It's been a long time since I have written anything here - that's because I experienced an usually busy, and, I'll admit, difficult month. Challenging. Not without its sweetness - it was moving, as tough times can be - but I certainly had a lot to deal with. It was particularly poignant as this month included my birthday, which turned out nice but was a struggle to get there. Well, we all know what's that like, so no need to go into right now, but suffice to say that I have had neither the time nor the energy to write, not on a subject that I could do well (too much subject, too little time, no concentration, and so on), but I finally decided, hey, if I want, I CAN just ramble a bit. This is my blog, after all. In no order:
Friday the 13th - It's Not What You've Been Told
Tomorrow is a Friday the 13th, which is traditionally feared and even hated. All those horror films based on it - surely way over the top. Did you know the fear of Friday the 13th is called Paraskevidekatriaphobia; seems people will fear anything. Yet many people don't know realize that 13 used to be LUCKY, essentially - the Egyptians believed that there were 13 steps on the ladder of eternal life; that 13th step was a dozy but wonderful as you entered the afterlife. Thirteen is the age of adulthood in some cultures, which is the road to freedom and self-hood. And since Friday was associated with Freyja (associated with fertility), the day was REALLY all about lucky fertility. Basically, Friday the 13th was all about making something - maybe babies, maybe art. Creation. So naturally, this day got a bum rap by the dementors of doom, as Caroline Casey calls them (she frequently points out Friday the 13th misconceptions), the frozen-hearted dingbats who do things like get upset when we have a day celebrating and encouringing making love and making art. So don't be afraid, but go out and make love & art today!
A Recent Quote I Liked:
"Comparison is the thief of joy." Ain't that so?
Getting Shot (s)
I've had to prepare for an international trip (to India, then Italy, Greece and Turkey) and I got four shots on Monday. I felt like hell for 24 hours, and then I felt fine. I'm suspicious of vaccinations, but in the end, I get when they recommend. I'm going to have stock up on grapefruit seed extract, which tastes truly vile but supposedly prevents Delhi Belly and the like (TD), but I am not thrilled about needing malaria pills. Oh well - you prepare all you can and then hope for the best. I find getting vaccinations prompts me to reflect rather philosophically on the nature of safety; they freak you out with the tales of what COULD happen, and what probably won't happen, and you start to wonder if it's all worth it. It becomes one of those defining questions: do you go ahead with saying yes to life, even when it's not all unicorns and rainbows? In the end, you have to get the shots, take the pills and launch into the adventure.
India: wow!
My other - the FUN - travel preparations for India involve reading "A Traveller's History of India" which is almost shockingly engaging. I'm one of those people who is extremely interested in history - theoretically. In practice, it can be dry and I can get bored. When the teacher - whether it be a person or a book - presents it well, I latch on, but when it gets dull, I tune out. This version of Indian history is fascinating. It made me realize how *little* Americans learn of non-Western classical civilization. The cultures on the Indian sub-continent were *incredibly* advanced, early on. The Indus Valley Civilization dated from 5000 years ago - the Harappans built these amazingly big and regular cities in 2500 B.C or so. We're talking a New York style street grid, covered sewage drains and God knows what else. I like to imagine ancient civilizations with electric streetlights, photography and sophisticated dental drills (hey, the Egyptians had brain surgery - in which some patients *survived*). 1500 years ago, the Indians were carving enormous temples in the side of giant cliffs - really. Look up Ellora Caves, and you will see what I mean.
Mac Davis and the Famous
Now, I'm currently listening to a DISH (TV) XM radio station (70's on 7), and a Mac Davis song came on. It reminded me that Mac Davis has the distinction of, in my own personal history, being the very *first* famous person I ever saw in person. I was on a plane either to or from Cleveland (who can remember so long ago? I was 10 or 11), and rumors floated around coach that Mac Davis was up front. I didn't know who that was, and had to ask someone - maybe my Mom? - and I was told he was a famous singer. I think perhaps I heard someone sing a snatch of a hit which I recognized. When he finally did come out - naturally, he was in first class - there was a buzz in the cabin. People were excited, and I was too, even though I was not really a fan, per se. There was a general feeling that he was cool for coming out and meeting fans, but that he'd be harshly judged if he had not. I think that this incident made a huge impression on me, as I've had an interesting relationship with fame my whole life - for someone as obscure as I am, I've met or interacted with quite a few famous people.
My partner J wondered out loud if Mac Davis was still alive. "I should think not," I said, and immediately looked it up. While doing so, J told me that Nora Ephron had died recently. Oh no, I said. He said she was 71 - wow, I didn't realize! She seemed young and looked pretty good! So, I looked up Mac Davis, and turns out - *he's* still alive. He's also 71. And how odd, I though - I knew who Mac Davis was a long time before I knew who Nora Ephron was ("When Harry Met Sally," of course - isn't that how most people heard of her?), and yet she's no longer around but he is. Time seems to be going faster these days, which they say is a function of aging; it's a little concerning but what can you do?
The World These Days. Sheesh.
It's been tough to pay attention to the world lately, just because it's been quite active and often just so - disappointing and alarming. There should be a word that means "disappointing and alarming," like how "chagrin" means "disappointment and embarrassment." There's so MUCH going on. I have been forced to notice certain things, like the collapse of Greece (hard to ignore), the Supreme Court unexpectedly upholding the Affordable Health Care Act, and the Spanish youth "democracy camp" which looks like the beginning of a revolution (just this last weekend, and suddenly thousands strong in dozens of cities). Then I listen to The Colbert Report, and hear more tales of impending disaster in every arena, from the fiasco that is our presidential "election" to the waves of environmental panic we keep feeling every time we think about either energy needs. I mean, Fukushima was really not that long ago, when you think about it - my point being, no one wants to think about it.
There just seems to be times, like maybe now, when there is this more than the usual share of doom and gloom floating around - as if society at large experiences times of collective joy and collective panic or misery. Certainly, the potential nuclear meltdown - and other large natural disasters - capture the entire planet's attention. We like to pose those "Where were you when?" questions, remembering the events that everyone remembers. But rarely, it seems are those positive events. You never hear, where were you when you heard about the polio vaccine? Maybe we remember where we were when we first heard about the iPhone, but if so, that's pretty sad. (Even sadder? Full disclosure: I *do* remember: it was on The Colbert Report, when Stephen, as he does, held out his white, male, rich grasping entitled joking hand: "New iPhone, please.") I'm not sure about the whole 2012 thing, but I can't help but notice a lot of people I know have had personal upheavals recently, from the major (death in car accidents) to the minor (like everyone I know is getting tickets and fender benders).
Buy hey, today is a respite from all that - happy Friday the 13th!
Friday the 13th - It's Not What You've Been Told
Tomorrow is a Friday the 13th, which is traditionally feared and even hated. All those horror films based on it - surely way over the top. Did you know the fear of Friday the 13th is called Paraskevidekatriaphobia; seems people will fear anything. Yet many people don't know realize that 13 used to be LUCKY, essentially - the Egyptians believed that there were 13 steps on the ladder of eternal life; that 13th step was a dozy but wonderful as you entered the afterlife. Thirteen is the age of adulthood in some cultures, which is the road to freedom and self-hood. And since Friday was associated with Freyja (associated with fertility), the day was REALLY all about lucky fertility. Basically, Friday the 13th was all about making something - maybe babies, maybe art. Creation. So naturally, this day got a bum rap by the dementors of doom, as Caroline Casey calls them (she frequently points out Friday the 13th misconceptions), the frozen-hearted dingbats who do things like get upset when we have a day celebrating and encouringing making love and making art. So don't be afraid, but go out and make love & art today!
A Recent Quote I Liked:
"Comparison is the thief of joy." Ain't that so?
Getting Shot (s)
I've had to prepare for an international trip (to India, then Italy, Greece and Turkey) and I got four shots on Monday. I felt like hell for 24 hours, and then I felt fine. I'm suspicious of vaccinations, but in the end, I get when they recommend. I'm going to have stock up on grapefruit seed extract, which tastes truly vile but supposedly prevents Delhi Belly and the like (TD), but I am not thrilled about needing malaria pills. Oh well - you prepare all you can and then hope for the best. I find getting vaccinations prompts me to reflect rather philosophically on the nature of safety; they freak you out with the tales of what COULD happen, and what probably won't happen, and you start to wonder if it's all worth it. It becomes one of those defining questions: do you go ahead with saying yes to life, even when it's not all unicorns and rainbows? In the end, you have to get the shots, take the pills and launch into the adventure.
India: wow!
My other - the FUN - travel preparations for India involve reading "A Traveller's History of India" which is almost shockingly engaging. I'm one of those people who is extremely interested in history - theoretically. In practice, it can be dry and I can get bored. When the teacher - whether it be a person or a book - presents it well, I latch on, but when it gets dull, I tune out. This version of Indian history is fascinating. It made me realize how *little* Americans learn of non-Western classical civilization. The cultures on the Indian sub-continent were *incredibly* advanced, early on. The Indus Valley Civilization dated from 5000 years ago - the Harappans built these amazingly big and regular cities in 2500 B.C or so. We're talking a New York style street grid, covered sewage drains and God knows what else. I like to imagine ancient civilizations with electric streetlights, photography and sophisticated dental drills (hey, the Egyptians had brain surgery - in which some patients *survived*). 1500 years ago, the Indians were carving enormous temples in the side of giant cliffs - really. Look up Ellora Caves, and you will see what I mean.
Mac Davis and the Famous
Now, I'm currently listening to a DISH (TV) XM radio station (70's on 7), and a Mac Davis song came on. It reminded me that Mac Davis has the distinction of, in my own personal history, being the very *first* famous person I ever saw in person. I was on a plane either to or from Cleveland (who can remember so long ago? I was 10 or 11), and rumors floated around coach that Mac Davis was up front. I didn't know who that was, and had to ask someone - maybe my Mom? - and I was told he was a famous singer. I think perhaps I heard someone sing a snatch of a hit which I recognized. When he finally did come out - naturally, he was in first class - there was a buzz in the cabin. People were excited, and I was too, even though I was not really a fan, per se. There was a general feeling that he was cool for coming out and meeting fans, but that he'd be harshly judged if he had not. I think that this incident made a huge impression on me, as I've had an interesting relationship with fame my whole life - for someone as obscure as I am, I've met or interacted with quite a few famous people.
My partner J wondered out loud if Mac Davis was still alive. "I should think not," I said, and immediately looked it up. While doing so, J told me that Nora Ephron had died recently. Oh no, I said. He said she was 71 - wow, I didn't realize! She seemed young and looked pretty good! So, I looked up Mac Davis, and turns out - *he's* still alive. He's also 71. And how odd, I though - I knew who Mac Davis was a long time before I knew who Nora Ephron was ("When Harry Met Sally," of course - isn't that how most people heard of her?), and yet she's no longer around but he is. Time seems to be going faster these days, which they say is a function of aging; it's a little concerning but what can you do?
The World These Days. Sheesh.
It's been tough to pay attention to the world lately, just because it's been quite active and often just so - disappointing and alarming. There should be a word that means "disappointing and alarming," like how "chagrin" means "disappointment and embarrassment." There's so MUCH going on. I have been forced to notice certain things, like the collapse of Greece (hard to ignore), the Supreme Court unexpectedly upholding the Affordable Health Care Act, and the Spanish youth "democracy camp" which looks like the beginning of a revolution (just this last weekend, and suddenly thousands strong in dozens of cities). Then I listen to The Colbert Report, and hear more tales of impending disaster in every arena, from the fiasco that is our presidential "election" to the waves of environmental panic we keep feeling every time we think about either energy needs. I mean, Fukushima was really not that long ago, when you think about it - my point being, no one wants to think about it.
There just seems to be times, like maybe now, when there is this more than the usual share of doom and gloom floating around - as if society at large experiences times of collective joy and collective panic or misery. Certainly, the potential nuclear meltdown - and other large natural disasters - capture the entire planet's attention. We like to pose those "Where were you when?" questions, remembering the events that everyone remembers. But rarely, it seems are those positive events. You never hear, where were you when you heard about the polio vaccine? Maybe we remember where we were when we first heard about the iPhone, but if so, that's pretty sad. (Even sadder? Full disclosure: I *do* remember: it was on The Colbert Report, when Stephen, as he does, held out his white, male, rich grasping entitled joking hand: "New iPhone, please.") I'm not sure about the whole 2012 thing, but I can't help but notice a lot of people I know have had personal upheavals recently, from the major (death in car accidents) to the minor (like everyone I know is getting tickets and fender benders).
Buy hey, today is a respite from all that - happy Friday the 13th!
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