Blues boy blew his horn . . .
Tuesday, May 26, 2026. It's Tiw's day . . . clear, calm and mild at 6:30a.m. on the Way to the mailbox. Northeasterlies are in the forecasts for TulseyTown this afternoon with increasing clouds, slight rain chances and mid 80's.
Every day is Memorial Day:
Freedom is the recognition that we create our future right now, in the present. It's what becomes possible when we trust that what we do together matters. Memorial Day honors those who gave everything to protect that possibility. What we do with that gift is up to us.
Heather Cox Richardson has a powerful idea of what to do with that gift. What has made America great has always been the American people. Now, as for the past 250 years, “We Are America.”-- in Letters From An American.
America is slouching toward the 250th anniversary of our revolution against arbitrary power with a president who shamelessly exercises it. Never before have we witnessed this degree of self-dealing, bribe taking, usurpation of congressional authority, and open defiance of federal courts. – Robert Reich, Full Neofascism, 5.26.26
It's 1984 … again. – Joyce Vance, The Week Ahead, in Civil Discourse.
On this day in 1940, during World War II, the British Expeditionary Force began its evacuation of British and Allied troops from the French seaport of Dunkirk. While the Royal Air Force patrolled the skies, some 700 civilian craft—the “little ships” of Dunkirk—joined the rescue effort. In the end, 338,226 Allied troops were ferried to safety in England.
Today is the birthdate of Dorothea Lange. The documentary photographer was born in 1895 Hoboken, New Jersey. Her portraits of displaced farmers during the Great Depression greatly influenced later documentary and journalistic photography.
John Wayne was born on this day in 1907, Winterset, Iowa.
The first American woman to travel into outer space, astronaut Sally Ride, was born in 1951, Encino, California.
And, Miles Davis was born in 1926 Alton, Illinois. A five decade career placed him and his trumpet among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music.
Memorial Day gratitude . . .
Monday, May 25, 2026. It's the Moon's day . . . waxing from New. Forecasts for TulseyTown and Green Country at 7 A.M. indicated moderate Southeasterlies, sun and clouds mixed with upper 80's.
Grateful living is the awareness that we stand on holy ground – always – in touch with The Great Mystery. – Br. David Stendl-Rast.
Memorial Day. – Joyce Vance in Civil Discourse. “Don’t be afraid to ask people the hard questions.”
An Appreciation on Memorial Day.-- Robert Reich, 5.25.26
Ian McKellen is 86 today. The multiple laureate British actor was born in 1939, Burnley, Lancashire, England.
Midnight Cowboy was released in theaters on this day in 1969. Starring Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight the film won multiple laureates and went on to become the only X-rated film to win the Academy Award for best picture.
Today in 1977 Star Wars premiered in theatres. The space opera storytelling universe (created by George Lucas) became one of the most successful and influential multimedia franchises in entertainment history.
Bill (“Bojangles”) Robinson was born today in 1878 Richmond, Virginia. He was best known for his dancing roles with Shirley Temple in films of the 1930s.
There's just no accounting for happiness . . .
Sunday, May 24, 2026. It's Sol's day . . . At 7 a.m. there was a lovely patchy fog in TulseyTown, lifting toward a sunny afternoon. Easy Easterlies are in the forecasts with warm mid 80's.
“A righteous use of the estate of the General Lee.” – Heather Cox Richardson in Letters From An American. A Memorial Day reflection.
Robert Reich’s Sunday Thought brought another reflection on Memorial Day. –
Bob Dylan turns 85 today, born in 1941 St. Louis County, Minnesota. His 69-year career has provided accolades as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, including a Nobel Prize. He continues to tour for live performances.
Today is also the birthday of Jim Broadbent. The British character actor and Academy Award Laureate is 77 today.
U.S. Poet Laureate and Nobel Prize Laureate Joseph Brodsky, was born on this day in 1940 St. Petersburg, Russia.
Yesterday was the birth date of poet Jane Kenyon. Today's blog is dedicated to her memory.
– Join Amanda Palmer as she reads Jane Kenyon’s stunning poem about living to the other side of depression. “Having It Out with Melancholy” is from Constance, Graywolf Press.1993.
Happiness
There's just no accounting for happiness,
or the way it turns up like a prodigal
who comes back to the dust at your feet
having squandered a fortune far away.
And how can you not forgive?
You make a feast in honor of what
was lost, and take from its place the finest
garment, which you saved for an occasion
you could not imagine, and you weep night and day
to know that you were not abandoned,
that happiness saved its most extreme form
for you alone.
No, happiness is the uncle you never
knew about, who flies a single-engine plane
onto the grassy landing strip, hitchhikes
into town, and inquires at every door
until he finds you asleep midafternoon
as you so often are during the unmerciful
hours of your despair.
It comes to the monk in his cell.
It comes to the woman sweeping the street
with a birch broom, to the child
whose mother has passed out from drink.
It comes to the lover, to the dog chewing
a sock, to the pusher, to the basketmaker,
and to the clerk stacking cans of carrots
in the night.
It even comes to the boulder
in the perpetual shade of pine barrens,
to rain falling on the open sea,
to the wineglass, weary of holding wine.
– Jane Kenyon, “Happiness” is from Otherwise: New and Selected Poems. Graywolf Press. 1955.