In the 70's we were in our 20's, now in the 20's we are in our 70's...

 

50 years ago today, I embarked on a cross country trip with a friend.  We had just spent a year sharing a house, a blue house, with a magical group of four other women in Berkeley.  My friend, Debbie and I, had formed a bond in our dorm my last year of college and the four women were from a range of connections and we didn't start out all knowing each other.  And we didn't start out all liking each other either.  I'll have to do a separate post on our living arrangement with vegetarians and individuals who had different views and skills regarding cooking another time.  However, back to our trip.  One thing about Amtrak that has never changed is the fact that the trains didn't run on time then, and still don't run on time.  Ever.  Our start was not auspicious because the train was late getting to Oakland, our departure point, and we were already going to miss our first connection.  The first stop on our trip was to be Minneapolis.  I was enrolled to start Library School in September, but had never visited Minnesota prior to being accepted.  It was part of the grand adventure.  

It was also the Bicentennial Year.  In 1976, it was a  huge celebration.  This year, 50 years later, the 250th was something to be avoided.  We visited friends in Minnesota, friends in upstate New York in Troy, and then on to the parents of one of our Berkeley roommates in Vermont.  We had a stop in Boston and did the Bicentennial Trail.  We stayed with my Godfather and his wife in Connecticut.  We entered New York City and took a train to Long Island to stay with my Aunt and Uncle, and at that time, a 12 year old cousin.  After a night there, my Aunt drove us into NYC and that was another incredible adventure that I think we were talking about for the rest of the trip.  Succinctly, I don't think my Aunt ever drove to and in NYC before.  (I'm probably wrong, but it felt that way when we were in the car with her.) In New York, we crashed with my former roommate from the dorm in Brooklyn Heights, New York.  I remember two things - one is the incredible cheesecake at the bakery on her block, and the second is the fact that the subway station we used had two entrances and we got lost every time we came up from that subway because we came out the wrong exit.  (This was before smart phones, so we were lost a lot.  Seriously, we were always lost except in Vermont because there was no public transit and we didn't have a car.) And then we got to D.C.  We arrived in DC about the same time as the hurricane.  I don't remember the name of the hurricane, but it basically covered the same path we had taken to get to DC, only in reverse.  Starting in Florida it worked its way up the coast stopping at each place we had been and as I remember did a significant amount of damage to Long Island and on into Boston.  So while we were in DC, it rained the entire time.  Not just an easy rain, a torrential downpour, constantly.  And we were constantly wet.  We visited friends from our dorm who were working in DC and they got us passes to get us into Congress.  It's been 50 years, so I can't remember a lot of the details, I just remember one of our friends worked for Claude Pepper from Florida.  Not sure how a California guy got connected with Pepper, but he did get us passes into Congress.

From DC we headed to Valentine, Nebraska.  We were staying with one of our blue house roommates overnight before getting back on the train for the final leg from Lincoln to Oakland.

So what does this all have to do with joy?  For starters, we had a lot of joy on that trip.  And a few tears and probably a few choice words between friends in moments of tension best forgotten.  But mostly, we had fun.  50 years later, Debbie is still one person who just brings me joy in so many ways.  But yesterday, my joy was centered on her getting good medical news.  Debbie is a cancer survivor.  So her good news means that we can plan another adventure together and I can't wait!  I hope that you have someone in your life that is a great travel companion and someone who you have shared experiences and wonderful stories.  Stories that possibly get embellished each year, but nevertheless remain as part of the glue that connects you.  

And one more thing that brings me joy?  See that $400 dollars for the USA rail pass 50 years ago?  You can get a USA rail pass for $499 today.  50 years later only $99 more!  I think that is pretty darn amazing.  You just have to remember and you have to plan for the fact the Amtrak trains do not run on time. Ever.

Joy may be in short supply right now, but take the wins when we can get them

 On this last day of June, the rulings just keep rolling in and some we win, some we lose.  So, let's celebrate our wins:

• Birthright citizenship, survives for now
• Voting by mail, survives for now
• SCOTUS ruled for E. Jean Carroll

One can only imagine how these rulings are affecting a certain person, but for the rest of us, take the small victories.  Even the ruling today about transgender athletes, won't affect current Minnesota laws as per Gender Justice:

"Today, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld state laws that bar transgender girls from participating in girls’ school sports — a painful setback for transgender youth in 27 states with discriminatory bans, including our neighbors in North Dakota. But the Court’s decision does not overrule Minnesota’s trans-inclusive laws and policies. Despite today’s rulings, trans and nonbinary young people in Minnesota can and will continue to play alongside their teammates, and be treated with the dignity they deserve. "

So, if you are in need of something that will lift you up, pick up a copy of 

It is a story about kindness.  You may find it slow or schmaltzy, but I found it entertaining and delightful.

And if you want to do something that will give me some joy, please consider donating to my July walk for the American Cancer Society.  You can make your donation on my Facebook page.

As we close out June and the end of Pride Month, I hope you are finding some joy in nature, relationships, social gatherings, or maybe you attended a great concert or found a really good book that just lifted your spirits.  I hope you are finding joy on a regular basis.  And just one last reminder, early voting has started in Minnesota, so please plan on voting early, and in person.  The sooner the better.

A little joy this week

 

The Obama Presidential Center opened this week.  In a week of negativity originating in the D.C. area by the usual suspects, it was refreshing to listen to encouraging speeches and watch videos of the Obamas reading to children.  A public library exists in the new building.  A garden water feature to honor his mother, a picnic area to honor Michelle's father and a museum to honor her mother.  

And there was laughter.  Biggest laugh by Hillary when Michelle mentioned "the Peace Prize." 

A video of some of the interior exhibits in the museum.

And a video of the Obamas reading Where the Wild Things Are.

A little joy is what we needed this week.

Looking for hope in all the wrong places...

 It has been a challenging couple of months.  I am afraid I did fall into the trap of despair, briefly.  But I'm back! And I've put some post it notes on my desk to remind me to not go so long without writing something positive.  So here goes.

I just finished reading An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960's by Doris Kearns

This book was a fascinating account of the behind the scenes political activities focused on the speech writing of Dick Goodwin for JFK, LBJ, Eugene McCarthy, and RFK.  I learned so much about the times I lived through, but was fairly young at the time.  Aware of many of the events, but just in reading this book, how many of the readers here know just how much LBJ was responsible for?  I think too many of us associate him with the escalation of the Vietnam War and ignore the amount of social change he helped usher through Congress and especially the 89th Congress.  

Here's a brief list:

• NASA - chief legislative leader for creation of NASA in 1958
• Civil Rights Act - 1964
• Voting Rights Act - 1965
• Fair Housing Act - 1968
• Medicare and Medicaid - 1965
• Higher Education Act - 1965 that many of us who had work-study in college benefited from
• Immigration and Nationality Act - 1965
• Created Head Start in May 1965
• and more

And so much social upheaval.  The riots, the assassinations, the missed opportunities because of the assassinations.  Reading about the pettiness of previous political leaders, puts a bit of perspective on the current outrageous behavior of he who will not be named.  Nor will I forget that many of these programs are being dismantled by SCOTUS.  However, the pendulum may swing back.  It is a fascinating account and worth spending time to read just how much was accomplished.

We are, of course, looking for those who will lead us out of the morass we are living in.  I think if you have a chance to read something you are most unlikely to see out on your own, I recommend Pope Leo's first encyclical.  Bishop Marianne Budde has a piece in her Substack - Reflections on Pope Leo's First Encyclical. Truth has been in the news recently with the Scott Pelley episode with 60 Minutes and his revelation about being pressured to present untrue information.  So this section jumped out at me:

"The search for truth is an essential element of democracy, which is itself a means of contributing to the common good. When questions about what is true lose their appeal, and a pragmatism takes hold that is content with what appears useful or effective, then democratic life is weakened. After all, democracy does not consist of rules and procedures alone, but above all of a solid concordance with the facts and a genuine commitment to the good of individuals and society as a whole. Indifference to the truth leads, slowly but surely, to a descent into totalitarianism. As the philosopher Hannah Arendt wrote, the ideal subjects of such regimes are not so much those who are ideologically convinced, but rather “people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction (i.e., the reality of experience) and the distinction between true and false (i.e., the standards of thought) no longer exist.” 

There are more statements in the encyclical, "Magnifica humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence" and it worth taking the time to read.  I doubt very many people have ever read papal encyclicals in the past, but Pope Leo is someone who I believe will make a very visible difference in our lifetimes. 

There are 153 days until the November election.  What is giving you hope?  What are you doing currently to contribute to the "common good"?   And what are you reading that is providing you with sustenance during these challenging times?  Feel free to share in the Comments section.

More Recommended Reading - Love In Action

 Today I had some of the members of the Joy is an Act of Resistance group over for a potluck lunch.  Smaller group this time, but we had just as much fun and joy and terrific food.  These lunches just do a world of good for my heart.  However, today one episode has stayed with me.  We naturally veered into the world of the insane one and the word "hate" come up.  I have been trying very hard not to "hate" those involved in the chaos of their own making, but I was also surprised by the person who expressed this hate.  Not someone I would normally associate with the word.  So tonight after a failed attempt to attend a social function only to find no parking at all within a reasonable distance, I came home and picked up a book I have picked up and put down too many times to count.  But tonight it seemed like the right book for the right time.  And just reading the introduction I knew this is a book that I will indeed finish this time, but first I need to share with others.   The reason being that I really believe our chaos is caused by people who hate too much.  And when I read, "Actions rooted in love and compassion are the only way to solve the crises of the world" I decided it was important to share this book with others. 

I originally picked this book up after reading Martin Luther King, Jr.'s book, Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? MLK was influenced by Howard Thurman and his focus on nonviolence and Thurman was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi.  And if you aren't familiar with the writings by Howard Thurman, take some time to track down his works also.  They are important because their focus on nonviolence for the Civil Rights movement has also influenced the response in Minnesota to ICE.  I have had several conversations with others about the choice made in the Twin Cities to focus on nonviolence in the face of the extreme cruelty of ICE in Minnesota this winter.  And we did have the eyes of the nation on us as a result. Two beautiful people were killed as a result of the actions by ICE individuals and we still hope justice will eventually be served.  But in the meantime, I think we need to continue to promote the fact that love will win over hate.  Which brings me to the book I think more people need to read.  

So I will come back in a bit of time and add more to this topic, but for now, putting this book out there and would love to hear from others who take the time to find a copy and read it.

Namaste.

Recommended Reading and a clip from Bruce Springsteen in Minneapolis on March 31

 I knew it had been a while since I last wrote, but I didn't realize I missed the entire month of March.  Granted, there has been a lot going on, and nothing good really.  However, I should have at least posted after the outstanding NoKings Rally we had in Saint Paul on March 28.  And I got a lot of joy from attending the Bruce Springsteen Concert on March 31 in Minneapolis.  But between the war, ongoing ICE detentions, and of course the ongoing outrageous threats that apparently don't even cause a ripple of outrage from anyone anymore, it has been hard to sit down and find something to write about that provides hope, much less joy.  Although, attending the NoKings rally in Saint Paul with Bruce Springsteen leading off, and speakers like Jane Fonda and Bernie, and Joan Baez did give me some hope.  Turnout was huge.  And that gave me joy.  People were joyful and there were no incidents.  So that was good.  And the kickoff of Bruce Springsteen's latest tour started in Minneapolis and from the very beginning, we knew this was going to be a great concert.  Three hours. Nonstop. No breaks.  Just great political commentary and wonderful music.  You can listen to to his opening remarks and the first two songs on this YouTube clip.

This isn't the recommended reading though.  I just wanted to preserve the best opening to a Springsteen concert, ever.  Sorry, if you aren't a Springsteen fan, for these times and for someone who is poking the tiger and doing a really good job of it too, you really should embrace him.  Besides, he wrote the Streets of Minneapolis and it is truly a song that not only will help keep Renee and Alex in people's minds, it is a heartfelt tribute and a song that captures what 2026 will mean for Minnesota forever.  So, sorry for the digression, but staging a concert tour as a protest against the current regime is just something that gives me hope and joy.

So here's the recommended reading: The Beginning Comes After the End; Notes on a World of Change by Rebecca Solnit.  And the reason I am recommending it is because in a calm manner she demonstrates why we should have hope in this crazy chaos we are currently going through.  Or as I am fond of saying, the current "shitstorm."  If you are a Heather Cox Richardson fan, you will find a new person to follow in Rebecca Solnit.  In her very first chapter she discusses the metamorphosis of a caterpillar to butterfly.  "A butterfly is the end of a caterpillar. The beginning--the next era--comes after the end of the last one, and in between comes a lot of falling apart."  [p.4]. And so begins her analysis of all the social change we have been through and as you follow along she explains the backlash we are experiencing, alternative perspectives that are starting to take hold, and what and why we have to hold onto in terms of hope.  it is a short book. 130 pages.  If you pick it up and read it, you have to come back and leave a comment.  And of course there is a YouTube video of her discussing her book if you want to take a look.  It is an hour long.

What can I do to help while also feeling I am not doing enough...

Although today we have heard that ICE will be "leaving soon", I fear this is more directly related to the vote taking place tomorrow.  I hope it is true, but based on previous actions by the current regime, I have my doubts.  In the meantime, I have had several conversations lately about "not doing enough."  One was with a woman who has a 16 year old daughter who is very stressed because she doesn't feel she is doing enough.  So many young people are stressed and anxious during these days of intense ICE activity in Minnesota.   Today at my mindfulness class, our instructor read a poem from Joanna Macy's Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We're in with Unexpected Resilience & Creative Power.  I think it is a gentle reminder that doing just one small thing to make someone else feel loved is doing enough.  We can't all chase ICE, and volunteer opportunities exceed the available people power, so the following may help you feel that just doing one small thing on a daily basis is enough.

When you act on behalf

            of something greater than yourself,

            you begin

            to feel it acting through you

            with a power that is greater than your own.

            This is grace.

            Today, as we take risks

            for the sake of something greater

            than our separate, individual lives,

            we are feeling graced

            by other beings and by Earth itself.

            Those with whom and on whose behalf we act

            give us strength

            and eloquence

            and staying power

            we didn't know we had.

            We just need to practice knowing that

            and remembering that we are sustained

            by each other

            in the web of life.

            Our true power comes as a gift, like grace,

            because in truth it is sustained by others.

            if we practice drawing on the wisdom

            and beauty

            and strengths

            of our fellow humans

            and our fellow species

            we can go into any situation

            and trust

            that the courage and intelligence required

            will be supplied. 

p. 110, 3rd edition.  Poem edited by Tom Atlee, founder of the Co-Intelligence Institute.