There's Still Some Hope for The USA
Fine people exist amongst the madding crowd and we are the better for it despite the overwhelming proliferation of the latter.
Their names will not be mentioned, but it’s fair to say we would be much closer and tightly bonded friends were our geographical proximities more favorable. We might even be best friends as connections are strengthened with frequent visits by the popular, fun, and dangerous Uncle George sweeping in some weekends, spoiling with Nutella gelato and cheating in board games, then departing as their stunned kids wonder when that excitement will happen again.
They are passionate about issues without zealotry. Readers, studiers, and most importantly listeners. Industrious, culturally-literate, and responsible. Artistic, graceful under pressure, and realists who can balance dreams with achievements.
We need more of them. Society requires the quietly confident who honor the world and its citizenry by respecting themselves, their families and friends, and their environment. Those who think globally and act locally because acting locally will improve the global picture as a whole.
I wish I knew them better. They are the best of us all: not to be defined merely with some tawdry cliche like that, but instead by their day-to-day actions that serve as inspiration for the same. Theirs is not a mirage of passion and civility’s coalescence.
It’s real.
He is my brother, or maybe nephew. We are related and don’t need any blood tests. I loved him from the first moment I met him. We were introduced by a mutual friend who, less than ironically, no longer speaks with either of us. He was tending bar in Boston and within five minutes we established that we both adored the Bruins and “Five Years” by David Bowie. Maybe less than five minutes. Movies, literature, and music all hit for us. And we have never lost that feeling.
Also, the guy witnessed the Shawn Thornton penalty shot in person! So jealous.
Is she the most beautiful woman in the world? Close. There’s a woman in Austin who I think holds that title. But what do I know? Not much. I also don’t know her favorite color or perfume, or if she even wears perfume, and I don’t think I have spent very much time in person with her at all. But I want to. I have a good sense about people—possibly because I’m so naturally gifted at being judgmental—and I have at least been fortunate enough to have observed her as a mother and wife. She is remarkable.
And, most vitally, they are remarkable together.
It bothers me when pundits of a certain generation either glorify or malign other generations with monopolistic pronouncements. Were the warfighters of WWII that much greater than those of Vietnam and later? All were draftees and/or volunteers, many were brave, some weren’t. I view a lot of Gen X posts on social media (thanks to some rather unfortunate algorithms) that exclaim the past virtues of jumping bikes over homemade ramps in driveways and skinning knees in comparison to later, softer generations. But it seemed like there were always (and only) the same three or four of us doing that in my neighborhoods as a young person, plus throwing dirt clods at cars or shooting each other with bottle rockets, BB’s, and pellets. The majority of the other kids were not even outside playing; their revisionist histories now, none of which can be confirmed, are quite appalling when considering their incessant needs to attack Millennials or Gen Z in the current day.
This couple is, admittedly, younger than me. But I see in them, with objectivity beyond the emotions of my profundity about their life together, the promise of both the now and the other side of now regardless of generational classifications. And that gives some measure of hope to both sides of me: the cantankerous, curmudgeonly, difficult cynic and the romantic, sanguine, poetic lover.
It should give aspirations to a splintered America, too.
Inspired by their balance and happiness together, I trudge forward bravely, through the snow and into the wind and against the currents, knowing my life has been blessed by their examples.
And I’m thankful.
