E. Boyer
With Thanksgiving behind us and having time now to reflect, I'm reminded that collectively and in the broader scheme we know little of suffering..something for which we can surely give thanks. Watching last night's CNN Hero Awards could put things into perspective. Even though individually, we have our trials and challenges, I think most everyone in Piedmont can find reasons to be grateful . Even at the worst I imagine our pleasant surroundings and vast resources are something of a comfort. I'll amend by saying that this is at least true for me and hence I offer my post-Thanksgiving gratitude. Well, sort of....
It's very early in the morning as I write this column and still dark outside. I have lit, two enormous candles that smell delightful and a giant, glazed churn of a lamp that found itself in my home thirty years ago all the way from Wisconsin. I feel happy every time I turn it on. If you consider that I turn it on twice a day, over 30 years that's 21,900 moments of happiness all thanks to a lamp. It's among the top ten of all-time simple pleasures in my simple life. Few things compare to pleasant lighting. There is, of course, the indescribable joy of sleeping on ironed sheets, but alas, this service seems long gone. At the risk of dating myself, there was a time when homemakers hung their sheets on a line outdoors to dry and yes, ironed them afterwards. Those with funds to spare would even send their laundry out once a week and two days later have clean and freshly iron sheets. I can't remember the last time I saw sheets whipping around on the line. Coming from a time and place where this was the norm, I'm bewildered as to why we abandoned the technique. Do they even sell clothespins in the Bay Area anymore?? Be warned..if you sleep on ironed sheets you'll forever be disappointed with anything less. You could travel to Mumbai to experience the essence of the skill by the Dhobi Wallahs, but that's a tad indulgent. But, back to the topic of pleasant lighting and with it an announcement that I suspect will offend...I apologize in advance. It's about the new street lights that have popped up around town over the last year or so. I think you know the one's. They're...hmmmm..what's the word??? Awful. I'm sorry, but there it is. I'm thankful that we have people in our community that are kind, thoughtful and generous enough to make such contributions, but can I be honest and say that...I HATE THOSE LIGHTS!!! When I look at them my eyes feel like I'm wearing someone else's prescription! They look like steely beacons leading to an ominous alley-way! They're like a bad and depressing noir film! They're the single bulb hanging from the ceiling of an interrogation room! They're Szell from Marathon Man..Is safe? Is it safe? Is it safe??? One question: Can we please turn them off? Good Lord, they're ghastly! Can we just take a BB gun to those things?? I understanad that we longer iron our sheets, but certainly there must be a child with a BB gun in this town. O.K., o.k....that's probably scimming the edges of inappropriate and not the most thought-out solution. Forgive me. Well, can someone tell me what the ramifications are if I get up on a ladder and switch them out myself? I promise to research thoroughly the best and most energy efficient alternative, but one with a warm appealing glow. Handcuffs, prison time or just a hefty fine? I could take my chances. Between you and me, my athletic prowess my surpass that of...ahem.. some in our police department. Ten to one says I can out-run most of them. Hey, you don't get to be my age and maintain cholesterol levels of 140 by sitting on the couch! Say the word and I'm on a ladder. So much for my post-Thanksgiving gratitude. Because I'm human and imperfect, occasional complaining isn't out of the question for me especially when my eyes feel like they have sand in them every time I look at those glaring lights. It's terrible, I know. In my heart of hearts, I really want to be a CNN Hero, but as you can see by my ridiculous criticism of the (ghastly) lights, I have selfish and ungrateful tendencies which render me unworthy. But, sincerely..they really were incredible this year! People with broader minds and selfless character doing the most commendable things. I'm genuinely appreciative and struck by their efforts. There...back on topic... post-Thanksgiving gratitude. Not for pleasant lighting and luxurious sheets, but for selfless people. The CNN awards ceremony was uplifting. I think it made anyone watching want to be a better person which made me feel even saltier about my criticism of those...lights. Unworthy, remember? I liked the intro which was delivered by Harvey Keitel. He could make a recitation of The Itsy Bitsy Spider sound interesting, but lovely and inspiring words none the less:
"...We don't build statues to these people, we might not even notice them, but they don't care about that because their actions are not calculated to gain recognition or reward. What they do is who they are.
As a young Marine, I was taught to help people who could not help themselves. All over the world, right now, people are putting this principle into action and saving lives.
These heroes speak one language, the language of humanity. There are different kinds of heroes around us. Those who, in that unforgiving minute, rise to the occasion when the moment calls for it, daily grind it out heroes who wake up every morning and humbly change the world..."
P.S. But seriously, folks...I bet even the CNN Heros wouldn't like those lights.
As a young Marine, I was taught to help people who could not help themselves. All over the world, right now, people are putting this principle into action and saving lives.
These heroes speak one language, the language of humanity. There are different kinds of heroes around us. Those who, in that unforgiving minute, rise to the occasion when the moment calls for it, daily grind it out heroes who wake up every morning and humbly change the world..."
P.S. But seriously, folks...I bet even the CNN Heros wouldn't like those lights.
