:: The Blurst of Times ::

:: 11.21.2004 ::

Treating others as they like to be treated

I went on a lovely drive today around the thumb of Michigan. It was cold and I was employing the technique of cranking the heater and the stereo, while leaving the window down. I just love that. It was beautiful out, once I got outside the bounds of the Detroit metro. But for as much fun and beauty as it was, I eventually returned to this urban[e] existence of news media, and traffic, and car commercials, and budget deficits, and bigots, and paranoia, and selfishness, and greed. And somehow, when I’ve been so happy all day, it just makes me shaking-mad to read about and hear about all the stupid shit that people do because they can’t seem to think about anyone but themselves. And it just seems like this time of the year, more than any other, maybe we can set aside our differences, and greed, and hostilities, and demands, and hustle-bustle-uber-techno lives for just a little bit and reflect on what we share. If for no other reason than if the world ends tomorrow, I’d rather die with a good feeling than bad.

So here is what I am thankful for:

Family and friends that I will see this weekend
Family and friends that I have spoken to recently, via snippets of emails, random phone calls in drunken stupors, or just venting sessions
Family and friends that keep promising to call or write and give me good reason to motivate myself to check my email once a day
My coworkers who have done a wonderful job of assimilating and acclimating me to a strange place and for giving me the chance to explore my own strengths and weaknesses
My health, vitality, and vigor
Undisturbed acres of natural land, much of which I may never see
Edge Habitat
My insufferable desire to ask questions
The Red Cross - Red Crescent
People who support public education
People who support community
People who support honesty, optimism, and selflessness
The Postal Service (the musical group)
The Postal Service (the ‘neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night’ group)
Old 97’s, the Refreshments, Lagwagon, Rancid, Weezer, REM, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Green Day, NoFX, the Cure, Rise Against, Good Riddance, Leo Kottke, Charlie Parker, Max Roach, Ed Shaughnessey, Neal Peart, the Bad Plus, Tool, Strung Out, Deftones, Less than Jake, Ben Folds (Five), Dave Brubeck (Quartet, Octet), the Clash, the Libertines, Henry Rollins, the Rentals, the Roots, Jay-Z, Snapcase... Every band who has ever made a song that moved me
Stephen King, Kurt Vonnegut, John Irving, Edward Gorey, Shel Silberstein, Daniel Keyes, James Joyce, Homer, Machiavelli, Shakespeare, Plato, John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rosseau, Henry David Thoreau, Arthur Miller, Neil Simon, Jane Jacobs, Ian McHarg, Aldo Leopold, Witold Rybczynski, Chinua Achebe... Every author who has ever written a word that challenged me
Time (and its magnificent healing powers)
Crossword Puzzles

See. Now I feel better.

“Don’t wake me I plan on sleeping in...”

:: Freddy F. at 11:29 PM [+] ::

Comments:

I am thankful for you!

# posted by  Bree : 12:49 AM

 

I'm thankful that this post is over!

Ah, I KID!!!! I love you, and go Pistons!

# posted by  RICK : 4:55 PM

 

You have got a great list here. I'd like to enthusiastically second the 'thanks' for Gorey and Silverstein. Oh, and of course health and nature and friends, etc.

Happy belated T-Day.

# posted by  erin : 10:16 PM

 

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