Sometimes the stars align and all is right with the world. I'm not much for politics or the promises of people who hold the power but this past week I truly believe we've turned a corner in the continuing story that is our country. I've talked to very few people who think we (as a society) were headed in a good direction, regardless of their political, religious or ethnic affiliation. Perhaps the change in leadership will be cause for all of us to reassess who we are and what we think the future should hold. My favorite mantra lately has been our diversity makes us strong. We are the only country in the world with such a diverse population base and yet, comparatively, our problems are minuscule compared to other places. We can travel from one end of the country to the other in relative safety without having to go through border crossings or possible terrorist strikes. If we get hungry, we can go to the store and select from an array of foods that is second to none. We can use our bathrooms and flush the waste away to sewage treatment plants that lessen the chance of an epidemic because of poor sanitation. I'm really scaring myself because I don't want to come off as a flag waver. I am far from it and don't mean that, by painting with such a broad brush, everyone is well off and we don't have some problems that need tending to. The good things are those that can be applied around the world. The bad, well, they need work but aren't as uniquely American as the naysayers of the world would think. My old hippie ideal of one world, one people still consumes me. I guess what I'm thinking is that maybe this is our chance to be the generation that will begin that metamorphosis the world needs so badly. In the words of my hero, Bucky Fuller: It's either Utopia or Oblivion.



peace

It happened...the thing I feared most. The first game of the playoffs and the Cubs looked as flat as a board. They lost to the Dodgers, 7-2. What the &#$%!! Again, to those of you who could care less, it's meaningless to try and convince you that for this brief moment in time the world problems we face as a society just kind of fade away for a few weeks (maybe in this case a few days) and those of us who would bleed for our team focus entirely on a playing field where 18 guys take wooden sticks and whack around and catch a small leather encased ball. It is a silly game borne of the summer but gone soon after the first frost. The Cubs must win tonite or the prospects for moving along in the playoffs will be very dim. And the winter will be long and cold until we wake with renewed optimism next spring. And it will start all over again........

Just so there's no confusion as to where my allegiance lies....BEFORE the playoffs begin! Forget the goat, forget the 100 years blah blah, this could be (ever the paranoid Cubs fan) the year because their team is really that good. There are many of you out there that can't understand the seemingly silly and childish fascination that is part of rooting for a team you've followed your whole life. Furthermore...they've been losing for the better part of the time I've been following them. No, this is for my father and all those like him, who were faithful till their dying day and never waivered in their love (and condemnation)for a team that, really, didn't even know or care whether they rooted for them or not. Pro sports has become this huge corporate entity that has de-personalized itself to the point where there is no loyalty so why should anyone care what they do? Well.....it's the same old thing, year after year. We care because it is so closely weaved into our lives that to do otherwise wouldn't seem natural. Silly....perhaps, but it's better than being a terrorist. GO CUBS!!!

My younger brother has been diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrigs Disease). Unfortunately for my older brother and myself, we are based in the Midwest while Harry is and has been living in Los Angeles for the last 30 years, making it difficult to check in with him regularly. As good fortune would have it, he has a fantastic network of friends who are taking care of him with their many kind words and deeds. One of the things they have organized is participation in a "Walk for ALS". Their team is called "Harry's Heartbeats" and they are asking for donations. Please take the time to click on the "Walk For ALS" link and make a small donation if you can. The money might not go to Harry directly, but it supports research into this deadly and hideous disease in the hopes that a cure may be found. Thank you....

This is a short clip about a school that my niece is currently involved with during the course of writing her doctoral thesis. I like it when people have an impact. The hope for a better world just seems a little brighter knowing someone cares! There's a link to the school website where you can read more if you'd like. Love you Mar(you too Jo)

Forgive the unabashed sentimentality, but buzz off, it's MY blog!!!



Katitawa school from Justin McIntosh on Vimeo.