#433 Musings Beyond the Bunker (Thursday August 18)
Good morning,
THINKING ABOUT MORTALITY
A while back I circulated some of the wishes of those who neared death. It got a lot of people thinking about mortality. Here are a few excerpts:
Joan Kessler: “While I hope they say of me, ‘She was a talented Mediator and Arbitrator and lawyer,’ what I really hope they say is “She was a loving wife, friend and a devoted/loving Mom and Grandma.’ My time with my children and grandkids is my legacy. Our philanthropy, giving to others is, also, so very important to us and I’m so glad we have been able to do it.”
Bob Lameres: “For those of us who medical science has actually given us a date certain, more or less, of our time left…what strikes me the most is…how the human psyche is programmed to ignore, deny and obscure the acknowledgement of the reality of one’s mortality. I guess it’s best that way.”
Ron Stern: “In regard to your contemplations on life after… I’d add what I consider to be most important: ‘How will I make sure that my dying, death, and life after I’m gone will be as smooth for my loved ones as possible? Have I prepared them, to the best of my abilities, for my death?’
Do I have a trust and will?
Have I purchased funeral plots and made arrangements?
Do I have a living will and health care directive?
Have I told my loved ones what my desires in dying and for my funeral are?
Have I thought about how I want to die and where?”
The conclusion? We have a short time here. We should make the best of it, focus on what’s important, and not be a burden to others.
MOVIES ASSOCIATED WITH STATES
Several of you pointed out my most egregious omissions from my list. Here are a few of them:
Bradley Tabach-Bank and Linda Myerson Dean both focused on Indiana. Brad notes that “nothing can be more reflective of Indiana than Hoosiers.” Linda adds Breaking Away and Columbus, which she says “highlight hyper-Indiana phenomena other than the KKK.” And yes, the KKK was big in Indiana…
Adam Torson went “long” on California. He cites The Big Lebowski and Swingers. He adds, “The Beach Party movies (e.g. Beach Blanket Bingo) feel like a caricature of a certain era of California.”
Harvey Englander adds two movies from Arizona, Last Train to Yuma (Donna’s hometown) and Tombstone.
COLOR TELEVISION
Mark DiMaria shares a story similar to mine about longing for color television when it first came out: “I also remember the desire for color television ranking right up there among my top goals in this life as a child. By 1966, the Burke family in our neighborhood in Poughkeepsie was renowned for owning one of those rare technological wonders. It was not until 1968 that my folks broke down and replaced our old black and white (a dense, hulking cube of an object, encased in some sort of early artificial material -- Bakelite?) with a new color television in our den. This was an attractive piece of furniture, wood-framed, but again, not an entire console -- that status was reserved for the "stereo" in the living room, which had an AM-FM radio and LP record player…”
ABORTION RIGHTS / READING
Steve Mossholder on abortion: “Usually I do not engage in debates pro or con about abortion. I would guess that the framers would take the non-scientific, maybe common-sensical, and easy approach that you don't have a person until the baby is out, in mom's arms. Right or wrong, but that's just my guess. The ability for the woman to choose would be based upon an individual liberty argument. Don't tread on me.”
Steve shifts gears to books: “I love your book lists…Two I read a good while back I can recommend. In 1985 polymath Peter Ackroyd wrote a detective novel Hawksmoor. I loved it. Chapters alternated between London 1715 the Assistant (to Chief) Architect of London, the building of churches, etc. and the modern day (1985) setting involving a detective trying to solve crimes in and around said churches. You will enjoy how the two periods meet, in certain senses. Sadly, no movie has been made. At the time of reading I pictured a youngish Jeremy Irons as the Assistant Architect, and Bob Hoskins as Detective Hawksmoor. Too late for them now... Next, an excellent novel by Richard Powers” Gain. Like the earlier suggestion, two strands in different time periods meet to affect a young woman's life in the midwest USA. Again, in the 1700's two (brothers?) candle makers grow their business, emigrate to the USA and, well, (not to spoil things), keep growing their business. And the life of our midwestern housewife in current times, with young kids and garden in the backyard, goes on, to eventually be affected by the two brothers' efforts. A wonderful book...”
REFLECTION ON JONI MITCHELL’S PERFORMANCE AT THE NEWPORT FOLK FESTIVAL
One of the great benefits of writing these Musings is reading the responses to observations I’ve made or things I’ve shared. The clip of Joni Mitchell a couple of weeks ago sparked a lot of comment about how many of us are touched by the same event, which sparks memories.
Not only was Joni Mitchell’s performance of “Both Sides Now” was noteworthy—not only was it an act of bravery after prolonged debilitating illness and loss (and rediscovery) of the ability to sing—not only was it an homage to a great singer—and not only were the people singing and accompanying along with her obviously in a state of awe… but this performance seemed so “in tune” with the lyrics. Life is bittersweet, though mostly sweet. As we all watch iconic figures from our youth aging, there is a sense that we are touching both Ms. Mitchell’s mortality and our own. Some random responses, among the many:
Thank you for this wonderful gift! It made our Shabbat so special.
Wow! It was more poignant to listen to Mitchell sing her lyrics 50+ years later. I guess I’ve changed somehow.
My favorite version. Thanks for the Joni reminder.
I love how 1960s folk music centers profound poetry and melody. Both Sides Now is a masterpiece. And the dazzling, unaffected tone of Joni Mitchell’s voice…
One of my absolute favorite singers/songwriters! ❤️
Wow. Beautiful. I was tearing up with Wynonna the whole time.
Have a great day,
Glenn
From the archives: