I just watched the singing of the anthem before game 6 of the World Series.
I thought of Francis Scott Key, stuck on a British ship, straining to see the flag over Fort McHenry. Washington had been sacked. The White House had been burned. The war was not going well. The survival of our young nation hung in the balance. If London had the resources available, we probably would have been crushed.
Someone once told me the United States is always a work in progress. It's never about who we are, but who we aspire to be. The Civil War, Prohibition, both World Wars, the Civil Rights movement, and much more, were always about us trying to be a better nation, a better people.
Now, whenever I hear the anthem, it brings tears to my eyes. I think of what we've survived, what we've gone through, what we are going through.
And I think, we've survived so much. We'll survive this.
YOU MAKE WHAT? beer, astrophysics, baseball, life
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Sunday, October 22, 2017
Things I Miss (Part III)
Running and hiking; other than the fact they both use the legs, what do they have in common? Well, for me, It was the combination of the destination and the journey.
In both, there's a goal you're working towards. On a hike, you're going to the next campsite, or a historical site, or a notable landmark, or just a spot to cook lunch. In running, there's always the finish line. It could be a formal race, with a timekeeper, and an official placement. Or. you might be on your evening run, finishing up with a relaxing moment, and a cold drink.
A few of you might think I've lost my mind, but I really enjoyed the journey, as well. On a hike, there was always something to look at; a tree I'd never seen, a rock formation, a lookout with a spectacular view. I enjoyed distance running for much the same reason.I was competing only partially against the other runners, more against myself, my last run, my inner demons. There were smells, sights, sounds you could never get from inside a car.
In both running and hiking, I could feel a closeness to the natural world I couldn't get any other way. Breezes, dead leaves, freshly mown grass, newly poured asphalt, old firepits, The burst of autumn color, the peace of winter white; these are all things that made travel by foot my chosen method for the longest time.
Some things are just too far away to walk to. My last installment addresses that. I loved to drive.
In both, there's a goal you're working towards. On a hike, you're going to the next campsite, or a historical site, or a notable landmark, or just a spot to cook lunch. In running, there's always the finish line. It could be a formal race, with a timekeeper, and an official placement. Or. you might be on your evening run, finishing up with a relaxing moment, and a cold drink.
A few of you might think I've lost my mind, but I really enjoyed the journey, as well. On a hike, there was always something to look at; a tree I'd never seen, a rock formation, a lookout with a spectacular view. I enjoyed distance running for much the same reason.I was competing only partially against the other runners, more against myself, my last run, my inner demons. There were smells, sights, sounds you could never get from inside a car.
In both running and hiking, I could feel a closeness to the natural world I couldn't get any other way. Breezes, dead leaves, freshly mown grass, newly poured asphalt, old firepits, The burst of autumn color, the peace of winter white; these are all things that made travel by foot my chosen method for the longest time.
Some things are just too far away to walk to. My last installment addresses that. I loved to drive.
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