2021 Goodbye

 

Been an interesting year.

After a contentious year of riots, confederate monuments, violence, shouting, broken government, voting and that pesky pandemic, the New Year held promises that the dust would settle.

It didn’t.

For me, the quarantine confinement didn’t vary much of my normal recluse. Then it got hot and seemed hotter than normal (age or climate change) and gave another excuse to do little physical activity or interact with anyone else.

So 2021 was more of a contemplative year than most. Some flashbacks occurred and I learned how to talk to people who are not here. I went through a phase of remembering dancing (that I’ll never do again) and talking out-loud in an open room ending with, “He said to himself” (usually in an English accent). Now I even answer questions that are never asked.

Since I could so easily entertain myself, I got rid of all those social media folks who just want to spout anger and alternative news (used to be called ‘fiction’). The ‘real’ news has enough reports to raise the blood pressure, so there is no needed for additional trash.

 

Tummy Temple

The daily destination for the day’s meal shows the sign of the times in changes. After a year of essential pay and required mask wearing the union shop was getting weary. A mass resigning and supply constipation proved what was so normal was not appreciated. Shelves were not stocked. Carts were hard to find. Floors were dirty. Selection was sparse and prices were going up.

  

Music

I’ve listened to a lot of music, but little caught my attention.

Imogen Heap & Jeff Beck worked together well. Toumani Diabate & The London Symphony Orchestra was an interesting combination. ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ by Petra Haden and friends was entertaining. Larkin Poe the sisters from Georgia caught my ear and everything I heard just got better. Jon Batiste had energy and happiness. ‘The night they drove old Dixie down’ by the Band was a theme song for the south. Velvet Underground found a repeat on my list with ‘Venus in Furs’ again. Hodera’s ‘Holding Patterns’ and ‘Best Intentions’ were repetitive plays. Peter Gabriel and the New Blood Orchestra presented some new variations to old songs. Lou Gramm was listened too from an old soundtrack for wayward vampires. Walk The Moon gave me dance. Walk Off The Moon gave me smiles. ‘Across the Universe’ by Rufus Wainwright or Fiona Apple made a song I’d by passed to become impressive. ‘Video killed the radio star’ performed by Tom Billington and a children’s choir made me laugh with joy. ‘Good Vibrations’ performed Social distance sessions showed what the pandemic could accomplish. ‘Auld lang syne’ by Birmingham choir started off the year while ‘End of the road’ by Noga Erez ended it. “West Side Story” pt. II didn’t sound right. I tried to like it but it didn’t have the fullness of the original. The same was the repeat of the Beatles. Watching them goof off was what we like in 64 but it had grown too old for that now. I did listen to music from the past with a different ear. Rearranging parts, adding horns or backup singers and every song took on new meanings. Different beats or rhythms came with the rediscovery of my keyboards and drum machines. If I knew when I know now? Charlie Watts, John Prine, Nanci Griffin left us.

 

Listening & Speaking

As part of the contemplative year, I’d paid more attention to listening. Try to shut your mouth and listen to the speaker. Put your hands in your pocket to avoid waving them around when you speak. Before you blow air out of your mouth think about what the words mean to the other. The same rules hold true for typing comments, you know?

 

Climate Change

Checking the weather everyday, it was hot. Triple digit hot was not normal here. It was worse out west, but it was hot. Good reason to walk around naked. The ceiling fans just move around the hot air. If this is the sign of things to come, the promises made in Iceland are just ‘blah-blah-blah’. We (universal) cannot go without energy and energy cannot be made without items that are killing us. Convenience versus saving our existence; who wins? Let me know when you park your car for good.

 

Government Hand Outs

Due to the worldwide virus without any cure, businesses were closing down and people were staying home to avoid the cooties. Unfortunately many industries needed bodies in the factories, restaurants, hospitals, fire stations and other ‘essential’ jobs like checking you out the line at the grocery. Increase in wages and required mask wearing and plastic panels keeping workers safe from breathing. The government realized the struggle and opened the wallet and sent cash to everyone, whether they needed it or not. Children at home; here are some cash. Shuttered business; here is some cash. Can’t pay your rent; here is some cash.

 

Supply Constipation

While staying at home with this additional cash from the government, we decided to order online. Click here to add to your cart. It will be delivered as soon as we can get the cargo ships to unload to docks with no truckers to pick up your order and deliver it to your door. Don’t blame it all on the ship that clogged up the Suez Canal. We all just got greedy and there were not enough manufacturers to produce or enough logistics to deliver on time.

 

Zoom

Want to have a conversation from home? Zoom it. It was the latest fade. Video FaceTime with more than one or two or many became essential. All the kids were doing it in home schooling. It is only a party online except you can’t hide. Like a conference boardroom meeting, after a few minutes it is boring. I didn’t see any method to gather a few to go over to the water cooler and get down to business.

 

Beatles are back

After 50 years, they are back. It was all the talk of the web an old film of the boys we loved back in the day were back on the screen goofing around and writing songs on their last album. Idol worship or curiosity, the fab four were back on the top hit charts with old songs. Then the Rolling Stones went on tour just to show how the old guys can repeat themselves for a bunch of coin.

 

Writing & Drawing

During the hot part of the season, I wrote more than ever. Maybe more subjects were coming to mind. Maybe I was too bored to do anything else. Got some new pens and pads and started sketching. It was good practice but nothing new resulted.

 

Rolling & Tumbling

Haven’t had any long adventures on two-wheels, but I do go out everyday. Same process, same path, it results for an excuse to exercise. Layer on when it is chilly. Un-layer when it is hot. Most days are uneventful, but sometimes there are surprises. On one occasion I ran out of road and tried to put my foot down to stop. There was no solid ground so the bike and its rider took a tumble. At a certain age, it is recommended not to take a tumble. After pulling myself from under the bike with groceries spreading across the pavement I gathered my wits and recalculated my adventure. Thankfully there was no blood or broken bones but a wallop of a bruise.

 

Phone

The only causality from my two-wheel tumble was my technology. It seems I landed on my cell phone in my pocket. Seems the screen was cracked to the point where couldn’t read the numbers. It still rang and could be answered but not dialed. Took it back to the place I purchased it but like all technology, it wasn’t that easy. Seems there was a PIN number that was needed. It was the password to replacement. After hours online and a trip out in the boney finally got a new number and closed the old account. The same technology upgrade was requested by Facebook (Meta) or else. I avoided it as long as I could and finally took the leaf of faith. Now I can see videos and news so I don’t leave the site. Can you turn off the television, but not turn off your phone?

 

Mandate

You got to do it. Wear a face diaper or you can’t come in. Get a shot or you can’t board the train. Stand far apart or you can’t get in line. Or go over there and you can. You can’t speed but you can drive fast. Who obeys? Personal imposition?

 

Church

No, I didn’t start attending Sunday services but it is constantly on my mind.

 

End of War

For conflicting reasons, our Commander in Chief decided to pull the plug on fighting an illusive enemy who can’t be beat. Is this the first time in my life my homeland was not at war with someone else? It seems we must always have an enemy to protect ourselves from with the most outstanding and amazing weapons of destruction. With an approved budget of $768 Billion, we can pay the contractors, get snazzy uniforms for the Space Force (whatever they are) and get more guns and boats to shoot off at an invisible danger.

 

Confederate statues

After the 2020 riots, the governmental leadership decided to take down the graffiti covered 130 year old markers to the lost cause. Now the Capitol of the Confederacy (not a respectable title) has lost the Avenue of Monuments. Even the older title of being the tobacco king is not popular. Maybe this burg can be known as the place that used to have? Maybe we can become the place with expensive houses with a dirty river running through it?

 

Legal Pot

The Commonwealth legalized recreational weed (up to 1 oz.) but didn’t figure out how to sell it (other than the illegal way). Other states have set up an uncover industry avoid the feds, but will this state figure it out? If you can possess it but can’t ‘legally’ purchase it, what is the use? Would the taxes become like the gambling lottery for the schools?

 

Kitchen flood

I’ve always multi-tasked, but my mind may be slipping. Leaving the water running in the kitchen sink until it covered the floor and washed out into the dining room reminded me that I’m not that coherent to reality. Perhaps a sign of times to come, but a true reality check. Welcome to old age.

 

Rural

I’m a city boy. I’m used to sidewalks and gutters and stop signs and crosswalks, but I’ve become fascinated with the other. All those folks who live just off the highway. The small towns we pass around or through in a rush to get to the next city. Those places that have Friday night football, prom queens, county fairs and then retire to the Dairy Queen. They are no different than where I grew up but I could walk to the Dairy Queen.

 

Dancing

Don’t know what peaked my remembrance (maybe re-make of West Side Story). I’ve always joining in a dance because I like the music. I like the beat. I learned the basics at summer camp and it stuck. I learned the moves from watching my partner. I learned older dances from films. Keep the feet moving.

Vaccine & Mask

 

Health is more concerning. With possible death floating around in the air, the face diaper became a must have fashion item to wear. Everyday there are reports of the unseen plague. Simple enough to sign up (online) and get my jabs by cute faces that were half hidden. None of this was a cure because the virus kept changing (or so the scientist say) so we continue to hide behind the mask and stay away from each other.

 

Mobs

 Who would have expected? If you had been paying attention you could see it coming. Just like a crowd at a football game or the ball drop in New York, people feed off each other’s energy and it can get out of hand. Is this human nature from chasing prey to kill to a speeding car or the fast gun?

 

Downsizing

In the increasing effort to distribute my items before they become yard sale junk, I reduced my library. It is a cleansing process. What is next?