Daily Blues & Views

Do you talk to people? By that I mean do you go out of your way to talk to people? It's increasingly important now in the current political climate. As a country, we've become so polarized that many people have deliberately stopped talking to one another. In my view, this is a crucial mistake. Perhaps it is a vestige of cancel culture, but, the consequences are critical. Lately I've been watching a CNN program called "Table for Five." Journalist Abbey Phillip moderates a discussion with 5 people who for the most part, do not agree on much poliktically. A diverse group, their political leanings are easily discernable. Often they clash, talk over each other, interrupt each other and flat out call each other liars. Somehow, host Phillip gets in her qualifying comments and reels them in so they never miss a commercial break or an opportunity to shift gears onto another topic. The program always ends on a light note. The last couple of minutes are devoted to...

 Tai Chi class meets twice a week, We do the warm-up and then the form, 30 gray heads in front of a big mirror, Knowing left from right becomes increasingly difficult, "Tai Chi for arthritis and fall prevention," Take a breath, open and close, Single whip to the right followed by hands like clouds, In the cloudy mirror I see my classmates, Two in chemo, two with canes, and three more stop to sit down awhile, Most of us persevere, Brush knee to the left, Duckwalk and parry- ends with right hand punching over left wrist (check your watch, grab a beer) 30 gray heads return to the front, Most men have large guts, the women are more talkative. In the mirror I see those diagnosed with diabetes, early Alzheimers, Parkinson's and more... We end with our cool-down, tense up, release, gently strike the big muscles to break up any lactic acid, The Tai Chi salute. Thank you for coming.

 Ever been to a reunion ?  Most people I know seem to attend at least one of their high school reunions .  It's such a transformative time of life that the curiosity about what ever happened to__?  Sometimes just a few years can change a person"s appearance, their beliefs, their personality, or even their occupation.  The curiosity about how someone is doing or how they "turned out" is not worth the risk of actually going back home to find out.  Most folks I know go to one reunion and never feel the need to do it again.  Some people live for them rather than avoid them, but as the years go by, the pool of eligible attendees lessens.   About 55 years ago, I was a VISTA Volunteer in Houston, Texas.  Our project did some interesting things and was mostly composed of recent college graduates from all over the country.  We had a 50th reunion that was both fascinating and a tad depressing.  People age.  Some better than others. ...