Cue up that great Jazz Musician, Fella Kuti: Zombie!!!
The storms keep blowing through every 12 hours or so as the temperature and humidity rise. Michigan gets such beautiful rains in the summer. They sweep across Lake Michigan from Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota, even coming down from Canada. The land heats, the air rises, and the cooler water from the Great Lakes gets sucked across the peninsula, falling back to earth as rain.
It’s an endless cycle. The trees attest to it. Where the hardwoods have been left undisturbed, and in those preserved virgin pine reserves, the trunks soar, straight and tall, to heaven. I’ll not talk today about the lumber barons who once stripped it bare, leaving bankruptcy in their wake. Because now is a new day. We can see and create the future green space. Imagine what the trees today will look like in only fifty years!
I drove by a cemetery today on Woodward Avenue. It’s one of those “non-profits.” There ought to be a way to work out a plan to plant trees, native trees, in those green spaces. The great public cemeteries of our nation have some beautiful tree specimens. I’d make it a law that all cemeteries must have a tree plan.
So let the rains come, and let the trees grow.
One of my favorite Substacks is The Wisdom Letter. Yesterday’s post included this quote:
“The only relationship that can make both partners happy is one in which sentimentality has no place and neither partner makes any claim on the life and freedom of the other.”
— Milan Kundera, “The Unbearable Lightness of Being”
I asked my Brilliant Wife of 51 years if this applied to us.
“Well we are kind of sentimental sometimes,” she replied.
True! But other than that (I’m too old to give up the pleasures of sentimentality) I think it’s an interesting statement and worth exploring. I do think there’s some truth in it. I need to reread The Unbearable Lightness of Being. For a quick reminder, I went to Wikipedia.
[T]he story's thematic meditations posit … that each person has only one life to live and that which occurs in life occurs only once and never again – thus the "lightness" of being. Moreover, this lightness also signifies freedom; Tomáš and Sabina display this lightness, whereas Tereza's character is "weighed down".
So yes, I think we need to be sure to give our partners freedom, and to ask for such freedom for ourselves as, not if, we need it. We’re only going to get one chance! What do you think?
We’re looking at the shore excursions available on our Viking Cruise down the Danube, which departs in 2 months. I have two schools of thought. First of all, I hate being herded by a tour guide with 50 others, “Look Kids! The Eiffel Tower!” But on the other hand we have so little time at these stops. It really is just a quick introduction, but with the understanding that you may never be able to return.
So we’re shooting for a mix of guided tours with some time alone to explore.
For example, we have only one day in Belgrade. So we’re doing a “Best of Belgrade” tour which ends in a wine cellar. Hope we can find our way out of the cellar!
If you’ve been on one of these river cruises before and have some advice to share on anything please comment below or drop me a note. I will try to write an objective review of our experience, in any event. But I already know I’ll not be able to see it all or enjoy it as it should be.
The power is out elsewhere due to the storm, so cutting this a bit short tonight, as we may have house guests seeking shelter from the storm.
Peace and Joy!
And Lightness of Being~!
Footnote: Fela Aníkúlápó Kútì (born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti; 15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997) was a Nigerian musician and political activist.
Lovely description of rain. I know of that musician. But don't listen to world music. My Bad. Do SOME guided tours,it's often worth it. I love my independent travel,like waiting in the rain at a bus stop miles away from any houses for a bus that doesn't turn up,lol,or ditto in the 19th arr of Paris just as it's getting dark! Oh the joys of independent travel! But a tour with a knowledgeable guide who is a good communicator not only imparts facts to you but brings it to life. Last year I had an hour so I went into Westminster Abbey,that's the Head Anglican church by Parliament. I'm not Catholic but I really love Westminster Cathedral in Victoria,the atmosphere there is magical. But an hour in the Abbey just wasnt enough so next time I'm going to pay to go on one of the 2 hour long tours. It'll be worth it. Also watch lots of various you tubes about the places you want to see. Each YouTuber will have a different perspective and will probably feature different aspects with more or less practical info + make lots of notes! Says me,whose world travel would fit on the back of a postcard!