and raced off New England shores for many years growing up in New England, and many times experienced the power of the sea and also the helplessness at times it evoked in me. Today, I am powerless over the destructive whims of men and women who have openly defied our country’s Constitution. But, I am NOT powerless over my own opinions, my own actions, and my own faith in a power greater than myself. That power, whom I choose to call God, will somehow find the appropriate “punishment” for these treasonous human beings.
I’m 90 years old and have, in all my years, never had to be a bystander as these seditious human beings openly defied our Democracy and our country’s history. Remembering all the terrible acts committed by people through the centuries as our young country sought a path towards a true democracy, I am horrified by the callousness and the sheer audacity of these people. They should be accused and tried for sedition. I truly hope that at least some form of censure will be forthcoming.
Holding steady in rough waters. The waves will wash over but never sink us. Thank you, Heather. Thank you, Peter Ralston. And thanks to everyone here who help keep me grounded in these rough waters.
Another great Ralston photo! It doesn't matter whether you are Democrat or Republican, we can all love Peter's artwork. No disagreement there.
You check your gear and check it again, then a huge "sleeper wave" comes out of the Southwest and rushes into the cove. Anchor line snapped while you are down on the bottom "popping" abalone and when your come to the surface, lungs screaming for oxygen, only to watch helplessly while the back side of a monstrous wave travels toward the rocks carrying your tiny inflatable boat and your dive partner with it. As if that wasn't enough you look out to sea and ride to the top of another "freight train of water" and witness the white water streaming over the top of the wave indicating that it has "broke" between you and the boat. You look at your watch in anticipation of the accident report of when you last saw your partner, when you see a head bob up. You swim to him and try to assure him that you are in the best of condition and can push him ahead of you back to where you launched the boat. The sea is chaos with waves breaking in a "potato" patch, but you both survive to dive another November in the "Pacific" ocean because you were prepared!
Great photo and sentiment for this time. Thanks for all that you do to steer us through the daily storm.
It does beg the question: if some of the crew are mutinous, can we refuse to seat them in the House?