15 December 2006
When (and if) I ever get the website up & running, I promise I won't burden you any further with these updates. But for now, I wish to report that in almost as many days we have discovered two absolute geographic gems – one about a five to ten minute drive away by car; the other literally next door. Going to a Town Meeting over the polo field proposal brought Canochet Farms to awareness. I only knew it for the museum because Mother volunteered there. I cannot go into details at this juncture, but it and today's celebration's encounter with another local beauty have been delightful surprises. A nice prelude, perhaps, to my favourite new year's wish: May 2007 be the year for delightful surprises.
So my new year's resolution. I am resolving to abandon being bummed out by the catastrophic downward spiral of our world. How much daily grief can one experience? The horror, and it is a real horror, is that it becomes backdrop scenery. It may seem callous, and perhaps it is, but we cannot live our lives only wishing for things to be different than they are. Wishing is important, but the next wish is always for health – for the completeness and totality of life. And if we are to be healthy, we need to learn to be entertained by the world's political dramas as they unfold about us on a daily level at this stage.
In our observance, we bury the old year today. Before the new year begins with the solstice, there is of course the Saturnalia, but today is the day on which the old year is buried and put away. So I am putting away perpetual grief and concentrating now on appreciating the utterly fascinating drama that is unfolding for all of us. Of course I will continue to add my voice to the petitions of protest that rise up daily like great flocks of birds taking wing, I will continue to serve and help in what ways present themselves, and I will continue to pick up litter when and as I come across it. But I will remain intrigued by the very 'edge of chaos' that it is and refuse to my utmost no longer to be bummed out about it.
In the possible scenario that I suspect is unfolding, I envision that many of us may not survive. Some of course, like dear G & S, will survive because they are survivors and they are prepared. Most of the rest of us will not be, and much will depend on the luck or chance of circumstance. We can only play it out as it plays out. But one goal I hope to aim for is to lose any propensity to be offended. It is this propensity that we must all get over, and this includes the Muslims as much as it does the rest of us.
My wish is that we all learn to use the metaphor, that is, to understand the metaphor and how it operates. For the rest, personally, give me stasis anytime. I will accept the 'edge of chaos' in a ritual or ritually timed setting, but I want comfortable and reliable order otherwise.
Happiest of yule; happiest of 2007: may it be the year of delightful surprises,
Michael