Greetings folks. Despite the report from my host it seems that I’m only being spidered - not actually read. But you know, one of these days I’ll have something really profound to say and then I’ll get a spike in my hit count and get actual responses.
Or I’ll just blog at Computers in Libraries and SLA.
The revolution will be blogged.
I just got info from my blog-provider and it seems that some folks are finding my blog. Okay, not many and they’re quiet, so perhaps I’m just being spidered. But it is kinda neat that anyone is looking. Maybe I’ve made a list of good or lame blogs, or maybe folks are just bored.
So there’s no instant fame involved here – all I have to do is say the right word and I’ll show up a Google search. I’m not so narcisstic to think that I’ve said anything profound or new.
That being said, this morning on my walk from Union Station I noticed a car that rolled up through the crosswalk at a red light. The driver was waiting to turn right on red after stop. And that got me thinking. What is the rush? I’m guilty of it too. Many times I have made myself just a little crazy racing along in traffic, driving too close to other cars, rushing to make a light – and for what? To get to work a few minutes earlier?
Several years ago I worked at Arena Stage here in Washington, DC. The Company was performing George Bernard Shaw’s Heartbreak House. I was struck by the amount of words and the leisurely lifestyle of the upper middle-class British in the play. Ahhh – that would be my lifestyle!
The difference between now and a century ago is profound! The leisurely lifestyle of beginning of the 20th Century was destroyed both when World War I wiped out so much of a generation of Americans, French, Germans and British. Technology pushed forward and the Great Depression followed by World War II had an even great impact. People relocated during the Depression in search of work. During WWII women entered the workforce in great numbers. In the closing days of WWII the unthinkable happened. With the drop of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki the world suddenly knew that life on the planet could end in the blink of an eye.
Rather than causing people to stop and enjoy the pleasures of life – people, art, nature, beauty – we sought comfort. In order to gain comfort we built homes and dreamed of leisure, but we keep rushing to earn more and to buy more and to have that comfort and satisfaction immediately. So want everything now! We need to get to work right away. We need our instant foods. We need instant connectivity. And constant connectivity – via telephone, cellphone, Internet, television.
But too often we rush around and fail to connect with the people around us. We fail to take comfort in the things we’ve got. Many of us have more than we’ll ever need. And yes – I’m guilty too!
So – let me stand back and relax a bit. Let me work at my job. Let me be happy with what I have. Starting now! (Wow – all of this from someone wanting to turn right on red!)
What a frabjous day! It is Ash Wednesday – the beginning of the penitential season of Lent. I decided to start the day with Mass at St. Dominic’s here in DC. Much to my surprise, His Eminence, Theodore McCarrick was the celebrant. To my delight he gave a short and good homily! So we have started another 40 days of atonement.
Today is also the feast day of St. David of Wales – please note the country of Wales, not the sea mammal Whales. Though I’m sure he’d happily look after the great beasts! In reading about him in the Wikipedia entry, he led his monks in a rather austere rule, so it is fitting that his feast day is actually a day of fasting! In the US St. David isn’t even celebrated on the RC Calendar. Our Episcopal friends celebrate him though. So – wear a leek in your hat for St. Davey’s Day.
Exercising my hobby as a musician and trombone player – I was asked to play for local production of Jesus Christ Superstar performed by the St. Mark’s Players. It was a while before I saw the connection between the show and this column. One of the songs in the show is What’s the Buzz – “What’s the buzz, tell me what’s a-happenin’.â€
Looking ahead – this month is the Computers in Libraries conference here in Washington, DC. It doesn’t seem that I’ll be attending the conference, but I plan to get over there at least for part of a day to visit the vendors area – see what goodies there may be! I’ll be attending the SLA Conference in June – and maybe I can swing another conference later in the year. They are good for networking and occasionally I learn something!
Peace out!