Shaking my head..how can an old woman write such a great essay? She's old! She's just a woman! Shouldn't she be in a rocking chair or in a kitchen wearing an apron, cooking for the menfolk? Just shaking my head!
As for President Biden, another old codger.. well, I don't vote for Presidents according to how many pounds they can benchpress or how fast they can run a mile. I vote for them for their vision, their values, their policies. Restacking this.
Kathleen, as one of those Third Actors , I struggle with the question of why our generation is content to remain on the sidelines as the future for our grandchildren gets worse by the day. Grandpa, what did you do when you realized that the climate was collapsing into chaos? I think you may have put your age spotted finger on cause: internalized ageism.
I love the Mae West quote! And I agree, how dare anyone mock Biden's age. I imagine someone sitting on their sofa in sweatpants, beer in one hand, bag of chips in the other calling Biden old--a man who has spent every weekday for the past 50? years traveling around the country and world, meeting and speaking with heads of state and industry leaders, negotiating with friendly and hostile politicians. If only our society were more like indigenous people who revere their elders. As for the disastrous Katie Britt kitchen rebuttal, it will make great fodder for the late night talk show hosts and let's hope boost some voters over to the Democratic party.
I’ve been slowed by my too personal attempt to rethink everything, not by any basic changes in beliefs, but by feeling the need to be more cautious so people don’t misinterpret where I’m coming from, or more importantly close their minds to what I’m aiming for. I’m still malleable, and hope they are too. I want to pay more attention to how we can learn from each other to see where we can all improve.
The need to do so quickly, with the best results comes from the almost certain damage that can come from delaying aid to Ukraine, and thoughts of an old friend, John Durant, who by strange coincidences, helped kick off the Berlin Airlift that saw 277,000 flights of supplies into Berlin, while the Soviets were thinking we couldn’t do much better than the Germans who only got 300 resupply flights into Stalingrad. We did in support of the people who had so recently supported the worst dictator in their history (who as my mother constantly reminded had been more popular in Germany than FDR was in our country). We won the war and were winning the peace for Germany and us against the new cold war enemy. We showed the world what I consider the best of what we could do and encouraged others to do.
The delays in realistic response to climate threats is a too long neglected need, but the one most dangerous threat that could could be more easily alleviated in the very short term is Ukrainian support.
I can imagine my grandfather, one of two ancestors I knew born during Grant’s administration and a Spanish American War Veteran, could have wished the Civil War Veterans he knew (from both sides), could have worked together as well for the benefit for all (if at all, in a more timely fashion).
John Durant was 91 (still really sharp and energetic) when he was interviewed in 2018 and reveals a lot of background such as hiring German aircraft mechanics as “Janitors” (since 85% to 90% were more interested in anyone that would let them help rebuild their country as an ally rather than enemy). He mentioned taking a 97 year old WASP pilot to Chino Airport where a young man was pulling a WWII P-51, and very surprised that she had flown them (and I think probably had more hours in them than he did), out of a hangar. He gave a personal grand tour of the projects at Flabob Airport in 2012 to a 91 year Virginia Giles,sharp as a tack old friend of mine who had been tiny enough to do the tight space wiring in the tail of B-29 bombers.
So much for thoughts of declining abilities beyond even 90.
Part of my attempt to improve approaches comes from my great grandmother, the other of two relatives born during Grant’s administration, in her case, in a rickety but well loved body and soul at 82 when I first met her (old enough to remember meet her), that had been through times hard to imagine for boys like me. She would most often be sitting at the kitchen where she could watch so much more of the livelier interactions in the house and out on Main St, just a few doors down from where I think she had a shop that later became a Studebaker dealership after cars took over from the many horse drawn vehicles my mother complained about the manure from just 20 years before.
I think I was too careful around her, afraid of being embarrassed as she might grab and hug me like my mother would do when I’d throw a tantrum or whine too much, hugging long and hard slobbering me with kisses overly “commiserating” with my perceived “troubles.” My sweet grandmother was more the type who’s worst comment was, “You poor dear,” verses the more southern ladylike refrain/putdown “Bless your heart.”
I soon learned she would listen to us spout our thoughts in the kitchen but then just grab an arm to stop me trying to go through the dining room to the living room and offer a quick bit of advice before letting go. The indelible one today is, “Don’t compliment the marksman before you ask him what his target was” (to which I add “and why”).
Biden knows his targets well, aims, and times his shots when they have left themselves most exposed, and when so much more of the country is ready to listen and learn.
While many criticize Katie Britt, the challenge I see is in how to see if her hopefully sincere beliefs can be compared to Cassidy Hutchinson’s to see if she can start rethinking what she supports or tolerates.
I remember reading that Katie had participated in the bipartisan negotiations on the Border Bill, supported it up to the point Trump outrageously but effectively vetoed it and she voted against “her” own bill like Mitch McConnell once did after his challenge was accepted.
As I wrote over on Letters From An American, “..I would rather not dismiss the voices of sincere believers like Katie Britt, but I would like to see her discuss issues with Cassidy Hutchinson, Mark Meadows' assistant that tried to keep him within the rails, as Trump White House Chief of Staff. It took a while before she recognized what she had to do, and to start reevaluating much of what she believed in. With my mild face blindness and poor hearing, they look and sound similar, though I hope both do well in becoming more woke to what the vast majority of us believe in as dangers to democracy and rule of just laws…”
Your mention of indigenous respect for elders is so important, Laura. We are so YOUTH focused in our culture that the minute the wrinkles appear and the hair turns white the invisibility sets in. You have to make a racket to be seen...as Biden has been doing in the last few weeks. Wouldn't it be great if we didn't have to make such a racket and were accorded some degree of wisdom, respect and visibility because of our age!
The tone of this one is much more cheerful! I need to write more cheerful ones to balance out all the heavy ones about capitalism and colonialism and and and....:)
Shaking my head..how can an old woman write such a great essay? She's old! She's just a woman! Shouldn't she be in a rocking chair or in a kitchen wearing an apron, cooking for the menfolk? Just shaking my head!
As for President Biden, another old codger.. well, I don't vote for Presidents according to how many pounds they can benchpress or how fast they can run a mile. I vote for them for their vision, their values, their policies. Restacking this.
Kathleen, as one of those Third Actors , I struggle with the question of why our generation is content to remain on the sidelines as the future for our grandchildren gets worse by the day. Grandpa, what did you do when you realized that the climate was collapsing into chaos? I think you may have put your age spotted finger on cause: internalized ageism.
Your hope for the future comes across very clearly in today's blog, Kathleen. I am glad you still have that.
YES! Thank you, Kathleen. Once again, I've posted. See you on the streets.
Kathleen—thank you for your clarity and myth-busting….and all the courage and bravery and tenacity to keep speaking up and showing up. 😊
I love the Mae West quote! And I agree, how dare anyone mock Biden's age. I imagine someone sitting on their sofa in sweatpants, beer in one hand, bag of chips in the other calling Biden old--a man who has spent every weekday for the past 50? years traveling around the country and world, meeting and speaking with heads of state and industry leaders, negotiating with friendly and hostile politicians. If only our society were more like indigenous people who revere their elders. As for the disastrous Katie Britt kitchen rebuttal, it will make great fodder for the late night talk show hosts and let's hope boost some voters over to the Democratic party.
I don't know how you can keep writing without losing heart; but keep it up!
I’ve been slowed by my too personal attempt to rethink everything, not by any basic changes in beliefs, but by feeling the need to be more cautious so people don’t misinterpret where I’m coming from, or more importantly close their minds to what I’m aiming for. I’m still malleable, and hope they are too. I want to pay more attention to how we can learn from each other to see where we can all improve.
The need to do so quickly, with the best results comes from the almost certain damage that can come from delaying aid to Ukraine, and thoughts of an old friend, John Durant, who by strange coincidences, helped kick off the Berlin Airlift that saw 277,000 flights of supplies into Berlin, while the Soviets were thinking we couldn’t do much better than the Germans who only got 300 resupply flights into Stalingrad. We did in support of the people who had so recently supported the worst dictator in their history (who as my mother constantly reminded had been more popular in Germany than FDR was in our country). We won the war and were winning the peace for Germany and us against the new cold war enemy. We showed the world what I consider the best of what we could do and encouraged others to do.
The delays in realistic response to climate threats is a too long neglected need, but the one most dangerous threat that could could be more easily alleviated in the very short term is Ukrainian support.
I can imagine my grandfather, one of two ancestors I knew born during Grant’s administration and a Spanish American War Veteran, could have wished the Civil War Veterans he knew (from both sides), could have worked together as well for the benefit for all (if at all, in a more timely fashion).
John Durant was 91 (still really sharp and energetic) when he was interviewed in 2018 and reveals a lot of background such as hiring German aircraft mechanics as “Janitors” (since 85% to 90% were more interested in anyone that would let them help rebuild their country as an ally rather than enemy). He mentioned taking a 97 year old WASP pilot to Chino Airport where a young man was pulling a WWII P-51, and very surprised that she had flown them (and I think probably had more hours in them than he did), out of a hangar. He gave a personal grand tour of the projects at Flabob Airport in 2012 to a 91 year Virginia Giles,sharp as a tack old friend of mine who had been tiny enough to do the tight space wiring in the tail of B-29 bombers.
So much for thoughts of declining abilities beyond even 90.
Before reading the text to get a feeling of John’s spirited outlook by listening to the interview at https://www.hometownheroesradio.com/mp3/DURANTPOD.mp3
The text is at https://www.hometownheroesradio.com/berlin-airlift-70-years-later/
Part of my attempt to improve approaches comes from my great grandmother, the other of two relatives born during Grant’s administration, in her case, in a rickety but well loved body and soul at 82 when I first met her (old enough to remember meet her), that had been through times hard to imagine for boys like me. She would most often be sitting at the kitchen where she could watch so much more of the livelier interactions in the house and out on Main St, just a few doors down from where I think she had a shop that later became a Studebaker dealership after cars took over from the many horse drawn vehicles my mother complained about the manure from just 20 years before.
I think I was too careful around her, afraid of being embarrassed as she might grab and hug me like my mother would do when I’d throw a tantrum or whine too much, hugging long and hard slobbering me with kisses overly “commiserating” with my perceived “troubles.” My sweet grandmother was more the type who’s worst comment was, “You poor dear,” verses the more southern ladylike refrain/putdown “Bless your heart.”
I soon learned she would listen to us spout our thoughts in the kitchen but then just grab an arm to stop me trying to go through the dining room to the living room and offer a quick bit of advice before letting go. The indelible one today is, “Don’t compliment the marksman before you ask him what his target was” (to which I add “and why”).
Biden knows his targets well, aims, and times his shots when they have left themselves most exposed, and when so much more of the country is ready to listen and learn.
While many criticize Katie Britt, the challenge I see is in how to see if her hopefully sincere beliefs can be compared to Cassidy Hutchinson’s to see if she can start rethinking what she supports or tolerates.
I remember reading that Katie had participated in the bipartisan negotiations on the Border Bill, supported it up to the point Trump outrageously but effectively vetoed it and she voted against “her” own bill like Mitch McConnell once did after his challenge was accepted.
As I wrote over on Letters From An American, “..I would rather not dismiss the voices of sincere believers like Katie Britt, but I would like to see her discuss issues with Cassidy Hutchinson, Mark Meadows' assistant that tried to keep him within the rails, as Trump White House Chief of Staff. It took a while before she recognized what she had to do, and to start reevaluating much of what she believed in. With my mild face blindness and poor hearing, they look and sound similar, though I hope both do well in becoming more woke to what the vast majority of us believe in as dangers to democracy and rule of just laws…”
Your mention of indigenous respect for elders is so important, Laura. We are so YOUTH focused in our culture that the minute the wrinkles appear and the hair turns white the invisibility sets in. You have to make a racket to be seen...as Biden has been doing in the last few weeks. Wouldn't it be great if we didn't have to make such a racket and were accorded some degree of wisdom, respect and visibility because of our age!
Thanks, Michael.
The tone of this one is much more cheerful! I need to write more cheerful ones to balance out all the heavy ones about capitalism and colonialism and and and....:)
Yes, we’ve been things and seen places! I love lifting with you! Thank you for being such a terrific mirror to my own ageism. ❤️
Tell it sister, and still we persist!