Alone

 My class and I were once discussing movies.  When I mentioned that I'd recently seen a film under discussion, someone asked, "Who'd you see it with."  When I said that I'd gone by myself, they were incredulous.  "What," I said, "You've never gone to a movie by yourself?"  They hadn't.

But then I realized that it just might be a matter of age.  What they saw as abnormal, if not a complete oddity, becomes less so as one ages.  In fact, I'd wager that all these years later, most of them have had the experience.  

Going somewhere by yourself became the topic the other day as I chatted with a small circle of friends.  One shared that she seems more reluctant to go somewhere by herself since the pandemic and resultant lockdown.  "I got halfway there and then almost turned back," said another friend when explaining a trip to a specialty grocery store she recently made.  We all seemed to agree that a slight case of agoraphobia seems to be more common than one might think.  

Later, I thought over the times I've traveled alone and realized a couple of things.  What became apparent is that sometimes if you really want to do something or see something, or go somewhere, you really have no choice.  I thought back to the time I flew from LA to Houston to begin my time as a VISTA Volunteer as a recent college graduate back in 1969. Certainly, I was a bit nervous, never having flown before, but my anxiety was focused more on who would be there for me when I landed.  I had no frame of reference on which to draw.  I was relieved when I saw some people holding signs with names on them as I walked through the airport.  Soon, there was a sign for VISTA trainees and I was soon ushered to a bus and a ride to my destination.

A few weeks ago, I set off alone to a part of the country I'd never seen.  High in the Cascade mountains of Washington state I found my lodging and spent a few days at a lake where I was mostly alone.  On my return home, I stopped in a small farming town for breakfast and ended up sitting at the counter of one of the only restaurants in town.  Among the bustling waitresses, the old men in suspenders, and the young families, I was virtually invisible.  

At my age now, it's easy to be invisible.  I look like any older male on Social Security.  Back in the 60s and 70s, I'd have had to deal with stares and muttering because of the generation gap.  What was once a threatening long-haired kid has morphed into an old country boy.  Funny how it all washes out.

*Footnote: The popularity of The History Channel's show called ALONE is a strong testimony to how fascinated we seem to be with our ability to function without other people around us constantly.  The participants are all skilled survivalists who can make their own shelters, procure food from the environment, and endure long, cold hours by themselves.  In the end, it is most often the desire to be with others that tests their ability to function alone the most.

Want My Job?

 This is when I feel the "pull." Every August, when the Back to School commercials begin, I get the urge to go to stationery stores.  Not only do the teacher dreams continue, but so too does the desire to get school supplies.  

Refreshing all the paper, the clips, the pens, and the pencils are one of the genuinely pleasurable things about teaching.  Setting up a new roll book, a grade book, whether digital or traditional, gives one a sense of order that we know will quickly deteriorate. Nevertheless, it is a pleasurable experience.  

As a young teacher, I used to go clothes shopping for the new year as well.  A chance to get a few new shirts and perhaps a winter pair of pants was always part of the process.  As teacher dress standards became less strict, that seemed to become a thing of the past.  

Today, when I see all the TV commercials for school supply drives, I always become puzzled.  To an outsider, it would seem that we live in a country where the majority of children cannot afford to come to school with all that is necessary to succeed.  That may be the case, and if it is, what does it say about how we, in this country, value education?  To most, it would seem a good, charitable thing.  And it is.  But it always strikes me as odd that so many kids in public school would go without if not for these community-led drives.  Are we collectively poor as a nation?  Certainly, in our current economy, we certainly are.

I recall a time about 20 years ago when each teacher in my school was given $300. gift certificate to a local stationery store.  It was a store I frequented for years for file folders, labels, paper, and all manner of writing implements, so I was delighted.  The school year was going to get off to a great start with all that I could supply my classroom with for $300.  I even had money to buy a large supply of colorful Post-it notes for a special project I wanted to do with my American Lit classes.  

The way those gift cards were spent by my colleagues was certainly fascinating.  Most teachers used the money for basic needs from paper products to computer disks, to even Kleenex and bottled water for their classrooms.  But others had a different take on the situation.  A few added their own money to get a printer and ink cartridges, spending the lump sum on only one or two things.  One teacher even purchases a rostrum so he could address his charges like a professor!  There were no restrictions on how the money was to be spent.  I guarantee it was all spent in one form or another.  But that was just one year.  The other 33 years saw me spend my own money.

I know things have changed since the pandemic.  I'm very fortunate I did not have to deal with those lost years.  Today, I saw a Twitter post from a teacher that seemed to accurately sum up the current state of affairs.  It said, "Go ahead, wear the jeans, nobody wants your job."

Above the Law

 "No one is above the law..." So say the politicos and the Attorney General, and all but a handful of Republican sycophants.  Of course, the defeated ex-President continues to act in such a way that he is much higher above the law.   Famous for his diatribe on why people plead the 5th Amendment so as not to self-incriminate, he then turns right around and uses it himself.  His hypocrisy is consistent.  

He's hiding his guilt and raising millions in the process.  This is a crossroads for American democracy.  I'd add a few other things like the two-party system as well.  

We are fastening our seat belts for the sure-to-come bumpy ride that will play out all the way until the next presidential election.  While Trump maneuvers state legislatures and state secretaries, he's on a collision course with the Department of Justice.  Only when the orange man is reclining in a brand new orange jumpsuit will we know for sure that he has been accountable for any of his misdeeds.  

History is being written before our eyes.  Unfortunately, the majority of Americans refuse or are unable to see it.  His supporters have an agenda and they care little for any ethical or moral issues that get in the way.  What mystifies some is very clear to others.  I'll try to explain.

What would make reasonable intelligent people fall for this con-man, grifter, pathological liar?  It's his views on certain issues that have taken priority over any sense of personal ethics.  His stance on immigration, racial issues, foreign policy, and how to run an economy has trumped any sense of morality and decency.  His people are afraid.  Motivated by this fear of the unknown, the loss of status, and the changing demographics will explain their allegiance.  Not that you didn't already know this.  All these issues underlie everything else and explain, in part, why they never talk much in specifics.  

When people remember these days, years from now, what will no doubt stand out is not the outrageous actions of the man who would be a president but...dictator.   It will be the inaction of most members of his own party.  That party may cease to exist in the near future.  It seems to be purging all members who have a moral compass and when it counted most stood up for the truth.  What then remains?  

Political parties have long invented and re-invented themselves.  Perhaps we'll see that happen.  But the opposition, the Democratic Party, must continue to evolve if anything positive is to come from all this upheaval.  History shows us that Democrats win when they have a movement going.  Easy examples are Obama, Clinton, Carter, and of course FDR.  Where's the movement now?  I'm waiting.

Trailed

 Seems as if I just checked one off my bucket list.  Last week, my brother-in-law and I hiked a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail.  All told, we did about 8 miles going from White Pass, Washington up to Deer Lake, then on to Sand Lake, and back again.

This was part of our annual fishing adventure, which happened to be at another lake near the PC Trail. With perfect weather and the wind not too bad, we set out over the well-marked and maintained trail taking time to take in all the wildflowers, the beautiful overstory of Pine and Fir trees, and mindful of others going and coming on the famous path.

The gradual incline wasn't too bad, but just in case a break was required, there were some makeshift wooden benches for a brief rest along the way.  This part of the trail features a couple of forks in the road, but responsible hikers had made arrow signs with sticks indicating which way to go.  Some parts of the trail are fairly easy to walk, but others have gnarly tree roots to step over, tree stumps, large rocks, and potholes.  There are occasionally steps reinforced with railroad ties that help make the going easier.

Deer Lake was about two hours away and offered a shady spot to sit and spend time in the quiet of an alpine lake.  An occasional fish jump or gust of wind is all that interrupts the prolific silence.

We saw hikers of all ages in our time on the trail.  At 75, we were naturally among the oldest, but there were a few folks that may have had a year or two on us.  Of course, we saw many young people as well.  The sun-tanned backpacked, muscular types were very much in evidence as well.  My brother-in-law, John, and I were careful to give them a wide berth as they often came sneaking up on us from behind at a pace I may never have been able to maintain even 30 years ago.  Lots of folks use hiking staffs or ski poles to maintain their speed and balance. Everyone we met was friendly.  Everyone.