A Tale of Two Posts - Positive

 

Yowser, Not a Wave, a Tsunami!

This was NOT the original picture I used for this post!

Well, as promised I had prepared two different election outcome posts. One positive and upbeat and the other that is, shall we say, neither of those things. I am happy to report that I won’t be needing the latter (as I did in 2024.) 

Note added 11/4: I wrote both posts some time ago. I obviously had hoped for a positive outcome but it is hard to imagine that anyone thought the democrats would win on this level including me. (I don't trust polls anymore!) I thought they would take back the House but not the Senate. The outcome was so much better than I expected that I had to re-write a few things on the fly - taking both the House and the Senate is HUGE! (Changes should be obvious.)

First, I would like to thank the president. His extremely unpopular policies and his “help” for his unpopular candidates with those silly rallies were also instrumental in getting out the Democrat vote. (Apparently Americans did imagine him on the ballot - and brutally let him know what they thought of his agenda.) They won a substantial majority in the House and a large majority in the Senate including several red states. It is impossible to overstate what this means for the country. Although they can’t put a stop to all of Trump’s worst instincts and destructive actions, they can certainly constrain him. And control of the purse strings is huge along with the selection of federal judges. Even better, they now have the ability to investigate the enormous amount of corruption and unconstitutional behavior by this, the most corrupt – and incompetent - administration in our history. So there is that. (Also impeachment for Hegseth and couple others, anyone?)

For me, this election restored my faith in my fellow Americans and, I guess, in our country's whole constitutional system - it looked awfully shaky until 11/3. As I participated in No Kings rallies and followed my fellow Minneapolitans as they resisted the thugs posing as ICE agents last winter - dark times indeed - I was encouraged to think that there was still hope that average people could indeed fight back and win against a would-be dictatorship. It was never a sure thing but at least for now, we did it. Apparently there should be no post-election shenanigans, Trump appears to accept the shellacking inflicted on his party - not his fault, of course. He deserves no praise, however, for doing what every other president has done for 250 yrs. It is only shocking because of his history of conspiracies.

Here's a positive . . .

DOGE this - you owe me $500 million!

On a sober note, there is much more to do. Some of the damage done for the past two years might be irrevocable. It’s not just the damage to the government (the buildings, the military, various departments, and people) but to our form of government, our constitutional democracy. Also gone are our reputation and leadership among most modern countries in the world. Despite Dem's wins in this election, Trump and his legion of sycophantic co-conspirators are not going to stop trying to impose their ignorant, dystopian ideas on us for the next two years. They must be resisted just as strongly – if not more so – than we have up until now. Hopefully the 2028 election will get rid of the last traces of the tumor that is the MAGA movement and bring sense back to the Republican party. (We do need a sane and competent Republican party to keep some balance in our government.) 

Sadly, it will take decades, if ever, to remove the stain it has left on our country and restore at least some of our reputation for being a modern democratic nation. No small task. 

Indeed, not all is duckies and bunnies. For example, we have to hope that the current Democratic party and its leaders are actually up to the difficult task ahead; they have been less than stellar the past several years. Also, both parties have the bad habit of assuming that victories are a mandate to impose their dumbest ideas on the country. It would be a terrible mistake for democrats to do that now, people didn't vote for democrat policies so much as they voted against Trump and MAGA. (BTW this goes double for Minnesota democrats!) Given that we certainly cannot trust the current Republican party with the levers of power this is no small concern. 

As a side note, clearly the Founding Fathers never anticipated people like Trump could even be elected dog catcher let alone president. We really need to have a Constitutional Convention to fix the damn thing so this can't happen again. 

Another positive? We might be stuck with the stupid ball room . . .

 . . . but maybe spared this monstrosity? 

Anyway, for now to all my fellow Americans I say, thank you, well done - and keep it up!

Note: for masochists, if you would like to see the other version of this post just reply and ask for it.

Celebratory Music

I Can See Clearly Now    Johnny Nash

Mr Blue Sky    ELO

OMG 60th High School Reunion?!

 Note: I have taken the liberty to intersperse a few thoughts said better by a very eloquent guy. They are borrowed from the 60th reunion speech by Stephen J. Trachtenberg, class of ’59, Columbia University.

Call the police - and some paramedics - the class of '66 is partying!

Don't blame me, Sheri, I told you we should NOT have let Pederson know about the reunion!

Has it already been ten years since my classmates and I celebrated 50 years away from (the no-longer-existing) Jefferson Senior High? Yes, sir! We celebrated the rather awe-inspiring number 60 recently. And what a wild time we had - some of us stayed up until after 10!

Lotta snow on the roof  there 

Thanks to fine work of the People’s Committee for Honoring the Alexandria Class of ‘66, some 49 of us (original class size: 266, 178 at time of reunion) gathered in the old home town on a dreary Minnesota fall evening. It was brightened by familiar voices - perhaps a bit huskier with age - sharing old stories made new by their recollection (with a few details still a bit hazy?)

As always, the years are kinder to some of us rather than others (you can figure that one out)

Over the last 60 years many of us found professions, pastimes, loves and lovers that fired our passions, and gave us a steady glow of gratification. Each of us worked the trail that best suited our personalities, talents and circumstances. On many occasions we raised glasses together and toasted moments of joy and good fortune.

Wow, all this and Jerry Teeson hosting for 35 bucks? What a deal!

He's a natural

Yup, Jerry, our very own Alex Trebek

Our classmate, Jerry, back by popular demand from our 50th (which seems like 2 years ago,) did another fine job MCing our gathering. The color guard and recognition of vets was again a wonderful touch - even with our dwindling numbers. It was much appreciated by all us vets. As noted, our class like so many others graduating during those Vietnam years, sent a large percentage of our guys off to war. Some not to return.

There were a few brave spouses who ventured along and none seemed to have come at the point of a gun so hats off to them. You know, it’s hard enough to be around a spouse that’s 78 years old – eh, huh, what'd you say?! – let alone a roomful of over-excited senior citizens. By the way, that is a term that most of us disavow (senior citizen, not over-excited.) Okay, I disavow it. I choose to think of myself as very late middle age. You know what they say, 78 is the new . . . 75 – or something like that.

Rick and Pat - gotta be toupees

I'm telling you, Rick, my hair is still prettier than yours. 

Swabbies were nice enough to let an AF geek join them (Ahoy there, mateys, leave some cake for the rest of us!)

Everyone I told that I was going to my 60th wanted to know the same thing: how does everyone look. Jerks. What did they think I would say, old? Luckily, I can honestly say that everyone looked pretty damn good! Well, at least recognizable as their 18-year-old self (I refuse to say “for their age.”) Some of us have a few more miles on us than others but if you live this long it is highly unlikely that you will be wrinkle free, can tighten your belt to the last hole or have enough hair to worry about a bad hair day. (Well, except for Rick and Pat)

No sir, we can all look in the mirror and say, “not too bad!”

I forget things — little things: I sometime ask what day of the week is it; or “when are we visiting the kids?” And fairly regularly, I say “Please call my phone” or “did you notice if I took my pills today?” Minor inconveniences to the person I ask, and frankly, to me — the person asking. An acquaintance in Washington, the writer Judith Viorst, put it this way: “It’s okay to find your missing keys in the pocket of your raincoat. It’s not so okay to find them in the freezer, which means as of now I am definitely okay.”

Wait - so you're saying this is our 60th and not the 55th? I need another beer!

On a more somber note, the roll of those who are no longer traveling around the sun with us has nearly doubled to 88 over the last ten years. 88 is about 33% of the original class. Apparently, that is right on the national average for people not making it to age 78. Not too bad I suppose (unless you're one of the 88) yet somehow losing that many of your fellow classmates seems an unfair price to pay even with wars (which seem to afflict every generation) and the usual vicissitudes of life. Oh well, it is better to have known them and lost them than to not have known them at all. Besides, the great wheel of life rolls on over all of us . . .

Along with this satisfaction, however, we also felt the pain of loss and disappointment — personal and professional. We suffered illnesses, death, tragedies and shared episodes of great sadness. In other words, we’ve led normal lives, with exuberant moments and sorrowful seasons. I need not remind those here tonight that the road map we are presently following is coming to a new arrival point: we’re taxiing to the gate. Memories are often stronger than aspirations.

Buzzy - the class common denominator - and the cool kids' table

I know, Doug has always been delusional
but he's harmless

And Rickie, our class valedictorian, even looks smart. You know she barely squeaked by me though, right? (Okay, by about 60 spots but seemed closer than that to me.)

Kiddingly, I asked someone if they were interested in planning our 70th. I was rebuked mightily! It’s not that most of us don’t think (hope?) that we will make it to 88 but maybe it’s because we don’t want to press our luck or jinx it. Or perhaps that just as making it to the 50th and then – holy crap! - the 60th was simply inconceivable when we graduated, a 70th is like . . . science fiction - C'est Impossible! There is also the sad, incontrovertible fact that according to the odds only about 85 of us will be around in 2036. That’s a pretty small pool of partiers to hope for.

With my football buddy, Glenn - You know what they say about high foreheads and brillliance (or we played too much without a helmet!)

Well, to hell with that gloomy stuff! We 49, we few, we happy band of brothers and sisters, (apologies to Shakespeare) had the great pleasure and honor to gather again, tell our stories, share our joys and woes and glide back 60 years to that simple time at Jefferson High. If I make it to 88 I will gladly run, limp or drive my Little Rascal back for another chance to see . . . who can remember why the heck we were getting together!

Party on, classmates, party on.

(Perhaps should have had the valedictorian organize the unruly crowd for the picture?)

Some top tunes of 1966:

California Dreamin'   Mama and the Papas

Walk Away Renee    The Left Bank

Paperback Writer   Beatles

Last Train to Clarksville   Monkees

The Commies are Coming, The Commies are Coming!

AI Free

There is much pearl clutching today by the leaders of the Democratic party as it relates to the Democratic Socialists (DS) who have somehow managed to get themselves endorsed and elected.

A generally moderate independent voter, I admit touching some pearls myself.  Democrats are concerned that they (DS) will drag the whole party down; in what should be a huge, blue tsunami some fear it could end up a small wave lapping helplessly ashore because of DS candidates. A legitimate fear. Meanwhile, supporters of these new interlopers say the DS candidates are generating the first real excitement for the Democrats in many years. There is some truth to that too.

Republicans, naturally, and others of their ilk are describing these “wild-eyed radicals” as Communists. Not true, of course, although compared to today's two main Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum parties they are certainly "different."  (Besides, to today's Republicans anyone to the left of Genghis Khan is communist.) Like most of us Americans, they don’t really the know difference between liberal, socialist or communist – or even that there is a difference. So, how did DS suddenly get a foothold in a conservative country like the US?

Perhaps it was overdue.

Throughout history, the average person has had certain expectations of their governments. Rather governed by a king, a dictator, or democracy, they expect to be able to feed their family, have shelter, and to be left alone to live their lives. Not really asking for much. When those simple conditions are not being met, however, they get angry and finally “the people” start to revolt or turn against their so-called leaders and all they stand for. It happens Every. Single. Time.

King Louis XVI  French Revolution 1789
(Off with his head - We want croissants, we want croissants!)

Of course, today the bar is somewhat higher. Modern countries have almost nothing in common with their earlier selves. Life is much more complex with many difficult problems that simply can’t be solved by just ignoring them or hoping the free markets will solve them. A cursory look at America’s history will inform us where we would be if it weren’t for many government programs. It’s easy to forget that our “socialist” government gave us Social Security, Medicare, the interstate highway system, the internet - food inspection? - and countless other important things. With Republicans calling it “communism” Every. Single. Time. 

We Americans have been enormously successful for a very long time. In a sense, perhaps we've been spoiled not just by that success but by the stability and reliability of our government. Yet more recently that same government has ignored our many big problems - among them, out of control costs for healthcare, housing and education as well extreme income inequality - that have caused a great deal of damage for so many Americans in the last few decades. (Our attention misdirected, no doubt, by the “bread and circus” aspects of our modern society - can you say pro sports, reality TV and smart phones?) In any event, we have all been very compliant - some might call us sheep - for silently putting up with it. Meanwhile, those big issues are only growing while our usual political leadership seems unable – or unwilling - to do anything. (Well, they are solving the important day light savings time problem.) As noted earlier, history shows that when the political elite can’t - or won’t - make changes that help the “common folk” eventually the pitch forks come out. 

I believe MAGA was a warning shot, a legitimate cry in the wilderness for change. Unfortunately, it was hijacked by a very bad man and converted into a grievance-ridden focus on social issues that are far from the biggest problems of the country.

So, could that be why the DS is finding an audience today? Not unlike their earlier predecessors in MAGA or the even earlier Freedom Caucus, they are talking about those big problems that are making the lives of average Americans so difficult and offering solutions and changes to the way the government responds. Do we like all their solutions? Absolutely NOT - like the Republicans and Democrats they have some really bad ideas too (See Minneapolis city council DS members) and many will not fly in America. And hopefully, unlike those earlier movements they won’t turn into a nativist, anti-immigrant, anti-science, anti-democracy rabble. 

Maybe its time for us to get out the pitchforks?
(Hopefully minimize the beheadings)

While holding some goofy positions, the DS are not communist. Mostly, they are similar to several European nations, especially the successful Nordic countries’ systems – which have provided a wonderful quality of life for their citizens. I understand that to us Americans that still sounds like communism but that’s only because of a hatred/fear of government that has been pounded into us since the founding of the country and fear mongering by corporate interests ever since. 

I am not a social democrat nor will I join them. In fact, my greatest hope is not that DS win every election but rather that they win enough so our two main parties start to get a clue from them on how to start solving our freaking problems! (Should I start holding my breath?) 

These are very treacherous times with several possible outcomes for our country - most of them bad - so we desperately need change, real change, and if the DS pushes that I'm all for them.

Let’s hope for the best but plan for the worst - and don’t let demagogues scare you, America will NEVER be a communist nation!  

And be prepared because as is usually the case the youth will lead the way during times like this.

Music for the people . . .

 Do You Hear the People Sing?    Les Miz

Revolution   Beatles

Note: This will in all likelihood be my last post until after the election (which we will have!) and as after the 2024 election I will again have two posts for two possible outcomes. Please, please help make sure it's the happy one!

August . . .

 The Red Headed Stepchild of Months 

The bright side of August

I have gone back in my vast archives to see if I have ever talked much about the month of August. It appears I have spared you - until now. Lucky you.

“August rain: the best of the summer gone, and the new fall not yet born. The odd uneven time.”  Sylvia Plath

“If June was the beginning of a hopeful summer, and July the juice middle, August was suddenly feeling like the bitter end.” Sarah Dessen

Enough from poets, let's talk about August. The eighth month, named after Roman Emperor Augustus; still summer, hot, muggy and long as it slowly becomes . . . the dog days of summer. By the way, the dog days of summer were so named by the Greeks and Romans because the very bright star Sirius, the Dog Star, shows up in the night sky this time of the year so the boys in robes and togas figured it was hot like the sun and must make things hotter here. Hey, made sense at the time.

So, what do you think about August? Me first? Okay, to me, it IS an odd month. It’s just kinda . . . blah. Or maybe it’s just that the thrill of summer, if not gone, is gliding into the rearview mirror. (Is that a tiny hint of autumn in the cool morning air?) Am I the only one that feels that way? 

Hear me out.

We’re all excited in May as lawns green up, perennials appear and gardeners first get their hands dirty with veggies and annuals. Then summer officially shows up in June and we know that our suffering through months of cold and snow were worth it. Then -ta da - July! We enjoy more great weather! (Okay maybe too great weather this year but remember that in January.) Anyway - Picnics! Cabins! Fireworks! Oh my! 

The dark side of August

The month of August then comes in clinging to the coat tails of July and at first just more of the same. However, we fickle humans (in the northern hemisphere anyway) are already getting bored and tired of the heat and humidity. (Meteorologist Paul Douglas calls it "summer fatigue" so there is that.) The lakes are getting all green and yucky. We’re starting to get weary of taking care of our stupid yards. (They are stupid you know. We plant a kind of weed, fertilize it, water it, mow it – rinse and repeat for months on end.) Oh yeah, and the state fair is just a few weeks away; then time to take the boat and docks out; then fall clean up and then . . . Well, you know.

I wonder if this is the reason all Europeans take the month of August off.

Anyway, given the sense that August isn’t much more than a bridge to fall and thus to winter - and I don't want to belabor that - I think a potpourri of truly interesting non-August things is in order to distract you. (“Interesting” is, of course, in the eye of the beholder.)

Nature – and AI - Turns on Us?

Here’s an interesting thought by one of the many fellow bloggers I follow:

By Noah Smith

“As long as you or I or anyone we know has been alive, for all of recorded history - and in fact for much much longer than that - humankind has been the most intelligent thing on this planet.

At some point in the next couple of years, that will no longer be true. It arguably is no longer true right now. There is no single unarguable measure of intelligence - it’s not like distance or time. AI doesn't think in the same way humans do. But it can get gold medals on the International Math Olympiad, solve difficult outstanding math problems all on its own, and get A's in graduate school classes. Most human beings can’t do any of that."

If true, that’s kind of disappointing: Knocked off the top of the food chain by an invisible algorithm. Huh. I guess now we’ll know how all the other creatures felt when we knocked them off the top of the hill over the past thousands of years.

And This is How They Do It?

By Matt O’Brien The Associated Press

Artificial intelligence chatbots are so prone to flattering and validating their human users that they are giving bad advice that can damage relationships and reinforce harmful behaviors, according to a new study that explores the dangers of AI telling people what they want to hear. 

According to another study, as an additional "favor," sucking up by AI apparently also causes even more of the Dunning-Kruger effect for us poor sad humans. You know, making us to think we are smarter than we actually are. Just what we need!

And Now for Something Completely Different

More Say ‘I Don’t"
By Tammy Lagorce • The New York Times

"From Gen X to Gen Z, a pause in the march to the altar, or a decision to skip it altogether, is becoming more common.

After an eight-year relationship ended in 2021, Chloe Bow started imagining what life might look like if she gave up on marriage.

Bow, 33, of Toronto, spent much of her 20s living with a boyfriend who became her fiancée. Then, during the pandemic, she realized she was feeling unfulfilled but had settled out of a familiar fear: What if I end up alone? But now, being alone is the goal, she said. No relationships, no marriage. Forever.

"I can't think of one person in a relationship that I would want for myself," Bow said. "I've done it before and prefer focusing on me and my own needs."

She is not alone. Data shows that the number of households with married couples is down by over 20 percent. Experts aren’t certain if this is just a blip, a generational thing or a new normal. I have no opinion but one thing is sure – right, wrong or indifferent, those uppity women will be held to blame for not getting hitched like their moms and grandmas. (Okay, that last part is sarcasm in case your sarcasm detector is kaput.)

Just in – Shocking News!

A third of Americans say they're reading fewer books

Perhaps we should happy it's only 36%

As the summer reading season begins in earnest, a third of Americans say they're reading fewer books for personal enjoyment than they did 10 years ago — a decline that cuts across age and education levels.

Why you may ask?



But all is not lost . . .

Fred Backus - June 18, 2026 / CBS News

"Though many Americans are reading fewer books, most haven't given up reading altogether: about a third read upwards of six books a year, including 12% who read more than 20. And it's not just older people who are reading books: younger adults read about the same number of books as older adults, though women read more books than men.

A quarter of Americans, however, say they don't generally read any books at all."

I generally read about 25 books a year. (It should be more but I have very important outdoor "activities" that require my attention in the summer.)

I hope you are reading as much as you can.

Food for Thought to Get Through August

Philosopher Sam Harris

"We are dying by clips. As consumers of information, we are inundated with half-truths and outright lies and yet we let our view of people or issues be decided in these five minute - or even 45 second clips (Tik Tok) - is shattering us." 

Finally (I hear the great sighs of relief) 

This from writer Brent Donnelly, a nice counterpoint to that info above. I know you have heard something like this before but it's a good reminder:

“Delete the apps. Touch grass. Read books. Pay attention. Talk to your neighbors. Go outside. Make things. Pay attention. Refuse the algorithm. Reclaim your time. Love your family. Find community. Plant a garden. Buy less. Vote. Pray. Cook. Walk. Pay attention. Call your mom.”

REALLY Final

“This morning, the sun endures past dawn. I realize that it is August: the summer's last stand.” Sara Baume

You know, August kinda gets a raw deal just because of where it's located on the calendar. At least it's not Jan or Feb. Besides, it can't be too bad, it brought me daughter number two!

Boys of Summer   Don Henley

First Day of August  Carol King

Still the Shining City on the Hill?

America at 250 Yrs

An homage to July 20th, 1969

City on the Hill    

"Nations reel and stagger on their way; they make hideous mistakes; they commit frightful wrongs; they do great and beautiful things. And shall we not best guide humanity by telling the truth about all this, so far as the truth is ascertainable?"

  

W.E.B. Du Bois

Yes, there was a time when America was seen as the glittering City on the Hill. I mean it wasn’t perfect - nothing is - and it didn’t glitter for everyone but it was there nonetheless. A city that made sacrifices for others in the Civil War, WWI and II and even our misguided wars since. It was a city where we were sure tomorrow would be better than today and parents could expect their children to have better lives than theirs. Despite our flaws, it was a country that worked; a country that made great promises and kept them.

Promises like putting a man on the moon.

I remember that night very clearly even though it was fifty-seven years ago, July 20th, 1969. I was a 21-year- old dude working at Donaldson’s department store downtown MPLS between my junior and senior years in college. Life was pretty simple and living really was easy – the girls smiled often! (It was a very good year!) There was a war raging far from home and I was likely headed there in a year or so when I graduated since I was in AFROTC. But that was okay because on that night, watching on a tv sitting on a picnic table outside a friend’s house in south Minneapolis as Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon, nothing else mattered . . . because I lived in the greatest country in the world.

"One small step for man, One giant leap for mankind"

We recently celebrated our 250th birthday as a nation.  A big deal for us but as many nations go we are barely a teenager. A privileged one, but a teenager - with all the teen struggles - nonetheless. Yet we deserved that celebration (although forget the embarrassing events in our nation's capital.) Our 250 yrs is full of "frightful wrongs" and "great and beautiful things" - and we're still standing. 

With the celebrations over perhaps this is a good time, as W.E.B. says, to seek the truth: How do we measure up to our lofty expectations from so long ago as residents of the City on the Hill. Are we still that shining city?

 

In all honesty, I don't even know what the criteria are for that lofty position: Freedom? Wealth? Opportunity? Faith/Hope/Charity? Must we have all of them? Perhaps it is some mystical brew of positive things that one just believes in - not unlike religion? 

Whatever they are, something is off. 

Despite my sometime cynicism, I've always been a closet optimist about the future and that optimism has always been rewarded. I still retain an appreciation for my own good luck in life - the luckiest man in the luckiest generation in the luckiest country - but something has changed, something fundamental in our country. Perhaps other people have also sensed an ill wind as well. I hasten to add, however, that as bad as the last few years have been, this sense of . . . dissipation? . . . goes back many years. No, whatever we're feeling did not happen overnight. 

In fact, America is still a big, wealthy country. People are living their everyday lives, going to work, kids are playing, folks taking vacations; everything seems to be normal. Until it isn't.

Look deeper and there are many flashing red lights. A partial list: An economy that benefits only the top income tiers, out of control healthcare, education and housing costs and a dangerously dysfunctional federal government. More recently, denial of science and climate change, reversing hard-won rights for women and the LGBTQ community and immigration laws reduced to violent imprisonment/deportation.

Worst of the worst?

Most dangerous of all, we tolerate leaders who endorse white supremacy, feel free to violate centuries of civil behavior and assault Constitutional norms and democracy itself. 

Sure she feels safe surrounded by all those cosplay "patriots"

So, are all the "frightful wrongs" we've made over our two and half century life finally catching up to us now like a slow growing tumor? Or is it our complacency and sense of entitlement? 

Wherever the truth lies, that’s why I feel that we're no longer a country full of hope, big dreams and big accomplishments. We have become - or driven to become? - small, petty, fearful people retreating into tribes, intent on grabbing everything we own and hugging it to ourselves like some paranoid old person living alone in a cardboard box.

Whatever the case, I am certain the light of the shining city on the hill is dimming.

Yet all is not darkness. We are still a rich nation with smart, hardworking people and this dreadful administration won't last forever (we hope.) There is still much to love -  just ask all the soccer fans!

And there are positive signs . . .

Chief among them, this past winter we watched a powerful movement here as neighbors helped neighbors during the ICE invasion. This provided a jolt of human strength and kindness that shot throughout the country and around the world. Now more Americans than ever are finally paying attention to our nation's ills and getting involved to change things. Perhaps best of all, the younger generations bring great hope - they are smart, engaged and know what they want. (It may not be what you or I want but it will be their country soon.) 

July 20th and that moon landing stands as a reminder that there once was a shining City on a Hill. It wasn’t perfect but we knew it wasn't and always strove to be better. We now face a stark choice: start the long, hard work to reascend that hill . . . or prepare for even more darkness.

Choose wisely.

For our belated 250th birthday, some positive music!

I Can See Clearly Now    Johnny Nash

Celebration   Kool and the Gang

Fathers Day and the Summer Solstice. . .

           A Bad Combo Adding Insult to Injury on Father's Day?                           

Happy golfers on Fathers Day 

until . . .

. . . Discovering the Summer Solstice falls on this Fathers Day AND US Open final round!

Father’s Day and the summer solstice, on the same damn day!? I wonder if there is a hidden message or meaning to this  . . . "coincidence."

Everyone knows that Father’s Day is the least important of the many made-up holidays. Don't believe me? Then how come all the FD greeting cards say, "Dear Dad . . . Who Cares, LMAO!” Also, you can count on one hand the number of times you see a kid waving and yelling “Hi dad” on tv, it’s always “Hi mom!” And that’s okay, moms deserve it. Besides, that’s the way it should be, dads are meant to toil in familial obscurity. We can’t compete with a mother’s love so all we can do is try to compete with brute sincerity - and the occasional game of hoops or playing catch. A dad’s love may not make for clever Hallmark cards but that doesn’t make it any less real (just a little less obvious.)

So, we get this one day a year to pretend like we are an equal partner in the hearts of our family and what happens? It’s accompanied by the worst day of the year, the summer solstice! Don’t believe me? Think about this:

3:25AM Sun June 21st - Beautiful right?

Enjoy it because . . .

                                                                                                                               . . . In just a few weeks this is the next stop, pal!

Unlike its winter alter ego which signals the beginning of hope, the summer solstice signals the opposite. Minnesota summer: endless, lazy days with blue skies and puffy, white, fair-weather clouds. Days of long, perfect drives down the middle of the fairway and short putts. (Forget that first part. Okay, also the second part.) Of short nights with cool breezes by the lake and the Milky Way shimmering above. Of girls in tank tops and men in speedos. (Better forget that last thing too.) Then, at its peak . . . the solstice comes along and robs us of this magic, laughing as it does so and replacing it with the long slide to the depths of winter. 

But that's not all. Get this: the US Open golf championship always ends on Father's Day. Kinda nice, for us dads, right? Ha! It's a close call every year but in a rare inexplicable alignment of earth, sun, the calendar and unknown nefarious forces, every so often - like this year - the summer solstice spreads it dark shadow precisely over this joyous day. Oh, the humanity!

Okay, now think about this: we know the solstice always occurs about this same time every year - and has for, like, a pretty long time. Father’s Day was started in the US in 1910 (by a woman!) then many years later someone (evil doers who hate dads and golf?) decided to park it right next to this lugubrious astronomical event. Seriously? Since nobody cares why not plop it down in August (like Taiwan) or March (like Lichtenstein), or any other months without holidays. Hmmm? 

As for the US Open, I know what you are thinking: why not move it. Well that's just silly talk - it would be easier to change the solstice!

So, this is a test! One day a year a dad gains a bit of stature as the other adult in the house – and it’s quickly snuffed out by the gloom that comes with the summer solstice. How will I react to this outrage? Will I snivel and whine about my fate? Will I complain about yet another snub to my male ego? Will I declare the victim-hood I have so justly earned? No, damn it, no! This is where I prove to my family that an American dad can accept the abuse the gods heap on me with the calm and dignity that has made me a legend at every sporting event of my kids. It's evidence that my cluelessness to most domestic dramas is just my way of staying neutral and, finally, proof that offering a clumsy hug is my way of kissing to make it better. It is a test I shall pass with a strong C+!

In any event I wish a Happy Father’s Day to all my fellow dads. We may be overweight and underappreciated but we love and are loved and that will always do. Besides, only six months to the winter solstice!

On a positive note . . .

My Role Model

                                           

Marvelous Marv, the only guy who could foxtrot to anything  (much to mom's chagrin.)

33 years gone and I still miss you very much, pop - you old smoothie!

The Spendid Splinter's favorite only dance tune.

All of Me    Willie Nelson

Note: Fear not, much of this is tongue in cheek - just not the part about the summer solstice. I do hate it so!