Here we go again, Hello!
If summer wasn't as restful as hoped for and you're maybe feeling overwhelmed by recent climactic events in Haiti, the USA, Afghanistan, Lebanon, or - you know - pretty much anywhere in the world, well then I have a message for you.
Like the cat in the tree with paws outstretched waiting for rescue,
Hang in there!
Also it's OK to take breaks sometimes (even just to stand up and walk around the room).
Hang in there.
Something Serious
"It's All Right" by Jon Batiste
Watching the new Pixar film Soul recently, I teared up twice before opening credits. NYC pizza, subways and barbershops, jazz clubs and helicopter seeds of maple trees all feature in the film. Also existential themes like 'how do we find our spark?' and 'what does it mean to really live?' are discussed casually. No big deal.
Jon Batiste composed half the soundtrack (winning an Oscar for Best Music). Turns out his has also been the band for Stephen Colbert's Late Show several years now, and he released a solo album in 2021. He's quite genuine, proud of his home state Louisiana, and soulful.
👏
Something Interesting
The Darwin Variant and/or Love of the Fittest (adrienne maree brown)
Not all she writes I'm gonna agree with, though arguably I don't need to because adrienne maree brown isn't trying to make a foolproof argument of infallible claims. She's expressing some wise truths that cross her mind and move her heart, and she's human. She can change opinions even while she's making sense.
& there is love in here, which feels important to legitimate.
I'm grateful she put it all into words.
Something Fun
Quick step back for a minute:
Does The Bridge get overly serious sometimes? Try to keep it balanced.
It's been a solemn year.
Here's a story...
Up in the middle of the night subtly worried about something, decided to call an old friend six hours away. & the friend shares of when he imagined battles between bunny-shaped erasers (when in elementary school) rather than learning French. He also spoke of crowdsourcing a solution for a giant mound of rocks piled up in his front yard. A lady from Brooklyn (responding to the Craigslist ad) drove all the way to Pennsylvania to pick up some of "the most beautiful rocks she ever saw" and offered in exchange homemade pomegranate wine.
Ridiculous maybe? but true.
The story finished, my friend fed his baby a bottle for the first time.
Life as we're living it.
Something Friendly
Thanks to Thomas Morrell for taking time to talk with me the other day. Was a genuine pleasure and even though I was sometimes stuttering around, I felt heard. Thank you!
You've got soul, /
and everybody knows /
That it's all right, /
whoa, it's all right /
Mmhmm,
JPC