Anniversary of Kennedy’s death. Lionel White. Pierre Font. Brussels. Paris. National Registry for Muslims. Donald Trump. Marco Rubio. Jeff Cole. George Stephanopoulos. Jeb Bush. Ebola. Liberia. Earthquake in Afghanistan.
It is the 22nd of November and for some reason I remembered that today is the 52nd anniversary of the death of John F. Kennedy. When I was reading the Times this morning with my first cup of coffee, it struck me.
I was in middle school and the principal came in and whispered to the teacher, who told us and we were all sent home from our Catholic School and began a mourning that I am not sure we are over.
It was a grayish day today and on the chill side but tonight there was the most spectacular sunset I have ever seen in my time here. The sky was a lush red that filled the horizon. I attempted a photo but it didn’t do the colors justice.
Also, the deer have returned. There was a family of them scattered on the road, on my property and across the street at Lionel and Pierre’s home. Standing proudly in Lionel’s yard was a young buck, watching as his family crossed the road in front of my very slowly moving car.
While I listen to jazz and wait for Lionel to arrive for Thanksgiving week festivities, the world itself goes on its crazy way.
Brussels seems to be in a virtual lockdown and a series of raids have been held during the course of the evening. The city is on the highest level of alert, the Metro will not run tomorrow and schools are closed. People are being advised to stay home and inside.
In Paris, they are searching for a third suspect and some are saying many “red flags” for the attacks were missed.
The world has changed, again, since the Paris attacks. Trump is talking a “national registry” for Muslims. He also claims that on 9/11 “thousands” of Muslims in New Jersey cheered as the Towers fell. He claims to have seen it himself, on television. Really? George Stephanopoulos reminded him that the police say it didn’t happen. But it did, George, but it did.
The Washington Post did an evaluation of the top Republican candidates and estimated that the nominee is likely going to be Marco Rubio, which my friend Jeff Cole suggested when we had lunch six weeks ago.
Jeb Bush comes in at number 5. Number two is Donald Trump. Is this really happening? I have stopped laughing because The Donald might just pull it off and that is a really scary thought.
The Paris attacks have changed the tone of our electoral campaign and will continue to influence it as we progress toward this, to me, most bizarre of electoral cycles.
Sadly, Ebola has re-emerged in Liberia and 153 people are being watched to see how it develops in them.
There has been a 5.9 magnitude earthquake in Northeast Afghanistan, bringing even more misery to that land of misery.
Thankfully, the jazz is soothing and the fire cheery. So I end the day, curled up in the comforts of the cottage, Tempting as it might be, I am not yet retreating into blocking out the news of the day.
When I was younger, globe trotting, I felt like a citizen of the world. I still feel that way.
Letter from the Vineyard 
Letter From New York 11 24 15 That attitude of gratitude…
November 24, 2015Howard Bloom. New York City. Thanksgiving. Metrojet. Claverack. Howard Bloom Saves The Universe. Anne Frank. Jason Rezaian. Nancy Wiard. Penn Station. Chad Dougatz. Metrojet.
It is mid-afternoon and I am beginning this as I am closing in on New York City, on the train. I’m down this afternoon for Howard Bloom’s Podcast [Howard Bloom Saves the Universe, look it up on iTunes or howardbloom.libsyn.com/.
I have a breakfast in the morning and then I am scurrying back north for the long weekend. Trains were getting hard to get yesterday – every other one seems to be sold out.
Depending on when I get finished with breakfast, I may take an earlier train. I’m eager to be back at the cottage, priming for Thanksgiving. I have a few side dishes to make for the feast I am attending.
It’s cold today and it is going down to a mere 14 degrees tonight in Claverack. Yikes! I am wearing my winter jacket and have pulled out my favorite scarf.
But my hardships are minimal. I could be a refugee somewhere in Europe as the cold settles in on the Continent while, at the same time, finding themselves feared by the countries to which they have been fleeing.
Earlier today, in a Facebook posting, I saw that Anne Frank had applied to come to America but was denied. We weren’t very open to Jews before the war. If that visa had been granted we may have been denied her diary but she’d be 77 if she had lived.
That fact saddened me.
People are wrestling with what to do about refugees. Some of most liberal friends are now feeling fearful of accepting them. I have been seeing the postings on Facebook. There is great support for and there is great fear of refugees, both views understandable in the light of current events.
Jason Rezaian, a journalist for the Washington Post and who headed their Tehran bureau is headed for prison for an unspecified period of time. Holding both Iranian and US citizenship, he seemed a natural for the posting. The Iranians have convicted him of espionage.
He has languished in prison since July 2014.
Now, I am sitting just outside the studio while Howard is doing his podcast, discussing with Chad Dougatz, the host, the roots of Islamic terrorism.
Terrorism, the bane of our time… Just moments ago, my phone buzzed with a notice that the US has issued a global travel alert due to increased threats of terrorism.
My friend, Nancy Wiard, is traveling to the European Christmas markets. She sent me a message today from Amsterdam, which is close to Belgium whose major city, Brussels, home for the European Union, is under lockdown.
Multiple operations are underway in Brussels as I type.
It is believed that the bomb that took down the Russian Metrojet was placed under the seat of a fifteen year old girl, seat 31A.
I didn’t get to finish last night. Today is a beautiful, slightly chill, afternoon on the train heading north. I’m seated on the river side of the car and I’m watching the Hudson slide by as I move north.
As I headed toward the train this morning, Penn, not unexpectedly was overflowing with people heading out for Thanksgiving. It, too, had more than its usual contingent of police and soldiers. In the fourteen plus years since 9/11, I have yet to accept their presence as the new normal.
But, it is, and during Thanksgiving the city is on a higher alert level. More police, more soldiers, more…
Yes, the world is a grim place. The Turks have shot down a Russian warplane which kept, according to them, violating its airspace. Let’s just ratchet up the tensions, why don’t we…
However, I also read an article in the NY Times this morning about the positive health affects of being grateful, so I am attempting to settle myself into my “attitude of gratitude” mode. It will be a healthier place for me.
It is two days from Thanksgiving and tomorrow I will be prepping my contributions to our annual feast of gratitude and I will do my best to remember all the many things for which I am grateful.
Tags:Anne Frank, Attitude of Gratitude, Howard Bloom, Howard Bloom Saves the Universe, IS, Mat Tombers, Mathew Tombers, Syria, Thanksgiving
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