The "Damnpenic"... Retaining Sanity and a Sense of Purpose in its Midst...!

Reflections and Observations -- A Bright Passage from the Fantasies of Youth 

to Illuminations of Advanced Maturity!

This Episode:     The "Damnpenic"...  Retaining Sanity and a Sense of Purpose in its Midst...!

In an effort to discover pleasant psychological vistas in these daunting times, I made several ridiculous videos, not to make light of the seriousness of our current circumstances, but to spread a bit of humor in dark times.  Admittedly, it's quite possible that the intended humor escaped the notice of the masses, but, in the realm of happy GeezerHood, one does one's best.

Plunging ahead with the theme of this writing, I thought it a creditable idea to share some of our activities and outings, intended merely to spread suggestions, sort of like Milorganite on a withering and hungry patch of an aged lawn.  (All Geezers need nourishment, after all!)    

Daily Hikes, for example...   SweetHeart and I have grown quite fond of the walk along the Milwaukee River in the Milwaukee Rotary Centennial Arboretum, a beautiful stretch of trail on the east and west sides of the aforementioned river.  We tend to walk all the way from the end of Park Place, just past the Urban Ecology Center, to the water's edge, and then south, on the East Trail.  

When you visit, look for the magnificent and iconic stone archway that marks one of the  entrances to the trail system. 

Continuing...   as we trek, we pass under the North Avenue bridge to the foot bridge that spans the river leading to the River Revitalization Foundation HQ and a view of Humboldt Avenue.  We trek across the foot bridge, pause midway to enjoy river views on both sides, enjoy the sights and sounds of birds and other walkers and their dogs, and eventually head back from whence we started.  A delightful walk, or hike.

On other occasions, returning to the theme of Daily Hikes or Walks, we trek through a portion of Lake Park (designed by Freddy Law Olmstead, you may recall), head down to Lincoln Memorial Drive and work our way to Water Tower Place.  We then climb the serpentine sidewalk-paved elevation  toward the Historic Water Tower across from the old hospital, then wind our way back north and homeward. 

I didn't mention Grant Park yet, did I?  Trek the Seven Bridges Trail.  It is a beautiful walk, well worth the time and it doesn't require a great deal of effort.  At one end of the arc, you come upon Lake Michigan.  From there you can enjoy a gorgeous view, and then circle back to the entrance.  And, yes, if you circumnavigate the entire trail, you'll cross or at least see all seven wooden bridges.  A glorious wilderness in the city.  Wonderful stuff.  You can even pause, strike an heroic pose and contemplate nature, your own self identify, mortality, pelicans...  

Of course, there are other, more essential activities that we all must accomplish -- visits to the green grocers to purchase necessities, for example.  Not nearly as much fun as trekking in wooded places or along bodies of water....  

Other potential diversions?  The laundromat?  Big box stores, garden centers if one is an avid gardener, watering holes for those who enjoy a spirited beverage, the library, restaurants with outdoor seating, museums, backyards with nicely spaced seating and the company of jolly good chums, parks, high fashion clothing shops, coffee houses, the sewer tunnel off Lloyd Street?...  But what's actually open?  Might be best to call first!   

Somewhat recently, SweetHeart and I traveled north a ways.  A necessary drive.  We had shopping to do for essentials, a delivery perhaps.  We stopped in Port Washington.  The popcorn shop was open, as the owners had some gift cartons to ship.  Lucky for us!  We enjoyed some yummy flavored popcorn (caramel with chocolate, maybe nuts too all jumbled together) as we journeyed home.

On certain occasions -- fortunately for us -- we have dear friends who are bee keepers and chicken keepers (if that's a correct construction??!).  We enjoy backyard visits, splendidly enhanced by communion with the bees and chickens.  It's fortunate for us that we can savor such a pastime with good and generous friends.  We go home with eggs, honey sometimes too!  

Today we were pleased to enjoy the company of some wonderful friends who invited us to gather in their backyard for coffee and conversation.  Hadn't seen one another for quite a long spell.  Great time, long overdue.  Good conversation.  We've conjured other reasons to venture from home, other outings...  but just wanted to provide a sampling for our beloved family members and friends, along with our legions of avid readers.  (Well...  "legions" may be a bit hyperbolic!) 


Thank you!  Stay safe and healthy, and keep that nasty virus from your doors!!

(Special Note of Dedication:   For SweetHeart, Great Friends and all the Chickens and Bees who love us enough to donate their eggs and honey with such exemplary generosity!  Thank you!)    

Humbly Submitted 06-23-2020 -- Joel K. 

   

In the Spirit of Reason, Unity and Forward Progress...!!

Reflections and Observations -- A Bright Passage from the Fantasies of Youth 

to Illuminations of Advanced Maturity!

This Episode:     In the Spirit of Reason, Unity and Forward Progress..!!

In the motion picture, The Two Popes, with its brilliant script (written by Anthony McCarten...  that is, many view it as brilliant!), Benedict and Francis engage in a dialogue that every politician should hear and heed!  True, while many of the actual discussions between Benedict and Francis have been well documented, the film's dialogue is McCarten's imagined version of a superb effort on the part of the two to come to a kind of compromise, a consensus, a sort of detente! 

The point is, if we are open-minded, bright and thoughtful enough as a species to engage in a purposeful dialogue -- "We," meaning politicians and political opposites, republicans, democrats, Greens, Independents... -- we ought to be able to effect consensus that actually benefits the American Citizenry.  Oughtn't we??  

In the rarefied air, -- or age if one prefers -- of GeezerHood, we like to think that those of us

who have achieved longevity have also achieved a greater degree of wisdom.  Whether or not it's true is open to debate.  But let's assume, for the sake of this discussion, that indeed it is true.      Here's a syllogism presented as specious (superficially plausible!) evidence:

Older People are Wise
Geezers are Older People
Therefore Geezers are Wise!

Now then...   My life's partner, SweetHeart, and I have long thought that political opposites can in fact actually agree upon some concepts, and therefore we can, in theory, open a dialogue that quite possibly would NOT lead to violence, fisticuffs or possibly gunplay.  SweetHeart and I have canvassed door-to-door for republicans as well as democrats.  We even supported a Green Party candidate at some point in our political experience.  Though we are more inclined

to embrace progressive points of view and the politicians who espouse them, we view ourselves as Americans first.  We were born and christened as American citizens, and not as members of a particular political party.  (Though our respective parents may well have believed otherwise!)

The United States of America, or any nation for that matter, can only be defined primarily and essentially as its body politic, its population of human beings.  ALL OF US!!!  PEOPLE!!  True, by extension, we are a nation of living people who embrace a common code of behavior as embodied in our Constitution and Canon of Laws, but the US of A is US, the People -- first and foremost, primarily and essentially!!! 

Now that we have that matter cleared up, let's get the major point of this possibly preachy rant...  In a somewhat recent conversation with a dear friend who describes and defines herself politically as a Conservative Republican, we came to an important agreement on policy:   Let's get big money, big influence, meaning big corporate influence and its large purses and pocketbooks, the hell out of our political landscape!!!  When elected officials are bought and paid for like so many male and female prostitutes, we place only blatantly mediocre, ignorant, racist, fear-spreading, fools and demagogues in important

elective offices.   

And "Big Money in Politics" -- Getting Rid of That Particular Scourge -- is just one of many issues upon which many thinking political party devotees could actually agree!!  And we don't mean those already gridlocked in Congress, but rather ordinary, voting Americans!!  It could be a start.  If people, American Citizens, are willing to come together in open dialogue to create consensus and purposeful change, wouldn't that help to put a crack, a small fissure, in the outrageous polarization that freezes the political process, a process that could, if thawed, benefit all of us!!  

Perhaps, gentle readers, you may be interested in establishing discussion groups in your own backyards, in your own communities, with political party devotees of varying constituencies!?  Try starting the process by contacting neighbors, friends, relatives...  friends of neighbors, local political organizations, online Neighborhood Discussion forums....  People love to talk and discuss and share their own opinions and points of view, issues, problems...!  Astounding revelations may be but an Email or a telephone call away!