July – 2009 – Blog From A Hermit Dot Com

Monthly Archives: July 2009

"The silence between the notes is as important as the notes themselves” – Mozart

July 31, 2009

I’ve decided to take the month of August to remind myself of life without blogging and Twitter. I haven’t been a very active blogger (or Twitteur) over the last couple of months anyway… …the hermit needs a break – again. In reality I’ll probably only get about a week of solitude out of the deal. [...]

Hot Solitude: Naked, Wet and Nocturnal (Weather Post)

July 28, 2009

ForestSun

We’re having what passes for a heat wave here in Western Washington – temperatures in the nineties and low 100′s, plus high humidity – a combo as rare here as home air conditioning. We don’t need AC often enough here for most people to justify the expense and installation. Of course, portable air conditioners are flying off the shelves this week. Weather – a sure-fire economic stimulator.

The oppressive heat is predicted to continue for a full week before that pleasant Pacific marine air finds its way back home. I know what I’m describing as “oppressive” is no biggee for you tropics and desert dwellers, and those of you where summer equals humidity – but we’re not used to it.

Griz and I adapt to heat the way humans have always adapted in their natural state: less or no clothing, get the chores done in the cool morning, cancel most movement in the afternoon, and rev up again in the evening after the sun goes down. We also have lots of water. The streams are dry, but the well isn’t. We can stay as wet as we like. Wet hair cools the brain.

This hot weather stategy has reminded me how lucky we are to live in seclusion with a schedule of our own devising. Solitude has many perks – spontaneous nakedness and freedom from clocks are this week’s stars.

By Trish | Posted in Family, Privacy, Solitude, Weather | Tagged hot weather adaptations, solitude benefits, Weather, Western Washington heat wave | Comments off

Stop Bitching About What Isn’t – Rediscover the Magic of What Is

July 18, 2009

“It all depends on how we look at things, and not how they are in themselves.” – Carl Jung

I really enjoyed this video of Louis CK on Conan O’Brien though I disagree with Louis CK’s specific admonishment of the younger generation. Perpetual malcontent is unfortunately a cross-generational phenomenon. I see just as many malcontents in my own generation (baby boomers). Perhaps the discontent is for different reasons, but whining is whining.

For me, crankiness in youth is almost more understandable than the perpetual grouch I see in some elders. By the time you reach mid-life and beyond, you should have gained some perspective about life’s cycles and unpredictability. So life didn’t turn out just the way you expected – get over it. Stop trying to control others – you can’t. Stop bitching about what isn’t and rediscover the magic of what is. This moment is what you’ve got. Live, love, laugh.

“He who no longer pauses to wonder and stand rapt in awe is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.” – Albert Einstein

By Trish | Posted in Hermit's Rants, Humor, Mis-Tech, Philosophy, Psychology, Television | Tagged discontentedness, grouchy baby boomers, Louis CK, perspective, positive outlook, Psychology | Comments off

Done With Death, Moving On To Destruction …and Laughter

July 11, 2009

“I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge – myth is more potent than history – dreams are more powerful than facts – hope always triumphs over experience – laughter is the cure for grief – love is stronger than death” – Robert Fulghum

Music: Bad Day by Daniel Powter
Roadrunner Cartoons: Looney Tunes, Warner Brothers

By Trish | Posted in Art, Humor, Philosophy | Tagged cartoons, Robert Fulghum, Wile E Coyote | Comments off

Ritual Flippancy, a Certainty of Continuance and the Control of Brussels Sprouts

July 8, 2009

I am not a religious person, but I have strong, non-dogmatic spiritual beliefs drawn from several of the world’s religious traditions. My beliefs give me a comfortable certainty of continuance after death, but I am free of the need to define continuance in detail.

I am also not a big fan of rituals – funerals, of course, being one of my least favorites. I understand all the traditional grief-resolution arguments about funerals; I have planned some and attended many – some beautiful, some bordering on ridiculous. The most ridiculous are those with the strongest discontinuity between the deceased’s life and the subsequent eulogism. Nonetheless, I have a reasonable tolerance of other people’s need for ritual. I understand I’m the oddball.

Griz and I, however, have both made specific requests in our wills for NO FUNERAL. One of us will probably have the luxury of expecting this request to be honored. We have both requested cremation with our ashes to be scattered at sea - if such can be easily arranged and if sea-scattering is still legal. I suppose the scattering might provide an opportunity for ritual if any survivors feel inclined – not much you can do about it from the ash side of things.

Though I have not specified it in my will, I have discussed alternative ash disposal methods with those close to me. For the record, beneath a big cedar tree is a current favorite. But my attachment to the ultimate disposition of this mortal vessel is so minimalistic, that down the toilet or into the compost heap would not offend. One of my environmental goals, after all, is to leave no visible footprint. However, if the compost heap is where I land, I would like to request no brussels sprouts be grown from that particular soil. I have never acquired a taste for brussels sprouts: it’s odd really – I love most varieties of cabbage. Perhaps I’ll evolve through that particular distaste on the “ash side of things.”

I did not watch the Michael Jackson memorial at Staples Center; but, of course, I have been brushed by the news bytes and commentary – pro and con. Participating in such a super-bowlesque extravaganza for ANY reason is almost beyond my comprehension, but I don’t deride those who did. It seems a fitting element of grief resolution for the family and friends of a talented musician who lived virtually his whole life in the public eye. Music and entertainment are integral to his siblings’ lives as well – this family needed this.

A friend directed me to the video of Jermaine Jackson’s touching rendition of Smile. I was particularly moved because Smile was one of my father’s favorite songs – something I didn’t even know until I was caring for Dad at the end of his life. Smile was originally a song of my father’s generation and was written by Charlie Chaplin.

Music, family ties, loss and grief are cross-cultural and cross-generational. Even someone as ritualistically flippant as me is moved when I’m reminded of the profound universality of our humanness.