Not just a new, but a "new and improved" normal

 Mid-afternoon, the last day of November, 2020, the weather is brisk, with blue skies and sunshine. Approaching what we've come to consider normal for this time of year in this place. The Better Half [BH] has taken the three ears of maize we had on the table for Thanksgiving decoration, softened the husks, braided them together and hung them for the squirrels and birds to enjoy.

Much of the morning was spent Christmas shopping for family members' presents. We're not finished but we've made noteworthy headway. Later this week the BH will inform us of which of our pines she's selected and we'll "cut our own" tree. One of the amaryllis is showing signs of new growth. Perhaps the others will also by week's end. We're trying to acknowledge and respect the existence of the COVID-19 virus without letting it diminish the joys of Christmas any more than is unavoidable.

last year's tree with lights, pre hanging ornaments

Photo by J. Harrington

This morning, before we began shopping, we were wandering the byways of the internets and discovered a web site we want to share. You will probably find it interesting and may even find it useful, or so we hope. There's a recently formed Consortium of Environmental Philosophers [CEP] whose work they describe thusly:

The twenty-first century will be defined by how humans interact with the Earth, its processes, diverse environments and species. But it is not clear how governments, scientists, technologists and decision-makers will meet the complex challenges ahead without critical thinking about the ideas, concepts and value-assumptions that influence our policies and practices. Our work is to advocate for the importance of fair and transparent deliberation of the ways we live in the world.

We have seen entirely too much of the antithesis to fair and transparent deliberation in governance during the past four years, let alone anything resembling critical thinking. It will be interesting to see what this group manages to accomplish in the near future, since we do agree that the century we're in "will be defined by how humans interact with the Earth, its processes, diverse environments and species." Many years ago, we had a poster on our office wall, based on a Harvey Cox quotation. It read "Not to decide is to decide." We've basically run out of time to defer decisions on climate change, biodiversity, and new ways of supporting billions of people, so we wish the folks at CEP all the success in the world. A restored world would make a great Christmas present, if not this year, maybe next?

Various Portents

By Alice Oswald

Various stars. Various kings.

Various sunsets, signs, cursory insights.

Many minute attentions, many knowledgeable watchers,

Much cold, much overbearing darkness.

Various long midwinter Glooms.

Various Solitary and Terrible Stars.

Many Frosty Nights, many previously Unseen Sky-flowers.

Many people setting out (some of them kings) all clutching at stars.

More than one North Star, more than one South Star.

Several billion elliptical galaxies, bubble nebulae, binary systems,

Various dust lanes, various routes through varying thicknesses of Dark,

Many tunnels into deep space, minds going back and forth.

Many visions, many digitally enhanced heavens,

All kinds of glistenings being gathered into telescopes:

Fireworks, gasworks, white-streaked works of Dusk,

Works of wonder and/or water, snowflakes, stars of frost . . .

Various dazed astronomers dilating their eyes,

Various astronauts setting out into laughterless earthlessness,

Various 5,000-year-old moon maps,

Various blindmen feeling across the heavens in braille.

Various gods making beautiful works in bronze,

Brooches, crowns, triangles, cups and chains,

And all sorts of drystone stars put together without mortar.

Many Wisemen remarking the irregular weather.

Many exile energies, many low-voiced followers,

Watches of wisp of various glowing spindles,

Soothsayers, hunters in the High Country of the Zodiac,

Seafarers tossing, tied to a star . . .

Various people coming home (some of them kings). Various headlights.

Two or three children standing or sitting on the low wall.

Various winds, the Sea Wind, the sound-laden Winds of Evening

Blowing the stars towards them, bringing snow.

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