All best wishes for good Christmas holiday and New Year in 2023.

Nov. 9-13 we were in New York State to help celebrate my sisters 80th birthday.

On a drizzly Nov. 11 seven of us took a day to see part of the Finger Lakes region.  Nearing Ithaca, a sign beckoned a short side trip to see Taughannock Falls, near Cayuga Lake.  It was an impressive site, even on a far less than ideal day, and I took this snapshot of part of the group.  The snap is hardly a prize winner, but thus is the fate of most mere mortal – and memorable – photographs!

Taughannock Falls NY Nov. 11, 2022

Back home I was sorting the remnants of the trip, and noted the New York State Road map I had picked up earlier on the same trip at the Geneva visitor center.  Something was familiar:

A very talented and certainly far better equipped photographer than I had caught the falls on a much better Fall day.  (It was almost impossible to  find the photographer byline on the map, but here he is, Paul Massie.  Wonderful shot.)

Maybe the two photos demonstrate the gap we all experience in our own lives, between the unattainable perfect we imagine, and the real that we experience every day!  Real life seldom even approaches the perfection of advertising.  Even Mother Nature has her dowdy days – witness my snapshot!

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I was struck by something else on the map: the obvious slogan: LOVE.

It got me to thinking about how we label people, places and things, including ourselves, and how we use, and interpret, sometimes incorrectly, words expressed, or received….

I’ve very rarely been to New York, but the slogan on the map was very welcoming.  Our experience those few days matched the words.

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I’m sufficiently elder so I can be excused for occasionally taking stock of my own life, steps and missteps, indelible history,  good decisions and not….  That’s life for everyone.  The more life, the more experiences.  Between reality and imagination is where we live our lives; perhaps the worst judge of our self is our self.

In another file, recently, I found a poem that I had used in my homemade Christmas card in 1979, which in turn was in a poetry book I still have, which I had purchased for my future spouse, Barbara, in 1961, in Valley City North Dakota,

For some reason, a poem in this book, The Loom of Time, especially spoke to me, even as a 21 year old,  Here it is for your consideration: Loom of Time.

My bank of life experience in 1961 at 21 was less full than it was in 1979 at 39, and certainly far less than 2022 at 82.  Your bank differs from mine, of course, but for all of us the general course is the same.  Life doesn’t stand still.  Live it as best you can.

I found the poem in “The Best Loved Poems of the American People” selected by Hazel Felleman c1936.  Here is the introduction to the book,  itself very interesting.  (The poem referenced at page 323 is entitled “Death”, author “unknown originally, signed “Beatrice”.)

Be kind to yourself and to others.  All very best wishes for the season and the New Year.

POST NOTE: In the Archive for Dec 7 2022 I have a post on my Uncle Frank, who died on the USS Arizona Dec 7 1941.

COMMENTS (more at end of post):

from Judy: Thank you Dick for this wonderful piece.  I hope you continue to stay well.   I so often think of what both Michael and Joseph would have to say about the place the United States has come to be.

from SAK: Many thanks for that poem The Loom of Time you used in a Christmas card & which you found in a book you offered your then future spouse. The poem brought a few things to mind.

For one thing its author remains unknown which reminds me of all the unsigned icons and something a teacher once told us at the end of the course: plant trees you will not sit under.

The poem also suggests in part something Kierkegaard wrote: “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards”. Now I don’t speak Danish but it sounded nice: “Livet må forstås baglæns, men må leves forlæns.”

Thanks for your good wishes & may I reciprocate wishing you a Merry Christmas & a New Year free of major health worries but full of joy – & hopefully, for our greater pleasure, bloggings!

from Rich:  I will share this [Mormon Tabernacle Choir] with you because of your spiritual and ethical compass. I have alway like this text because of what I consider to be very ecumenical and inclusive. The Mormon Tab Choir “performed regularly” in our family’s living room in Minot … especially at Christmas. Unforgettable.  Be good to yourself and enjoy every day.  Another Tabernacle offering from Rich here.

from Brian: Love the Finger Lakes region!  Dick, thanks for sharing.

from Steve: Dick, It’s not the size of the waterfall or the brilliance of the exposure that’s important. It’s the memory of the moment and the impression the image leaves in your mind. I loved the photo and the gray day.

Dec. 2, a bill was signed by President Biden ending a threatened strike by railroad workers nationwide.  For anyone with any interest in Labor Relations generally, this is an opportunity to get a notion of issues and how they are resolved.  The railroad legislation is well summarized here.

As one whose full-time job was Labor Relations, for 27 years, every labor issue is, from the advocates point of view, ‘clear’.  But different constituencies have differing points of view, on virtually every issue, every time.  The railroad issue is no different; only the scale is much greater.

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On a similar note, in mid-November a colleague sent along a recent and interesting video about the 1970 Minneapolis Teachers Strike, presented from the point of view of then-leaders and members of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers.

I forwarded the video to former staff and teacher union colleagues with some personal comments relating to Labor Relations in the public school teacher sector back then.  If you are a former teacher, particularly in Minnesota, particularly if you were active in either Association or Federation back then, this writeup and the video may be of interest to you.

Today in my religious tradition is the First Sunday of Advent. This seems a good day to introduce three topically related items for your reflection, if you are interested: 1) Journeying Towards Healing through Listening and Truth-Telling; 2) the new film, Till; 3) Frank Kroncke, “Captive and Captor”

Johan van Parys, Basilica’s Director of Liturgy and Sacred Arts had an excellent column on the topic of Advent in todays Basilica newsletter.  It is here: Johan VP Advent 2022.

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1.  Journeying Towards Healing…: If you happen to be in the Twin Cities, the morning of Dec. 3, my Church, Basilica of St. Mary, 1600 Hennepin Ave. Minneapolis, is having a retreat on the issue of race.

Details follow.  Note that registration is required.  I plan to attend.

Invitation: We invite you to attend an important event for our community as we listen and reflect together on this Advent.

 There are three phases of the event.

 1.  Listen to Learn (Mind)

2. Listening in Prayer (Heart)

3. Reflecting on our Heart and Mind (Action)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING.  Check back for a specific Thanksgiving post Thursday or later.

When I last blogged about politics, Election Day eve, Nov. 8,  I knew nothing, intentionally, about the later results in my community.

Nov. 9-13 we were at a family event in New York state.  I don’t connect with the internet at such times, so what actually happened in MN was a mystery till after we returned.

Nov. 8, I said I’d report my own observations on Nov. 22.

Yesterday, forming this post in my mind, I kept thinking of two seemingly unrelated events.  I’ll briefly revisit both at the end of this post.

In July of 1949, we were at my grandparents farm, my Mom’s home, probably related to her 40th birthday.  Late at night a vicious wind came up, terrifying everyone.  I was nine, the oldest kid.  Morning light brought the verdict; the barn roof was gone; house escaped unscathed as did the occupants.  (In the photo, I think I’m the kid in the overalls walking away from the likely photographer, my Dad).

Residue of Busch barn, late July 1949, Berlin ND. Richard, and siblings and Mom in the photo.

Eight years later, September of 1957, at 17, I had the opportunity to see Louis Armstrong and band in concert in Carrington ND, pop. approx. 2,300.  The concert was fabulous, of course.  I’ve always wondered how someone like Armstrong would appear at the Armory in this tiny town.  And where would they stay?  This was 1957, after all….

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Now to the business at hand:

Last summer, I decided to pay the closest attention to the 2022 elections closest to home – my own state Senate and Representative election – a piece of suburban geography with 56,624 eligible voters.

(Earlier, at the primary election in August, I aimed my attention solely at a local school referendum, which I wrote about here.  School District boundaries are different than legislative boundaries in Minnesota, thus size, shape and population differ.)

Below are the 2022 election results for my district, SD 47.  (If you are a Minnesota resident, here’s the data source for your district.)

Five of the our candidates were rookies; the 6th had been in the House of Representatives for two terms some years earlier.

Hi-lited are those I supported for election.   Congratulations to new Senator Nicole Mitchell and new state Representatives Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger (A) and Ethan Cha (B).

For Democrats in this district, and indeed in Minnesota, and nationally, it was a good night.  Voter turnout was high, near 70%, characteristic for this state. Our numbers seemed in line with earlier similar elections in this area.

There were no controversies of any kind, at least none of which I’m aware.

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I have no idea about how any individual voted, unless they volunteered the information.

I have lived in the same dwelling in this suburban community for 22 years.  We are part of a metropolitan area of over 3,000,000 people, containing nearly two-thirds of Minnesota’s population.  I am not a hermit, and see folks in assorted contexts each day – though mostly they are people I don’t know.

For the past several years, we have not had a local newspaper.

We have had Republican Senators and Representatives in recent years.  Indeed, for some years we had an arch-conservative member of Congress for several terms.

This year there were far more campaign lawn signs for the Republicans (R) than Democrats (D).  But the “Republican” candidates did not seem to want to call attention to their party.  This was obvious from the signs themselves.  Their internet presence  was pretty minimal.  There were few mailings, compared with other recent elections.

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My takeaway from this particular election is simple: people were quietly paying attention to the issues.

I get a sense, not only from the election results, but from the ordinary day to day interactions I see and hear, that people generally are satisfied with what happened Nov. 8.

They are tired of the violence – verbal and otherwise; intolerance; dishonest political discourse; a focus on  winners as individuals, belief rather than fact, division not unity; a fractured sense of community…on and on.

My colleague citizens sent a message, local, state and national, that they just want to see more of a community focus as opposed to an individual focus.  They just want our country and its smaller subdivisions down to and including families to work, and to be fair.

We, the people, really are the government we see at all levels.  Government is what we elect.  Government is “we, the people”.

If I was to make any recommendation, it would be to the reader to do the same as I did: do an informal assessment of what happened in your own basic political unit in your state.  It will give you a knowledge base.  Then set about helping educate other citizens about the importance of their informed vote.

Congratulations to my local successful candidates.  In my opinion, they deserved to win.  Now their work really starts.

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Now, about that barn, and Louis Armstrong.

The barn was rebuilt, doubtless primarily with lots of voluntary community support.  It is my metaphor for community.  Grandpa had let the insurance lapse, I’m told, so he learned a personal lesson there.  Last time I was out, the barn still stands, but clearly on its last legs.  But it wouldn’t have survived at all without community.

As for Louis Armstrong, many years later I was watching the Ken Burns film on Jazz, and in one segment was a brief television interview with Louis Armstrong in Grand Forks ND, likely where his band had been the night before I heard him play.  In the interview, he was concerned about those children at Little Rock Central High School (as noted earlier, remember, this was 1957).  Nonetheless, Louis continued on, in a hopeful optimistic way.

That’s about it.

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We have a great plenty of things to deal with, but Nov. 8 provides an opportunity to redirect to a better future, to add on increments, rather than tear down.]

I’ll close with my favorite Louis Armstrong tune, his rendition of Wonderful World.

POSTNOTE:  The 8th, and I believe final, episode of Rachel Maddow’s Ultra series is now available.  Here is the link.  I have listened to them all.  Very informative…and troubling.  Take the time.

Today is the anniversary of the assassination of President John Kennedy Nov 22, 1963.  I was in my first month as a teacher in Hallock MN, recently discharged from the U.S. Army.  Like all of us from that era, I will never forget that day and the days following.  Here’s Heather Cox Richardson’s commentary published late on Nov. 22.

COMMENTS;

from Joyce:  I think this blog post by Digby is relevant: here

response from Dick:  I agree with the concern.  Take time to read the commentary.  My greatest concern is that even in Presidential elections, about one third of eligible voters don’t even vote, and that’s just the beginning of the problem.  Too many vote only for President, or have not a clue of the qualifications of candidates for the other offices, etc. We are a very sloppy democracy, exploitable.

from Jermitt: Thanks for your message, Dick.  I enjoyed reading about the politics of your district, as well as your family and your story about Louis Armstrong.  We, here in Marquette County Wisconsin have a long way to go.  The Republicans out number us (The Democrats)  2 to 1.  The Marquette Democrats continue to message our values through radio, print, and social media.  We also knocked on hundreds of doors this year.  While we increased our percentage, we continue to lose elections although the democratic candidates have been outstanding, compared to the Republican candidates that have won in state elections.

response from Dick: Many thanks.  My only point, at this moment, is that every place is different and perhaps the best starting place is to get to understand our own district a little better.

from Len: Thanks for sharing your perspective and numbers of the results of the election. We will be talking about this one for awhile. 47 chose some good solid individuals for office. Quick studies and thoughtful individuals who will represent us well and will enjoy DFL majorities across the board in governing and the challenges of a rarity- a budget surplus. We need to be vigilant and help them in their decision making.

The count begins: Clicking on publish, November 8, 2022, 6 p.m.  About now the first polls are closing and actual counting begins….

This morning I was on my usual walk at the local Sports center.  The usual crowd was gathering, mostly seniors like myself who know each other, like people do at such kinds of gathering places, not close kin, but not strangers either.

One lady pleasantly said “how’s everyone doing today?”  A man behind me said, in a normal sort of way: “I Don’t know.  I haven’t voted yet.”  Enroute home, I saw an older couple jay-walking, obviously going home from the nearby elementary school, a polling place.

24 hours earlier I was at breakfast with a retired teacher friend and colleague of many years.  We weren’t talking politics, but Kathy was remembering my homemade Christmas card from 2001, largely because it featured on its front, feelings about 9-11 from one of her 5th graders (who’d be in his thirties, today).  I used to send the homemade cards every year, and I saved 5 copies of each.  Here’s the front of the one she remembered.  It says it all, for me, today.  For me, today is like the day before 9-11-01, except back then we couldn’t have imagined 24 hours later.  Now we can, but nobody – I mean nobody – knows anything for sure what we’ll wake up to tomorrow and following days.

If you’re interested in the whole card: Christmas card Dec 2001 . (I voted last week; my wife votes today.)

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One thing is for sure, today: I hope this is not an “oh, what the hell” election, where people really believe that it makes no difference who they vote for, or whether they vote at all.

I don’t know who the “call and response” people I saw this morning are voting for; nor for the jaywalking couple.  We have a secret ballot, but in a way it does feel like the Monday before 9-11-01….

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Somewhere out east the first official tally of votes for the 2022 election has begun (I’m deliberately publishing this at 6 p.m. CST Election Day).  The speculation of many months will be confirmed…or not…over tonight and possibly the next weeks.  At some undetermined time, we’ll know what we decided as citizens, from the most obscure local office to our country’s leadership in Congress and Senate.  Truth will out.  There’s no do over, until the next election, which may be too late.

I’ll venture my personal opinions. about this year on November 22 – two weeks out.  Check back if interested.

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A Personal Retrospective: The 2022 election season began, for me, May 28, 2020, the night Minneapolis and St. Paul were set on fire.

This was 2 1/2 years ago, over 7 months before the chaos of Jan. 6, 2021.

May 28, a relative called from North Dakota about how marauding gangs were coming to Minneapolis, about the same time reports were coming about burning buildings in south Minneapolis.  I succumbed to fear, and brought in the iron objects on our patio – weapons that could be used to break in.

Now I remember it as crazy behavior.  Which gang would pick my house among tens of thousands to break my windows and savage us?  But for one evening that furniture sat in our family room, and the next day I took the below picture.

May 28, 2020

Of course nothing happened at my house, my neighborhood, my community those nights.  You know how fear works.

But in Minneapolis and St. Paul, masked vandals (after all, it was at the worst part of Covid-19 and most people were masked), set lots of fires, including burning down my friends restaurant at 27th and Lake Street Minneapolis on the evening of May 29.

His lot is still vacant – I was over there on Sunday.

Gandhi Mahal block, 27th at Lake Street, Minneapolis MN Nov. 6, 2022 Gandhi Mahals vacant lot is the area fenced in by a reed fence, which has been there for over two years, and not damaged at all.

The post office, burned to the ground, is being rebuilt on the corner (to the photographers right), but the rest of the block is still vacant more than two years later.

There’s silence on indictments and convictions – my friend had security cam, but it burned along with the restaurant.

Because of the masks, we’ll probably never know who did the deeds in May 2020.  I can’t believe that it was the residents of the neighborhood who burned down their own locally owned businesses. Conversely, by no means is it a stretch, knowing what we now know, that this could have been orchestrated political gang activity.

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In my trip to the site of Gandhi Mahal the previous Sunday, I saw one last, doubtless intentional, memory of the fire in the spring of 2020.

October 30, 2022. Gandhi Mahal would be to the left.

It is the only visible remnant of two nights of horror, May 28-29, 2020.

Commit to being more active than you’ve ever been, regardless of outcome.  Citizens are democracy, period.  We can build it, maintain it, or destroy it, just by the single act of who we elect.