Quote of the Week
“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing; that’s why we recommend it daily.” — Zig Ziglar, author
Godzilla- Minus One
I watched this for the first time the other day—I’m a Godzilla fan. It was a reimagining of the original Godzilla (Gojira) film of the 1950s, with Raymond Burr. I’ll just say—it was fantastic! Even if you’re not a big Godzilla fan…the film was wonderfully made. I watched it in black and white, making it even better. If you’ve not seen it, make sure you do. It’s a work of art.
Ralph Vaughan Williams
As I am wont to do, I’ll sometimes listen to classical music while I write. I prefer classical at times, but always music without words—once there are lyrics, my concentration is gone. So, classical or jazz or something fits the bill. I was tired of the masters—people like Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, etc., and wanted something a bit different, so I did a little research and discovered Ralph Vaughan Williams. I’d not recalled his name or his work (sad for a former music/symphony major), but he won the draw and I listened.
Wow. Just…wow. Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis was wonderful listening. Mr. Williams was a student of Ravel (remember Bolero?) and did much to help create English melodies and modern harmonies in the 20th century. Give Ralph Vaughan Williams a try if you’re looking for something relaxing.
The Passage of Time
Regular readers of mine know of my fascination with time—to be more precise—its passing. There are markers in our lives that are not only interesting but serve to remind us that time never really does stop, despite how often we either disregard it or think it everlasting.
A good friend of mine from my college days has a daughter who is getting married. She was, once, one of my students and refers to me as “Uncle Mike,” a term I am so honored by. When she told me the other day she was getting engaged, I couldn’t help but think of my college days with Scott and his wife, Carmella (we all went to school together, hanging out in the student union with our “group”) and how much fun we had. It truly does seem like a blink.
Even when one has kids of their own—ours are grown and out of the house—with their own lives,that passage of time gets lost on occasion. Seeing it with someone else? Just brings it back home. It truly is our most precious resource, time.
Morning Coffee
Honestly, is there anything better than a good Cup O’ Joe in the morning? I usually wait for an hour after I get up before having it. Something about letting the body rid itself of the sleep hormones before your cup in the morning. An hour is best if you find yourself running out of juice midday—I read it someplace. A good friend of mine prefers Diet Coke in the morning, but the thought of that, well, I just can’t wrap my head around it as he can’t wrap his head around coffee.
There is a wonderful history of coffee—beginning in Ethiopia where coffee was discovered (a farmer allegedly saw his goats eating these cherries and getting hyperactive). Yes, coffee is not an actual bean…it’s a seed from a type of cherry. It was introduced in England in the mid-1600s (around 1652).
Some say coffee was the reason for the Enlightenment, as it replaced beer—rather than a foggy head midday, people could think clearer. Further, coffee houses sprang up, and the thinkers of the day—those that were “enlightened”— would gather and talk together there, bouncing ideas of philosophy off each other. Couldn’t make it? No problem. Someone would take notes of the discussion and hand them to you later.
That’s how the first newspapers allegedly got started.
It’s been said that all of the coffee plants in the Western Hemisphere can be traced to one tree in Turkey. My favorite bean? Indian Monsoon Malabar. Columbian is said to be the overall best bean, while the most expensive is—Black Ivory Coffee—Arabica beans ingested and excreted by elephants (around $1500-$3000 per pound), followed by Kopi Luwek—beans ingested and excreted by the civet cat (around $600-$1300 per pound).
American house cats won’t eat the cherry, so we don’t know what that might be like. :)
Coffee—more than just a drink.
New York, New York
Really? Now we’re electing avowed socialists? I find it fascinating how the general public is so gullible when it comes to policies like the ones being touted by Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate for Mayor of New York. I have serious problems with those who are trying to oust him from the ticket, as well as questioning, now, his citizenship, as he was duly elected in that primary, and we’ve been told, and I do agree, to accept the results of fair elections.
However—the ideas he’s espousing are not supported by historical precedent…not at all (the Scandinavian nations are not an example). They might sound good…and that’s a mighty big “might,” but the notion those ideas are feasible is simply folly, unsupported by history. But…this is what the voting populace voted for, and we are, if nothing else, a nation of laws, and, so, if he wins the general election, so be it.
It will certainly be interesting to watch.
Independence Day
No—not the film—the 4th of July. I can recall as a kid watching fireworks displays and being in awe. The loud booms, the wonderful sky shows…I loved the 4th. I didn’t know, really, what it was for other than “celebrating our independence,” but for me, that was enough. As I got older, I came to understand its meaning in the broader context of history, and why this nation was created in the first place. It’s much more than the two defining documents, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States (created, largely, to support the ideas contained in the Declaration), it was the time and place all of it happened.
Historical context is an important notion—understanding when and why events occurred—maybe even more so than the events themselves as the context provides the why for those who study it, wondering where all of this came from. I’m not going to turn this blurb into a history lesson, but we—all of us here—need to be reminded of the why, as well as the great risk the men who undertook this quest—faced.
Their average age was 44 (Franklin was the oldest at 76), young men, although fairly old by the standards of the day. 16 of the signers were in their 30s, and 20 of them were in their 40s.
But, the real kicker was this—they were quite well aware of the odds of success (not good), as well as the consequences if they lost. They were dire…they would all be hanged, drawn, and quartered. Knowing this, this was put in their final paragraph.
“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
Lives, fortunes, and sacred honor. All of it. They knew they would all be killed—that’s how much independence meant to them. The chance to chart their own course and that of a nation, free from the burdens and obligations to a king. It’s that last paragraph that is the most striking to me, and the one we must remember.
Happy Independence Day, America!!
Welp, that’s it for this week’s Mid-Week Musings. Remember, it’s all downhill from here! Have a wonderful holiday with your friends and family.
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Michael DiMatteo
Somewhere in Time
Triple Option Publishing
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