As I was working out the other day I was thinking, “What if this planet just exists for the entertainment of other species?” Our society certainly has been like one dramatic and messy reality show as of late.
I must not be the only one thinking along these lines because I found the meme above on social media shortly afterwards. It all just makes a person want to retreat into seclusion, try to make their own little paradise, and resurface when some semblance of sanity returns.
Can you believe this meme from Anthony Bourdain is from just a decade ago? Today, because of how extreme the world has become, this seems out of touch but ten years ago I would say a majority of people shared his opinion. Since then those people who consider themselves "moderates" are fewer and fewer. Much like Bourdain, as I age, I can't help but wonder if my own thoughts and views on things are slowly slipping into the realm of irrelevance.
One thing is for sure, in my fifty-three years on Earth, I never remember there being so much hate. It's a strange, systemic variety of hate too, an undercurrent that runs through the whole of society just waiting for something to spark it. America is beginning to feel like a runaway train at this point but I hope the worst and most destructive outcome is still avoidable.
A friend on Facebook posted this the other day and there was truth in it..."Your relationships with people you know and care about IS your life."
I sincerely hope people don't lose sight of this in the days, weeks, and months to come. The kind of violence like we witnessed in America last weekend isn't the way to deal with political differences in a functioning democracy. I suppose the real question is... it still functioning?
We all spend so much time online sometimes I feel like some people dangerously lose sight of the fact that actions have very real and lasting consequences. We live in an age where large swaths of more than one generation have been raised not understanding the meaning of the word consequence or experiencing it. The only ones who will suffer if something like that act of violence succeeds is the people you know and care about. The world is just completely nuts right now.
Now, for that retreat into seclusion that I mentioned earlier (😂)...we've been getting out to the park quite a bit lately. The days are already getting shorter and the lightning bugs (or fireflies, depending on what part of the country you're from) are starting to show themselves at dusk.
The beauty of Minnesota summer is in full bloom. I swear Minnesota is one of the harshest places on Earth for a good portion of the year (Oct-April). As reward for suffering through the chill of the subzero temps we get a couple months of paradise.
We've been able to make it out to the park to feed the squirrels almost every day. Magoo (the blind squirrel pictured above) is always the first to seek us out. I can't believe how therapeutic having this contact with nature has been for both of us.
The female squirrel in the video below is so tame now she eats out of my hand. She's very gentle with me but is attack mode with the other squirrels. She aggressively chatters and chases them away from us so she gets more walnuts. I swear we're spending half our disposable income on walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, and almonds now.
Speaking of nuts, I have a new addiction. I kid you not, this Nuttzo Chocolate Keto nut butter is 1000% better and healthier than Nutella. I've been having it on toast in the morning and using it for quick energy pre and post workouts. If you can find it try it out. You'll thank me and curse me at the same time because it's so damned addictive. The squirrels won't be getting any of this.
All for now.
~Eric Vance Walton~
Be well and make the most of this day. Thank you for reading!
(Photos are original)
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