Now what? A personal note
Even before yesterday’s election, I was feeling down. As regular readers know, I’ve been reeling from the death of my ex-husband, and in connection with that I’ve also been very occupied with sad legal tasks and practical and sometimes overwhelming chores like going through his things and clearing out his home. My son and my grandchildren live far far away. And several of my friends are very ill, and I mean very.
My ex probably would have been able to joke me out of my funk at yesterday’s election results, at least for a moment. He’d been making me laugh for almost sixty years. But now he’s gone, and it’s been very hard.
I have no intention of stopping the blog. However, I had already been thinking about writing somewhat less about politics and more about other things. I’m not really sure that I’ll be writing less about politics. I’ll just go with how I feel, day by day.
Down. Me too. I haven’t felt so down in about year, so I reach for my venlaflaxin SSRI. One then two a day.
I probably have a weird disposition. People say, one should live mostly in the moment. I tend to be constantly looking forward and estimating what will happen next, and kind of expecting the worst. And looking backward a lot for the guidance of history. And I try to stay dispassionate about all of it.
So when the sh_t hits the fan, like today, I always feel like “Yeah, what did you expect Tommy?”
I am feeling down also, but have not had to deal with the loss you’ve had, Neo. I am trying to avoid watching or reading political news; it’s too depressing. Was it Andrew Breitbart who said politics is downstream from culture? The American soul needs mending.
I don’t feel so down today, only because I’ve had this feeling of foreboding all year. The bad guys, through their megaphones, have ruled the popular zeitgeist, while the good guys have been whistling past a graveyard of complacency*. No, it was not sufficient to mock the bad guys through memes and snide remarks; the good guy case needed to be forcefully made, especially to counter the relentless left agitprop.
* no, not every good guy, not even most good guys, but too many of those who count in the influence sweepstakes
Who can blame you for feeling down? You’ve had a heavy burden put on you. Three possibilities:
1. Take a vacation from the blog. A real vacation, where you don’t write a single thing or even think about it. If you set a period of time, like 2 weeks or a month, perhaps that will renew your spirit without killing the blog.
2. Take a vacation but have a guest host take on the blog. And don’t even read the posts or comments during that time. Get it completely off your mind.
3. Focus only on things you enjoy in the blog, like ballet or quirky stories.
No matter what you do, your loyal readers will be here when you decide to get back to analyzing the political scene. Not only are you here for us, we are here for you. Be well.
Neo: I sympathize but very selfishly hope you will keep blogging. If it is about stuff other than politics, that is fine with me. I find politics (a) riveting (the full panoply of human vice and folly, in concentrated doses) but (b) instructive and even important in shaping my own thinking. But I think you bring that clarity and honesty to bear on any topic you choose to discuss. Example: dance. I know nothing about it, but your infectious love for it has opened my eyes to it, and I would happily read/listen to you holding forth on that. Or on weightier matters, like the death of your ex. None of us is getting younger and, without getting morose, we might do well to study that truth.
Enough. Bless you for all you do.
I’ve been kind of drifting away from consuming so much political content for awhile now not because I don’t care but because for so much of it there isn’t anything I can do about so why let it drag my mood down.
The politicization of everything has been one of the worst things that has happened to our culture. Nothing is exempt and our side does it too maybe not as much or as punitively as the left but for the love of God can’t we all just take a little step back from it all.
My prescription for dealing with the post-election blues: Read anything by P. G. Wodehouse, watch “Shakespeare in Love,” listen to Debussy and take a solo walk to breathe in the fresh air of a glorious autumn day. This too will pass. The world is too much with us. Find comfort in things that matter. Leave yourself open to love and laughter. Take a break, however brief, from monitoring the daily news cycle. Enjoy the bliss. Guaranteed to restore equilibrium and optimism.
I was working on my novel, in part
because i sensed this might happen
I grieve for this country
You have done wonderful work specially in the last few years
That’s one thing I’ve liked about your blog for years. Not knowing what will be posted. It hasn’t always been politics. Sometimes it might be ballet, or maybe an old movie. Or something else unexpected. Keep doing what you want, when you feel like it.
Neo, I sympathize for you. I want you to figure out how to make your healthy, senior years the best for you. I hope you keep blogging on the political stuff, I am very concerned about the future of our constitutional republic. In my 80s I don’t fear personally, but want it to survive for those I love. From my Darwinian perspective,I am ENTERTAINED by it all. Your blog is one of the first things I look at every day. I also read the Wall Street Journal every day for their sensible perspective.
I also appreciate all your non-political posts.
I was going to suggest a drive or a hike through that spectacular fall foliage that surrounds you. That’s always good for the soul but I suspect it likely peaked a few weeks ago. My hunch is we’ll know the funk is lifting when the brothers Gibb appear.
The night before the election I had dream where I crashed a steam locomotive, left it laying on its side in a service pit. A literal train wreck. Last night I dreamed I was attacked by a bear. Sums up my election emotions.
I agree with John. Keep the variety up.
That is a lot of grief, disappointment and burden, dear Neo. Beyond the actual demands, you will know what to do. You continue to provide the best community for so many of us. Very much appreciated all these years.
Neo, count me among those who would really miss your blog if you decided to quit. I don’t comment much but I read it almost every day and look to you for a level-headed and clear look at what’s happening. You’re kind of a news aggregator, really.
But of course I understand if you decide to stop. You’ve had a lot to deal with. And I think all of us who are old enough to remember the Before Times, when the country seemed to have a solid political and cultural foundation, at least in comparison to today, have a deep sadness that isn’t a response to specific events. There’s nothing anyone can say to make that go away.
The advice several have given that you take a break of more than a few days is probably good. Best wishes.