I’ve been journalling since age 13 – (back in the fifties!) – which I believe contributed to the fact that I am still alive at 74, and reasonably mellow. At least at times. In a sense, writing is sometimes akin to visiting a shrink; at other times like having a discussion with someone who might actually respect my opinion — or question it respectfully. It’s a pleasure, really. Think of it: no one talks back, diminishes me, or produces anxiety as I try to speed up or shut up because I can see I’m boring them.
And now, in the best of all possible worlds, I can question my own opinion, quickly do a google search and find a different point of view. It’s an incredible world, and I am so incredibly lucky to be in it. Sure as hell, I sometimes thought I should be out of it.
So now, as I enter the so-called twilight years (only a tiny hint of twilight on my horizon, but that’s it for now!), I am ready to share SOME of my thoughts and feelings. And as an ‘aging radical’, try to help change the world. And maybe on the side, explore the meaning of ‘twilight’…
Things I tend to care about: my relationships; my community; poverty; affordable housing; socio-economic trends (whoa!); politics; psychology/feelings; education, and ‘Mother Earth‘. What I am thinking about or feeling on a given day is somewhat dependent on what’s happened that day.
Thinking and Dreaming 
I call it having a conversation with myself. If someone is interested in listening in or adding a little comment or 2 or 3. That is fine too. I don’t need a big audience. I am not trying to convince anyone to think in a certain way. I am not selling anything. And a little disagreement is OK too. After a bit you know who you want to follow along with and who is interested in following you back. You eventually weed out or get weeded out.
Happy Birthday!
Thanks! 🙂 I also try to work on ‘pieces’ between posts – hoping to cover those days when my mind seems creatively incompetent and I can’t write. But that’s okay too. I don’t worry about being weeded out – I also see it as a kind of conversation – with 30 million(!) other WordPress bloggers alone. Who woulda thunk it!! I use the expression “Modern life!!” all the time, and never cease to wonder at it…
This is great! 😀 I have just started journalling myself, like actually writing words down on paper (not just on the interweb 😉 I used to do it all the time when I was a kid, and I think it contributed to the development of my analytical skills…which are still a work in progress of course! I’m hoping that getting back into journalling will help with that. I really like what you wrote above about it keeping you reasonably mellow — that is my goal too!
BRAVO! Mind you, come to think of it – one can be reasonable without being mellow, but can one be mellow without being reasonable? Hmmmm, I’ll have to spend awhile on that! 🙂
Hi… Just wanted to pass on my thanks for stopping by to check out my blog and for being brave enough to ‘Follow’ it 🙂 I do wonder how you stumbled across it though? I admit, it’s all a bit new still, but I hope you liked what you read so far, as much as I have writing. Looking forward to seeing more from you too. Uncle Spike
I’m trying to remember how I came across your story about the ‘caravan’ and your childhood friend…. Perhaps through ‘5kidswithdisabilities’ who I follow…. Blogging is a curious new world….. 🙂
It is indeed. When I get asked the same question, I often haven’t a clue… I meander all over the place at times 🙂
Dreamers welcome! Thanks for following me on Cold.
Hi Pat: I read your comments about Sammy. I know a few cops and they seem to come in two types – nasty, pumped up and nice with a calm during a crisis demeanour. Your comment about Toronto being young and it’s police force being young too identifies a big part of the problem that I had not thought about. It is pretty clear that the officers involved were never in any danger from this frightened boy. I fear they thought they were looking at a ‘foreign’ threat. How naive is that? How tragic the outcome. It seems to me these incidents seem to happen with minorities far more often than with those 4th gen Canadians you mentioned. Frankly being one of those myself I have no fear of being shot by police. It is a travesty that I feel so separated from others who are in the line of police fire. That proves it is wrong. Another two tiered system so to speak. Thanks for perspective . Paul
Good point! ‘two-tiered’. Another thing you made me think of: you don’t have to shoot far in Toronto to hit a “foreigner”. And it’s not that long ago the shooter (Italian ethnicity) would have been considered as such. Sammy’s plight I find unbearable, so wonder about a mind who can’t see that….. 😦
Pat.. Picked your blog site from ours (contraryperspective.com) and just thought I would explore. Many years ago I had clients in Toronto and Montreal and at that time Toronto was considered a backwater to Montreal’s more sophisticated urbanity. At that time I always welcomed my trips to Canada because the people in both Toronto and Montreal were so much more open minded than Americans. Your blog is delightfully Canadian open minded and immensely interesting. My question is with this open minded ness why have Canadians been repeatedly electing reprobates for PM? I have always looked to Canada as an example to be followed but now it is just another “poodle’.
Thanks, but I’m afraid Canadians have become U.S. followers much like the rest of the western world. (I may be biased, but) Montreal is still more sophisticated, progressive and humane than Toronto. Toronto in many ways is still a backwater. (Financial success is not progress). Montreal was recently voted the most bike-friendly city in North America; there is daycare for $7/day, and university education for something like $2000/year — all of which countless Americans would consider socialistic. I think there is such a thing as a mature socialism – one relatively in touch with the realities of life. (e.g. I believe it makes sense to invest in an educated population). Montreal’s new-ish mayor makes our Rob Ford look even worse than he is. As for PM Harper – we left-of-center types have been self defeating by splitting our vote – with Liberals, + NDP spreading myths about each other. I do think the English-speaking world has been steadily dumbing down, has become money-obsessed and insecure (naturally) and some say that capitalism has hijacked democracy. It sure looks like the military-industrial complex is top dog. I think we’re actually at a very dangerous stage in human history, and the internet is so precious in its potential to save us (no guarantees!) 🙂 Sorry for the gloomy response – I was tickled pink to read your comment!
Pat Thank you for updating me on current Canadian politics. I was surprised to learn that besides being more urbane Montreal is also more liberal than Toronto. I remember Toronto as being a rather “dull” town in the early sixties,but I visited in the late 70’s, I think, after Toronto had sort of revitalized and set up interesting neighborhoods. Big change. You could even get interesting food there. What happened to the Canada that was a haven for those young Americans who did not want to go to Vietnam? We need a liberal neighbor again. Help us get it back.
There was an old joke I heard from Canadians when I did business there about the Quebec newspaper that had a contest in which the winner could win ” two days in Montreal or two weeks in Toronto”. Keep up the good work and let’s hear more about the Canadian psyche and politics.
🙂 Still true! I should have tossed in that Montreal (+ Quebec) has paid a horrendous price for its flirtation with separatism. Almost a miracle that it’s retained its humanism!
Here’s to you aging radical, from another.
Thanks for signing up to follow my blog 🙂
Thanks for the like on my post “Where I Write” on my “Life is ON” blog. I’m just coming back to blogging after being away from it nearly a year. I’m intrigued about your mention of “twilight.” Have you explored that yet?
Funny, this ‘pausing’ thing. I haven’t posted anything since I think March of last year. I think I’ve spent too much time exploring “twilight”!! And lately I’ve been working on a potential blog post, “To blog, or not to blog”. 🙂
Why don’t you share some of these heartfelt posts with others at the Senior Salon on Monday. I know the other writers will enjoy your work.