7/27/2024

My Dear Friend & POTUS, JRB,

            Have you spoken with AJB about his conversations with the ASEAN folk? Do they have a specific plan for delivering humanitarian aid to Burma?

            How’s Camp David? How about a forest bath? It’s the ideal balm for the fatigue you must be experiencing after your momentous decision. To do so, tune into the vibes emanating from the flora, observe the shimmer of the sun on the leaves & appreciate the impermanence of it all. It will clear your mind & restore your inner harmony so you can accomplish all of your goals in the next few months.

As Annie Dillard points out in Pilgrim at Tinker’s Creek, “The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.” This kind of attentiveness enables you to forget yourself & commune with the universe.

            Speaking of this reminds me of a middle school band teacher’s approach to working with rowdy 12-year-olds. He explained that he didn’t expect them to become professional musicians & doubted that they would practice. He taught them because, every once in a while, when they were playing together, everyone hit the perfect note at the same time & that moment was magical. It made the challenges of wrangling obnoxious adolescents worth the effort.

            As my neighbors try to coalesce in our new community, I tell them the band story in the hopes that we can celebrate the rare occasion when we all agree on something rather than perseverate on the times when we are at odds. Like most of the music that came out of the middle school band, dissonance will be the norm when 30 households try to reach consensus, so when we can find unanimity, we should consider it a miracle & be in awe.

            The harmony in the Democratic party about KDH’s candidacy is that kind of awesome miracle.

I join the chorus of folks singing your praises in the press today & relish this rare moment.

            BYBS,