Life

Took my mother to the theater in town today to hear the Erie Philhamonic perform Brahams and Beethoven and Barber-a sparse audience but a good show...very talented musicians...They did the Fifth Symphony-not my favorite Beethoven but well done, and hearing a live orchestra make it look easy is always humbling...The Struthers theater is one of those local gems-fully restored to it's prime condition dating from 1883, and this concert was/is part of their 125th Anniversary celebration year...It's an intimate 977 seat venue so there is not a bad seat in the house and we were front row center balcony...

Day to day I'm just working on the book-which is more challenging than the walk- and shoveling snow and musing about the future-comparing motorcycles that I might want to strap to the back of the motorhome and use to explore the country in more depth...That day is years away and dependent on various unknowns, but still rests in the back of my mind. My eldest son will be getting married in June and my youngest son dreams of running the San Francisco marathon with a friend in a couple of years...so both are well on their way in their own lives...People around here seem to be doing well overall, although I suppose that I tend to minimize their complaints sometimes, for two have MS and another is raising the daughter of an irresponsible son and another is dealing with the stress and additional costs of a new house...I think all of them have a deep seated appreciation of the abundance of America, and do not complain except in that casual way that we all question the absurdities of being alive. But I am such a detached member of this world that I really am not qualified to judge it, for much of American life appears trivial to me and I cannot take too seriously some of the things that people worry over. I empathize with a man in town who immigrated from Africa a few years ago and says that Americans appear spoiled to him-that when he visits his homeland the people seem happier despite their material poverty...No doubt in their search for what is missing Americans have become the most materialistic spiritualists the world has ever known..

Random thoughts

> Is Infrequency the primary criteria that defines a 'miracle'? That is, do not the laws of probability claim that the improbable will occur sometimes, and if so, should we not expect a burning bush occasionally? The essential 'miracle' I question is the origin of the natural laws themselves and their relation to our ideas of God.
> I believe that 2008 offers our best choices in presidential candidates in decades, and that Obama possesses the most inate wisdom. John McCain also seems to be a man of integrity and Huckabee is a nice guy, although far too simplistic. If Clinton wins, she should make Obama her Secretary of State and send him around the world to heal the wounds, while also soliciting McCains experience as Secretary of Defense. If Obama wins he should solicit Clintons experience with Washington so that he can hit the ground running. The point is that if they are genuinely interested in moving the country forward they Must work together and utilize one anothers genuine qualities. It is a critical time for America and the world regarding the future of this planet...
> According to scientific estimates, there is more solar energy striking the Earth in a single day than humanity uses in a year. So obviously harnessing it will be the way to go- if wars over non renewable resources do not destroy civilization first.
> All is well in Warren. When the weather cooperates this is a wonderful town, and poor weather is it's worst trait. Snowbirds who travel south in winter and return in summer find this place hard to beat. That may be my future here.
> Hope y'all are having a pleasant winter, and that those of you whom I know are not are doing what you must to keep your faith!