Morning Open Thread is a daily, copyrighted post from a host of editors and guest writers. We support our community, invite and share ideas, and encourage thoughtful, respectful dialogue in an open forum.
I’ve come to think of this post as one where you come for the music and stay for the conversation—so feel free to drop a note. The diarist gets to sleep in if she so desires and can show up long after the post is published. So you know, it's a feature, not a bug.
Join us, please.
No, things aren’t back to normal. While what happens to us in this or the next moment is what’s most important, we’ve all be affected by paying close attention to the wider world—worse yet, the wider political world. While I have appreciated the radio silence from Trump’s banning on so many media platforms, I also find myself searching for that next fix or titillating story about one of the Q-Anon Reps that were just elected. Speaking for myself, it’s not healthy.
And so I have resolved to let the national political world of this screwed up country take care of itself for a bit. I’ll watch the new administration get its players on the roster and the progress of major legislation, but I’m not going to go around spending my own valuable emotional capital on every horrible thing Fox News is spewing or the latest irrational-and-newly-found fiscal-hawk pronouncement from the right. Just not going to do it.
Rather, I’m going to trust my government (out of the corner of my eye) to do the work of government without getting us into another war or accidentally poisoning us out of incompetence. I am gong to concentrate on my love, my family, and me for the foreseeable future. I just think it will be healthier in the long run (particularly for my mental health).
Last night I guest-hosted the weekly post Write On! and went on about the Poetics of Place. The weekly post is specifically set up for serious writers and the craft of writing. And though I had a nice time with some friends that dropped in, I’m always intimidated by serious writers (though the poets are a pretty chill lot). I’m not kidding; writers are a rough group. I wouldn’t want to meet them in a dark alley or—I suspect—in a nice cafe for coffee or Pastis. Warning, though, you should check it out only if you’re interested in excruciating obtuse lessons on a very narrow aspect of the craft of writing (though I do use Raymond Chandler to illustrate my points, so that’s a plus).
Anyway, the report from the Gulf Coast is on the positive side of the ledger. I’ve made it through another long week of work with all my fingers and toes, the weather has righted itself as we’ve eased back into temperate climes and cool morning breezes, and yesterday’s mail brought an uplifting note from my love. So, on the whole, I’m going to say life is livable and the upcoming weekend a welcomed respite. I have exactly one thing to do—replace the thermocouple (it’s a natural gas sensor) on a water heater at a fishing camp on a coastal island; but even that isn’t pressing since the place isn’t being used at the moment. Well, that and tomorrow afternoon I’m meeting a few old friends on the front porch of grand house in uptown New Orleans to catch up and exchange books.
Cheers all and, since I don’t say it often enough, thanks for stopping by and checking in. We can all use a bit of sane conversation in our lives right now.
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Grab your coffee or tea and join us, please.
What's on your mind this morning?