The Livin’ Ain’t Always Easy

As my teachers have repeatedly said (I’m paraphrasing): Somedays, you just have to get behind the mule and plow.

This summer seems to have been chock-full of those kinds of days lately. For those of you who didn’t know, we at M4L&L have been getting some uncompromising lessons in serenity — our elder son has been in hospital for 40 days and counting. Knee injury/staph infection/allergic reactions to the meds all in a nearly-deadly cycle that still isn’t over. It’s been a huge, weeks-long opportunity to deconstruct our egos by learning how not to take such experiences personally — I’ve never had such difficulty with other such lessons, nor have I ever continued to fail so miserably in the effort. In any event, it’s what’s kept us from our post here at the blog, and I’m only able to return today to refer you to some excellent bits of journalism elsewhere on the net.

First is from my perennial favorite, Alternet.org. Their headliner today is Who’s Watching the Watch List? a chilling expose on the kinds of Americans who’ve ended up on the Transportation Safety Administration’s watch list, and the consequences and implications of having it happen to you. The more of us who know about this, the more of us there’ll hopefully be, writing to our elected representatives in loud and vociferous protest about this assault on our democratic principles.

Next, as if to stand in direct contrast to such fascist tactics, we have the ever-irrepressible George Galloway. You may remember this British MP from his stunning truth-telling during that sham Oil-For-Food investigation run by Sen. Norm Coleman. Rather than sending you to The Guardian’s link, I’d rather you go look at this diary on DailyKos. Steven D. does an adroit and direct job of pointing out the beauty of Mr. Galloway’s words, and it behooves all of us to help diarists like Steven D. get exposure wherever we can.

We’ll be back as time and circumstance allow. In the meantime, if you have the energy and are inclined that way, say a prayer for my son. He could use all the good thoughts and intentions he can get.

Quote of the Day: Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature…. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. –Hellen Keller
Metaphors For Life’s website