Bill, thanks for the emails and for forwarding mine to others. It’s been almost 47 years since I arrived in NYC, on my 28th birthday, for a summer job as a camp counselor, courtesy of BUNAC. To put those years in perspective, 47 years before that date gets us to 1932 when amongst other things, World War I veterans marched on Washington, in the midst of the depression, to demand redemption of their World War One service bonus certificates. Neil Stephenson, one of my favorite authors, covers the event in his book “Polostan.” The story features, amongst others, a young Dick Feynman, which brings us back to our days at Jesus reading Physics.
As we age, we do tend to live in the past, enjoying memories of our adventures and regretting opportunities that we passed over. When I’m not laid up, my passion these days is gardening. Particularly in these weird times when we are governed by soulless oligarchs that have no empathy for the natural world and its inhabitants, I take great pleasure in cultivating veggies, shrubs, trees, and flowers in my own backyard. It’s not Eden, and I’m not sure that I’d even like Eden, but it’s ours and keeps us grounded.
I enjoyed the singing in the video you sent of the Youth Eisteddfod. Although I don’t understand a word, the music itself has great power. I came across a quote of Aristotle the other day: “How is it that rhythms and melodies, although only sound, resemble states of the soul?”
Love to you and Anna