I vaguely remember a writer sharing that his father had a unique way of telling him to step back and get some perspective.
"Give it a drink, Danny"
Even though the writer grew up in a city, I assume the saying had its origins in plough-men and their horses. When your team is flagging, 'tis not the time to bring out the whip but it is the time to find a bit of shade and a bucket of water.
So, "Danny", as a young man, had a habit of becoming consumed with whatever event was immediately in front of him. He hyper-focused and became difficult to live with.
Sometimes, wisdom resembles simply being too tired and having run out of other options. Danny's dad would trudge up the stairs to Danny's room and stand in the doorway leaning against the frame. The advise wasn't loud. It was weary. The voice of a man who worked too many hours a week at a job that was arduous and boring.
"Give it a drink, Danny."
Then his father would turn and trudge back down the stairs to (perhaps) drink his nightly allotment of Old Milwaukee or Carling long-necks.
"Give it a drink, Danny" might be timely advice given the tensions and distractions of today
Saint Patrick's Day
The Medieval Church sprinkled the year with "Feast Days" to the tune of about one every three weeks. Local custom added more. They were wedged in between the crush of planting and harvest. There were winter/early spring festivals and there were mid-summer festivals.
Saint Patrick's Day falls in the middle of Lent, perhaps as a respite for those whose abstinence/penance became too heavy to endure the entire 40 days. St Paddy's Day is a bit like the Seventh Inning Stretch in baseball.
This Lent, I gave up my liquid libation in the evening. Mrs ERJ noticed that I am much more fidgety and seem to need less sleep.
I notice that I am losing weight and may have to punch another hole in my belt!!! Not only am I forgoing the calories but that "fidgeting" means I am moving more. I do not plan to indulge tonight, but for those of you who do, please be safe!
Smile, I hear you Joe, but the horses being tired, let's take a drink might be less apt than world changing events driven mostly by ego and pride..
ReplyDeleteSufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
DeleteA wise man who is sometimes anonymous reminds us to focus on our immediate family, our neighbors and our professional associates and on other like-minded people. They have a much bigger impact on our lives than "they" do. Those groups of people will be our life-raft.
I believe that wise man is named "Michael". Good advice even if it is sometimes hard to concentrate on executing.
Yes I agree.
DeleteHave you secured your years supply of fertilizer and pesticides Joe.
I think I mentioned that my pre-ordered fertilizer was canceled due to unforseen circumstances and I was encouraged to reorder at a new higher price and wait in line if it will be delivered.
Same thing happened during the COVID "supply chain disruptions " and I never got my fertilizer delivered.
But as a hobby farmer I just reduced my planting so my leftover fertilizer from last year would do.
Praying for wisdom
Michael the anonymous
Chicken litter, leaves and grass clippings, cow and horse manure... Lots of ways to fertilize. And if you've got a pond, irrigate with the pond water. Because fish poop is nutritious.
DeleteI am in good shape for fertilizer and pesticides.
DeleteThe word on the street is that significantly less corn will be planted this year due to the profit squeeze lower prices caused. Other countries responded to US tariffs by retaliating and farmers are getting kicked in the teeth.
The farmers are in a hard spot. They need a certain amount of cash-flow to service their debt. However, they are all sharpening their pencils and not renting parcels that are small, isolated parcels far from their center of operation. Some land owners are going to be surprised when their regular tenant doesn't rent.
If true, that should take some pressure off of the demand for fertilizer and we will know by May if it is true.
Sounds like you're doing good.
DeleteI waited too long for my pre-order during COVID and all Tractor Supply and Lowes had left was really expensive organics and such.
I'm still concerned that lower middle class and poorest Americans are going to make serious cash crunch decisions and fixed income may stop paying for medicines.
Happened in the last oil embargo.
Michael the anonymous
Ah Saint Paddy's! The one time of year day-drinking and getting black-out drunk is socially acceptable for everyone!
ReplyDeleteI have come to understand that 90% of what occurs outside of my door is not within my control. I can worry, I can fear, I can rant - but it will change nothing. I can take certain actions to mitigate effects, but even that may not make a difference. I can talk to God about it, but that is no guarantee that the situation will change (God, of course, seeing things far more broadly and differently that we might).
ReplyDeleteAll I can do is control my reaction to things (and pray, as noted above). It helps to keep my stress level down.
Classic stoicism. Classic Christianity. "Shake the dust from your sandals...."
DeleteBut is it that, TB? Or is it something else? Not picking on you or trying to be a dink - I tell myself the same thing. Pretty much every day, now. I don't "give it a drink" because at the moment, that would be like pouring gas on a fire, HAR HAR HAR!!! But I turn off certain people and events and let a lot of shite pass. I find myself not caring and too tired to brawl with morons on the innernet.
Give it a drink. What's on TV tonight? Think I'll go out on the patio, burn some meat, and have a few beers. Are we controlling ourselves and exercising thoughtful restraint? Or is it a coping mechanism or apathy? The guys that founded your country, the guys here that went to war in WW1 and 2 would look around and go on a fricken killing spree.
I love the Irish even though I will never admit to it in public. I love the way they drink, the way they talk and love and express themselves. But one of the things I love most about them is a saying they have: "If you are looking for a friend or a fight... I'm your man..." It is not the much loved stereotype - but those guys know when to put down the drink and put up their dukes.
Bah. I am a grumpy old fart. Ignore me. Enjoy your drinks while you can. As for me - I am going to do a deep dive on St. Paddy. I am not catholic so I need to truly understand his place in Irish theology.
Sorry for being a grump!
So, there I was in the confessional booth. I told Father David that most of my since seemed to always hit the bumper named "Judging" (thinking pinball or bumper pool, here). So maybe that was something I needed to work on.
DeleteHe asked a few questions. I told him that I was avoiding some people because conversations with them inevitably led to anger and hurt feelings.
He said "Actually, it sounds like the Christian concept of "...avoiding the near occasion of sin...'. You are over-thinking it. You have to do what you have to do and avoiding hurting people or angering them is the lesser of two evils."