We are So the Same

In my first book, A (not so) Simple Life, I often compared my life in the Southern Black Hills to my formative years growing up in Northern Minnesota. The likenesses were more striking than the differences, or perhaps the differences were more alike than I realized before I began to write down my reflections.

The comparisons were separated by years and location, and yet there they were for me in my writing to recognize; things change, but people do not...not really. We learn, mature, love, hate, fear, control, envy, strive, give up, suffer, create, teach, work, enjoy, err, forgive, or not.

My home town paper arrives weekly after 60 years of having moved away to produce my adult life. I am amazed when I read the news from my former home town that they struggle with issues so similar to our community that I sometimes imagine I am reading the news from my present home town. They disagree over issues such as elections, building a new library, the morality of the war in Iraq, and allowing mining in the area that would create temporary jobs but could damage the water in the Boundary Waters, the main tourist draw for the area.

Some of the "old timers" resent the "new-comers" with their disquieting viewpoints. Others welcome a new infusion of ideas; they enjoy expanding their outlook in spite of the discomfort during their conflict to reject the familiar in exchange for the unknown.

Different places, different times, but we still find change difficult, growth a challenge, relationships a continual effort, commitment scary, emotions disconcerting, power corrupting, and the world confusing. One generation can't understand the next one, and living in the "black and white" of certainty fades away as the gray of "maybes" intrude on former beliefs.

Everything changes....nothing changes. I live with this: we are born, we live, we die. That does not change. It is what we do with the living part that makes us who we are.

From a River Bench

Rustling,
Chirping,
Cascading,
Scampering.

The trees,
The birds,
The river,
The squirrels.

The river meandering through our town,
From one end to the other,
Offering serenity,
Infusing peace.

A short distance away...main street,
Traffic, noise, missions, plans,
Intruding, interrupting, demanding,
Draining, sucking from the inside, outward.

Life happens apart from the river,
Our river, our sanctuary, our constant,
Flowing softly, slowly,
Suddenly surging, bubbling, ever smoothing the rocks.

Living requires attention, action.
Fall River, our river, asks nothing, exacts only
One's time, now and then,
To help gain a sense of self, smoothing a soul.

"The Times They are A-Changin'" *

We have all heard it many times before: "The only constant is change." Nevertheless, change is not always easy. There is a comfort level to what we know, even if the known is difficult.

After many years of living I still find some changes annoying, hard or discombobulating. The word out there, however, is that reacting to change can sharpen the mind, especially  as one enters the senior years. "Keep learning new things, be it knitting, dancing, a foreign language or new computer skills."

Hello! I just received a wonderful gift....a brand new computer with all of the latest bells and whistles. It is beautiful and I certainly am enriching my vocabulary with many new swear words as I struggle to find my way through this maze of jargon.

Over my lifetime I have adjusted to television, Netflix, printers, computers, email and other helpful additions to a person's life. I have rejected others, such as cable TV, cell phones, call waiting and I Pads. I miss the peace that comes with too much "connectedness" and have chosen to opt out of some of the new inventions while choosing others that simplify my life.

In my heart-of-hearts, I still enjoy the old-fashioned radio shows, classical music, the old standards, popcorn in the movie theaters and the rare snail mails. Actually I miss receiving "thank you notes" of any kind. Too often this generation does not respond to gifts or acts of kindness even with an email or a phone call. Yes, things change and it is best to go along with them, but, if I do resist some, it is, for me, at least, a choice to simplify my world and ignore those gadgets that crowd out the best part of who I am.

*Note: Thank to Bob Dylan for his wonderful song.

Small Town Fourth of July

Marching bands, impressive floats and lengthy parades are common in the cities, but in small-town America parades are short and simple. Bob and I re-vamped our small Gem electric car into a "Save our VA" float for our parade. We heard many cheers for our VA and one "God bless our VA" that made it all worthwhile. I threw candy, as expected, but our main focus was on handing out flyers to remind everyone to submit their written comments for the EIS study to help save our VA in Hot Springs, SD.

I was surprised that after all this time so many had not written their letters. On the fifth of July, at the monthly market, I was surprised once again to discover that most folks had not written their letters. They all stated, "Been meaning to", or, "I forgot" or "thanks, I will". All of these people love our VA and know of its importance to our veterans and our community, but letters take time and life has a way of running away from all of the demands.

This fourth of July was a reminder to me that we all need reminders even for causes we are passionate over. Then again there are those who need no reminding. I am grateful for all of them. They make the bumpy road of life less challenging and smoother for those of us who need the nudges to fight for our beliefs to make the world a better place.