… Living in the Upside Down
It’s starting to feel like a pattern. I think I know what I’m going to write about, begin gathering information and inspiration and then that darn kaleidoscope lens shifts again and … but … it almost feels like I’m getting used to it; this living in a very upside down time in between what just was and what’s coming next. Not to be confused with becoming complacent or apathetic, maybe this is a good thing, allowing me more curiosity, less anxiety. The little sign posted in my entry hall becomes my scripture for the day. “Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass. Life is about learning to dance in the rain.”
So, as much as I still intend to explore what our GenZers think about as they are faced with the American Election of the Century, I am once again moved to offer instead, a bit of what might be considered Elder Wisdom laced with Aging Rascality.
Before we settle into today’s dance in the rain, though, here’s a poem of mine that speaks to the uncertain time between seasons.
And Now the Time Between So it has arrived at last. You knew it would. Summer can’t last forever. Nothing does. Some lessons we have to learn the hard way …. some of us. Things happen. We close our eyes for a minute and something that was there is gone. Not everything planted gets to bloom. Sometimes we blame the soil, sometimes the circumstances … not enough light, too much rain. But the light and the weather change and the season of harvest knocks gently at the screened door.
And so it comes, the season of harvest. Just as we are celebrating the 100th birthday of President Jimmy Carter who says he wants to stick around long enough to cast his vote for the first woman to occupy the oval office, I and millions of others mourn the loss of two of my favorite octogenarians; Maggie Smith and Kris Kristofferson.
I find it true that a lot of us old, scary people not only have our eyes on the coming election, but are out there “doing something”. (I guess that’s what makes us scary). For instance, the Portland Raging Grannies (myself a proud member), part of an international collective of women beyond 50 dedicated to raising consciousness about justice issues, are offering information about Project 2025 at local Farmers Markets and singing our hearts out about the importance of voting.
If it’s more music you’re after, how about this from 76-year-old Stevie Nicks, right up there in this week’s “Top Ten”.
Following Stevie’s powerful lyrics and drawing from Heather Cox Richardson’s September 30th “Letters From An American”, it seems fitting to quote Fulton County Superior Court Judge, Robert McBurney, Republican appointed and a youngster by comparison, whose searing 26-page decision reversed Georgia’s abortion ban. Among his words … “Women are not some piece of collectively owned community property the disposition of which is decided by majority vote. Forcing a woman to carry an unwanted, not-yet-viable fetus to term violates her constitutional rights to liberty and privacy.”
And here’s a heartbreaking, relevant testimonial from Sally Field revealing the chilling story of her own illegal abortion at 17.
The most recent issue of Persimmon Tree, an online Magazine of the Arts by Women over Sixty, focuses on “Discerning Truth in an Age of Disinformation” … offering a full plate of food for thought.
Then there’s one of my very favorite aging rascals, Margaret Atwood (85), the brilliant Canadian writer who prophesied in The Handmaid’s Tale what could become a mid-21st century reality. If you’ve got time for a good read, click on her Substack column. You may be surprised at how amusing she can be.
And speaking of more-than-eerie prophetic writing, there is Octavia Butler, who died at 58. If you haven’t read her Parable of the Sower, published in 1993, which begins on a speculative July 20, 2024, you might want to.
But let’s not leave the real men of this world out of the equation. Men like Tim Walz and Doug Emhoff and Kris Kristofferson and Joe Biden and Jimmy Carter, who know that being real men means not being afraid to speak openly about their love and respect for women. And even old cowboys like Sam Elliott. If you haven’t seen his 2024 election ad, take a minute to watch and listen. You won’t be sorry.
And almost last, but not least, I hope you will take four more minutes to experience Keb’ Mo’ as he and Roseanne Cash honor Keb’s mom with this song. “My mother passed at 91. She was smart. She was strong. She was a leader. This video is dedicated to her and amazing women everywhere that are getting the job done.” – Keb’ Mo’
So, Dear Friends old, young, and everywhere in between, let’s imagine getting together for coffee between now and next time with January Gill O’Neil in the company of women.
IN THE COMPANY OF WOMEN By January Gill O’Neill Make me laugh over coffee. Make it a double, make it frothy so it seethes in our delight. Make my cup overflow with your small happiness. I want to hoot and snort and cackle and chuckle. Let your laughter fill me like a bell. Let me listen to your ringing and singing As Billie Holiday croons over our head. Sorry, the blues are nowhere to be found. Not tonight. Not here. No makeup. No tears. Only contours. Only curves. Each sip takes back a pound, each dry-roasted swirl takes our soul. Can I have a refill, just one more? Let the bitterness sink to the bottom of our lives. Let us take this joy to go!!
Let us take this joy to go!! See you next time.
Sulima