Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

I finished Stacey Abrams' romance novel, "Never Tell" and it was a fun read. She manages a mystery with a romance where the woman retains her dignity and the man is way too good to be true. It has a subplot of abuse that is detailed enough that readers can learn something about domenstic violence, grooming, and the abuse of power. Plus, it's set in New Orleans, at a university. I like that she is not uncomfortable about her romance authorship, and to me it makes her even more human. Like most of us women, she has delved into this genre. I used to read them when I had two toddlers and the bookmobile would stop at married student housing. And let's face it, "Jane Eyre", "Rebecca", the Jane Austen novels, and many other books I read as a teen were for me at the time aobut the romance. Romances teach other things as well: how to stand up for yourself as a woman, to hold out for the guy who is worthy of you, not the slick talker. They promise that if you hold yourself high, so will your partner. I don't know if her romance books will help or hurt her in her quest for Governor, but for me it says she's one of us, and is not afraid to be herself in all her complexity.

Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

I've been listening to all my Radiohead CDs today. I danced a bit with some of the songs. It's very danceable music. I bravely tackled the grocery store this morning, as well as the post office. I wanted to mail 3 books to one of my grandsons. This afternoon I cut off two pair of jeans I'd bought and never shortened. It's not a bad job. I was going to take them to the dry cleaners for a professional job, but felt impatient and also, I hate to add to the cost. I like NYDJ jeans but it's hardd to find peptites that I want, and they never have any colors except blue and black. These are green and gray. I do love the pants because they are stretchy and super comfortable, but now that I don't go to the department stores to shop,I can't find anything online. The department stores are very depressing, but there is this local chain not too far from me, and there are jeans and a few other things I like, and at terrific sale prices. I shop for the grandkids there as well, and usually take my grandduaghter there when she visits. Lord knows I've got enough clothes, but a few things are finally wearing out and I've given away all my shoes that don't fit perfectly or I just don't wear. I have a very organized clotthes closet, and no stuff that doesn't fit me right now. I dress for me, in only colors I like, styles that suit me, and for comfort. But I still enjoy the attempt to look pleasant, regardless of my age.

Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

Yesterday our older son, his wife and six year old son came down to our area and we met them at our daughter's house, where we had lunch, watched the kids play in the backyard and then took a walk to a nearby park and the three kids played while we pushed them on swings, spun them on gorounds and kept them from falling off slides. It was cold but so nice to get together, and we're all feeling better about exposure, though we wore masks on the walk and inside our daughter's house. I loved witnessing that the youngest grandson has quite a crush on his aunt and uncle, and let them hold him for long periods. I like to believe that when I'm gone they will be a support to each other, as now. When we returned home we had progresso soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner, and watched "Far From the Madding Crowd" a 1979 movie with Julie Christie, Terence Stamp, Peter Finch and Alan Bates. I used to have such a crush on Bates, and I reminded my husband that we saw him in London, live in a theater in the play "Butley" or something like that. We were somewhat confused by the movie so this morning we looked up the synopsis of Thomas Hardy's book. The film was pretty faithful to the novel, but left out a cuuple of crucial plot points that should have been included. Julie Christie was the weak actor in the film. Perhaps, like Elizabeth Taylor, she was too beautiful to believe as a character. They both did better after they aged at conveying emotion. Taylor with "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" and Christie in "After Her". Today we are taking a break from our schedule: we ate a big breakfast and late, no walk, and no lunch. I'm reading a mystery novel of Stacey Abrams writing as Selena Montgomery and it's pretty good. And fun.

Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

We tried Facetiming with our three year old grandson last night, but, as usual, he was tired and hungry after preschool, and just stared at us. Then I thought of reading to him, which I did, and he ate his dinner while I put on a floor show. That left my husband out, who got grumpy, and our dinner had been delivered and was getting cold, but such our the joys of online communication with the grandkids. When our six year old grandson Facetimes, all we see is the floor or the ceiling while he runs around like a banchee. Luckily, he is visiting my daughter tomorrow so I'll go there to have an in person interaction. we're all tired of Zoom and Facetime etc. I could have done a retreat this weekend, but couldn't stand the thought of a weekend staring at my laptop. Oh well, we actually got some slight rain yesterday and possibly there will be more this weekend. Every little bit helps. At least that is what I tell myself.

Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

My friend yesterday, when we were discussing "The Sentence", said to me, in response to my statement that I hoped a Truth and Reconciliation commission would happen in America for both Indignious Peoples and Black people, that it would never happen. It shocked me a bit, that she would feel so certain that we will never make reparations for our treatment of this portion of our citizens. It seemed too dark and out of character. But I've been thinking about it since, and of course the sheer size of our country versus South Africa or Germany is a difficulty. Is she thinking the schism been red and blue is here to stay? Well, in point of fact, it has always been present in our country, from its founding, and caused a civil war that almost destroyed our union. Perhaps I am the Pollyanna. I believe these traumas have risen to the surface with the spotlight on killings of Blacks and Natives by police, by the increase in hate crimes against all groups, including Asians and Jewish people, and once something rises, it can no longer be covered up. Maybe my friend means we will not live to see it, and that I can believe, because we are in our midseveties and mid eighties. But I know history is cyclical, and therefore there is hope for change. There is no stairway to heaven called progress, but things do change, constantly and sometimes suddenly. Wounds are open because of Covid, but those can be be dressed and healed. I believe that is what Erdrich's book is implying, and I am hopeful.

Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

I had a walk with my friend this morning and afterward we picked up her six month old granddaughter so my friend could babysit. This afternoon I spent with my my Buddhist swim buddy discussing "The Sentence". We dove into the richness of it for two hours, then I left. Of course I stopped by one of my favorite bookstores and picked up a few delights. Ah, friends. They are essential to me. Since my husband slept badly last night, due to a bunch of things, he was a complete grump this morning. He had to go to the dentist, and therefore I avoided him pretty much all day. I bear no responsibility for his moods, and I'm done with attempting to cheer him up. I'm not a court jester. I'm so happy that book sales actually skyrockeed with the pandemic, and kindles, etc lost big. Books still rule with my generation and my kids'. Perhaps the grandkids will be another story, but so far - as they range in age from sixteen to two, they are avid readers. I hope that continues. I've learned so much from books, including my sense of right and wrong and understanding of what it is to be human. Books are a treasure, and precious to me.

Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

I finished reading "The Sentence" by Louise Erdrich last night. I was thrilled with it. It seems quite a step up from even her previous novel, "The Night Watchman, which won the Pulizer Prize. There is so much humor and lightness in this tale, which encorporates serious issues with emotional psychology and current events in a way that makes the story whole and integrated. I loved that the pandemic is part of it, and the response to George Floyd's death and what language can do at it's most powerful. I really cared for these characters, and how like REAL Indigenious people they were. They were searching for who they were, how they fit in or didn't to white culture, and their ancient traumas visited upon each generation, haunting them and causing so much suffering. The book is about love, in the end, but along the way lessons are learned and a lot of joy comes to life, especially in the marriage of Tookie and Pollux. It is a truly full hearted story, and also a antheum to those of us who love books and bookstores. It's like Louise loosened up and let 'er rip. Read it!