Autumn 2018

At this time of the year, especially this year, I am reminded of the Sumerian legend that sought to explain the comings and goings of the four seasons.  Ishtar, the goddess of fertility among other things, loses her husband, Tammuz, each fall.  To resurrect her deceased Tammuz, Ishtar bribes the other gods, ransoming the beauty of the land.  This is winter.  In the spring, Tammuz is reborn and the summer represents the renewed enjoyment of life between Ishtar and her husband.  In a way, that's how we characterize the seasons.

I wrote "especially this year."  I really enjoy riding my bike.  I'm purely a recreational rider, nothing fast and nothing particularly long.  This summer I'd guess my longest ride was 15-16 miles or so, but most were between 6 and 12 miles.  Regardless, I like my summer rides.  This autumn, like Ishtar, I am saddened.  Due to, mostly, the weather, but also my schedule, I've cut back on riding far too soon.

Karen claims that here in Michigan, "We don't have spring any more.  We go right from winter to summer."  Although not precisely true, it does seem we get the 20- and 30-degree days, with snow, followed by only a few weeks of more moderate temperatures, and then the 80-degrees hit us.  I think in mid-April, after Karen returned from a week in Florida, we had a snowstorm; 5-6 inches were dumped on us.  Within weeks, if I recall, we were experiencing mid- and upper-80 degree days, with high humidity.  I think our first summer baseball game was played in 90 degrees with stifling humididity.

Two weeks ago from yesterday, Carrie and I ran and it was in the upper 80s.  Since, the temperatures have fallen.  Today's high was forecast to be 52, but so far hasn't come close.  It was 26 degrees when I ran in the dark this AM.  We're stuck at 45 degrees.  Several days on my bike it's been in the 30s.  I dress warmly, but with the constant steady breezes that seem to swirl from all directions, the rides are not comfortable.  A couple of the days I wimped/whimped out and came home after a mile or two.  The cold seemed to penetrate what I think were sufficient layers of clothing.  And the wind took a lot of effort to fight.

I'm going to try to ride as late as I can (last year after Thanksgiving), but I'm not encouraged.  Perhaps I can "ransom the land" and bribe the weather gods into bringing an early (and warm!) spring.

The elections are in two weeks, less actually.  I've had several folks ask (in person and by e-mail) what I thought about them, the candidates and the proposals.  I wrote to them, "I know it's hard to imagine me becoming even more cynical than I already am, but......"

I've stated in previous elections that I refuse to "hold my nose and vote for the lesser of two evils."  I won't do that.  Evil is evil; bad is bad.  No, I'm not, in essence, giving my vote then to the "other party."  If a party wants my vote, give me candidates worth considering.

We do have one, I think.  Running for the US Senate is John James.  I like much of what I read and hear about him.  He will get my vote, perhaps one of the few mainstream (Democrats or Establishment Republicans) candidates to do so.  Yet, his is an uphill battle, which is a shame.  His opponent, running for her fourth term in the US Senate, should never have been elected in the first place, 18 years ago.  And she's done little to prove worthy of the seat.  But the advantages of incumbency in raising money and name recognition and union support (for the bobble heads who blindly vote for the candidates hand-picked by their union leadership; that includes teachers) are often too much to overcome.

I can't fathom voting for candidates whose proposed policies (at least their political histories) would indicate a return to those eight years of economic malaise in Michigan.  Now that the state's economy is humming, I guess voters don't think about it; the economy isn't an issue.  Having short memories can be very dangerous.

(At the same time, I am very cautious about selling my soul--my vote--to the devil.  Economic issues are very important, but at what cost/expense?  I am reminded of the defense of Mussolini in Italy, "He makes the trains run on time."  He actually didn't and there was a great deal of economic strife, but people believed it.  The buffoon's other serious faults were overlooked because, well, "He makes the trains run on time.")

Each of the proposals in the state bears problems for me; I can't vote for any of them.  Locally, I can't vote for any incumbent school board members, not after they stabbed employees and children in the back on school closings.  (It would be hilarious if not so pathetic.  The rumor is the school board and administration next spring are going to ask for a millage/bond issue to enlarge some of the elementary schools, the ones where the students from the closed school were sent.  So, now, barely a year later, there is overcrowding?  Gee, why close a school in the first place--and then not really close it, but use it for other purposes?  Where are the savings, which by the way were not ever confirmed--$300,00?  a million dollars?)

I have class tonight and I'm off to prepare.  Please overlook/excuse any typos or other errors.