Sunday Drive: Louis Armstrong, When the Saints Go Marching In

Just a little contemplative tune to help my truckbuddies get in the proper mood to celebrate the Feast of All Hallows, which is tomorrow.  The great Satchmo and his band perform on the the Ed Sullivan Show, 1959:

 

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I Just Want to Say

Live cam at the Galveston seawall:

 

Land, sea, and sky endure from age to age-- 

but what about the human race?

So much is wrong, terribly wrong, with the nation and the world today, but I can't seem to bring myself to write about it.  Longtime truckbuddies will know that I am quite capable of a good rant when need arises - but what good does my ranting do?  

Beyond that, I sometimes feel I should at least express my thoughts "for the record" - but who cares?  I started this blog on a whim and have continued it on the same principle.  It's not like it will ever be a big Historic Document.  And I have no posterity who will ever wonder, what did old Gramps think about this or that.  

I have plenty I could say about all sorts of current topics - and my opinions are not always what perhaps my truckbuddies and other readers might expect.  It's not about politics, but about right and wrong, good and bad, true and false.  If I had the will to do it, I would lay about rather freely with a cudgel on the heads of liberals and conservatives alike.  There is no one party or group or faction that has a monopoly on goodness or holiness or even truth.

As St. Paul put it, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God."  That means nobody gets it right all the time.  And democracy means nobody gets everything they want when they want it.

With the country so divided and torn, filled with screeching, irrational voices at both ends of the spectrum - not to mention flat-out lies and open calls to murder this or that person or group - what is needed is not a lone blogger's scribblings but a cause or person to unite around.  I don't mean a demagogue or an ideology.  What I do mean, I don't know exactly: something that draws together the best of human nature, willingly, not under compulsion or pretense.  What I am sure of, though, is that without some centripetal force to unify us, this country will fall apart or blow up, and sooner rather than later.  And that would be a bloody horror.

I was hoping against hope that Old Joe might be that unifier - but so far, that doesn't seem to be happening.  The shrill voices are just getting louder and louder, and nastier too.  I'm very afraid for the immediate future.  You have only to read your history books to find out what happens when a country crumbles to pieces - or look around the modern world at all the failed states.  Don't think it can't happen here.  It's already begun.

I am old and infirm, and cannot do much good for anyone outside my home.  All I know to do is pray - for our President, our country, and our world.  And for peace, goodwill among men.  It may not turn the course of events in the big world, but it doesn't hurt any.  And it keeps me sane and centered:  Hope is the anchor of the soul.  That may sound arcane to a secular mind, but my spiritual-minded friends will understand.

I'm not sure why I keep this blog going.  It used to be a daily routine, something to fill the idle hours of retirement with.  But now I struggle to think of something pleasant and non-political to post once a week, if that often.  And perhaps it's dangerous to do more than that in today's world.  At any rate, one day I may just delete the whole thing and be done with it.  

Well, them's my 2 cents on this windy autumn evening in Texas - what are yours?  Maybe tomorrow I'll think differently, but there's no telling what will happen next.  Keep an eye on the weather and take care, fellas.

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Sunday Drive: Schumann, Träumerei

The title of this piece means "dreaming" - from Schumann's Scenes from Childhood suite, 1838.

  

I hope this lovely melody brings you some peace today. 

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Today's Chuckle: Who's on First?

Haven't heard this in years, but it's still just as funny as ever.

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Sunday Drive: Indian Summer

The bittersweet Victor Herbert tune, as recorded by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra, with vocals by Ray Eberle, 1939.

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Prince Charles on the Climate Crisis

The Prince of Wales, who has championed protection of the environment since long before it was hip to do so, expresses himself in a thoughtful interview about the problems now facing the world, marred by a somewhat hysterical interviewer and a completely misleading video title.  Well, listen to what he says, and see what you think.  

The interview takes place in the garden at Birkhall, the Prince's Scottish country house, part of the Balmoral Castle estate.

 

And here's the scoop on that "wine and cheese" fuel - it's ethanol, people, which all of Brazil and several other countries already run on.  Grow up.

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Buff, Bearded, Bronzed

Take a moment to savor these magnificent nude dudes from Calabria:

Click to enlarge.

More info at Wikipedia.

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A World of Change

This charming clip of an old farmer filmed in 1929 provides food for thought:

  

He was 87 years old when he was filmed; we are now 92 years further along the road of Time.

Update, 10/12/21:  For some reason, the video I posted is not working now, but here is a longer video that contains more interviews with elderly people in the late 1920s.  I've set it to begin with the old farmer's remarks, which run from 2:08 to 4:22.

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Sunday Drive: Amoreuse Waltz

Just a lovely tune to start your Sunday with.

 

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Dawn in East Texas

Just a quiet interlude for anyone needing a respite from the clashes and clamors of the modern world:

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