I took this last month a few blocks from here. I love the light and the festive color combination.
Happy solstice and holiday week for those that can be happy this week. The holidays can be so hard for many and there have been a bunch of troubling news events lately to make that a challenge. Both public and private.
In my own world Mr. Sherlock died about 11 days ago. He was comfortable but very confused. Mrs. Sherlock is doing okay; they had taken care of so much beforehand but there is always so much to do. I hope to spend some time on my own with her tomorrow.
We’ve had more rain and some flooding, power outages, trees down, a big deal for those affected but so far not a weather crisis. Just a lot of dark wet cold but not freezing days.
Thursday was one of those. Walt had told me that I needed to come to the Dialogue Group when I saw him on Zoom for our Coffee Shop Philosophers deal on Monday. He said it was going to be special. He also said that to one of the other guys that lives a bit out of town these days.
I was worried about that it will be special thing. He has a friend. Larry Yes, that is his legal name, musical artist that paints murals in bright colors and sings children’s songs and preaches Love, Love, Love. Larry had attended the entertainment that Walt had created on the big American Renaissance in the 60’s, the weekend before, shared some songs, including the Kermit the Frog song with the group.
Honestly, I was not in the mood. Another thing I thought it might be is one of the guys that Walt worked with in prison, an upbeat guy that has worked so hard at making it possible to have a different kind of life on the outside is scheduled to get out after 17 years in April, but I thought he might get out early. He calls into our Dialogue Group once in a while.
The person that recommended me to Walt and his group comes to my morning class but never comes to the Dialogue Group said she was told she had to come as well. I did not want to go I was teaching two classes and had a board meeting I needed to prepare for.
It turns out that what Walt did was prevail upon a number of his women friends to show up. Including his partner, who came with lots of food. We had 22 people and at least half of them were women.
Whoa, baby did that change the dynamic in the room. It was about as close to a party as… eventually, 22 people sitting in a big oval talking to each other can be. There was much catching up and a cocktail party vibe even though it was 10 AM and there was no alcohol. Mr. Pedantic told a funny story about playing Santa Claus, (he is small and Jewish) as a 20-year-old and that got us started.
No Larry Yes.
There were a couple of verses of “Can the Circle be Unbroken” that broke out as we were all settling, I admit.
People proceeded to tell more funny stories, some quite poignant. The one person I didn’t know turned out to be the daughter of Walt’s benefactor, who pays his modest salary as the head of this nonprofit that I am on the board of. My other nonprofit. Ah. She is lovely and enjoyed herself.
I got a ride both ways, which was an incredible luxury as it was pouring. On the way back I was asked if it was always like that. Um. No. We are usually talking about pretty serious stuff, but folks do tell jokes.
Walt was very happy. So that is good.
So far things are working with the new waterproof boots. They feel a little big so I will experiment with heavier socks. I have only walked around a mile and a half in them at any one time. The test will be twice that. But at least I haven’t surfaced any problems with them so far.
I am canceling all my classes this next two weeks except my morning one. I will skip that on Christmas Day as I am going down to spend the afternoon with Kes and Most Honorable.
Gosh, I hope this onslaught of horrible news takes a break for the holidays. It has been a struggle to keep the mood up over the last couple of weeks. I am always reassuring Carlo, you know when there is a loud noise or a disruption in our schedule, telling him, reassuring him in a soothing voice, its okay, it’s all good, everything is fine.
I need that for myself. A bunch of creative people in a big circle telling each other stories was a good place to start with that.
Much to my surprise, I am glad I went.
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