Pat Taub
A Bit of Magic
I still believe in magic, like this sighting from my downtown Portland window. Imagine my surprise when I pulled my blinds the other morning to spot a bunch of polka-dotted balloons tied to a fire hydrant right outside my window. I’m sure there’s a rational explanation but I prefer to believe, since I love polka dots and balloons, that the universe had delivered them to me to raise my spirits. Thank you universe!
James Baldwin’s Birthday
Today we mark James Baldwin’s birthday, born on this day in 1924. His books on race have a timeless relevance. Baldwin wrote about being black with a scorching honesty and rage. Among his notable books are Notes of a Native Son, The Fire Next Time and Nobody Knows My Name. In remembrance of Baldwin you might want to watch the brilliant Netflix documentary about him, I Am Not Your Negro.
My Garden
I feel very fortunate to have a country escape in a little home I purchased two years ago and am slowly putting together. My garden is very happy which makes me very happy. Here’s a shot of the walkway flanked with colorful blossoms.
Is This the New Normal?
I worry that as a nation we’re becoming accustomed to Trump’s hate speech, migrant concentration camps, climate denying and war talks. Is America in an induced comma? In a recent article, “The Great Reckoning,” political writer Andrew Bacevich describes most ordinary Americans as showing “a pronounced affinity for trivia over matters of substance.” In other words we’re more concerned with our iPhones, the latest good restaurants, and other forms of escape. Horrors!
A Portland Street Scene
On a recent walk in downtown Portland I encountered a Vietnam Vet showcasing his drawings of homeless men and women while soliciting donations for his artwork to supplement his meager income. I stopped and chatted with him and placed a few dollars in his donation hat for which he was very grateful. Sadly it appears that the homeless population is growing in Portland, like in most American cities.
