One of those simple Beatles’ songs I can never get out of my head is “Eight Days a Week.” I’m not sure what they meant by that title, if anything, but it suits my purposes perfectly for explaining what’s behind this week’s strange series of “Diary” posts leading up to next Tuesday’s elections.
I’m trying to capture the rhythms of our lives during the last week before whatever happened happens. And it’s personal because the only way I know how to demonstrate I care is through this kind of story-telling.
First the math. We’re at the halfway point of a long week, one that according to my internal calendar has eight days.
The week started out on a very nice note as I was having coffee with a friend at a pleasant spot outside a cafe near the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay. Up until that moment, I’d been dreading the prospect of a very long, slow-moving, anxiety-filled week of fearing that the worst is to come.
But suddenly I completely forgot about that as I was focused instead on my friend and our conversation. She said something that made me laugh. A cool breeze showed up, she shivered, and we retreated together inside the cafe.
This led to a miniature epiphany that the best way to get through this big bad week might be to try and ignore the political noise and concentrate on the things that give me pleasure, like gardening, listening to music, and meeting up with friends.
So on Tuesday I tended to my cherry tomato and carrot plants and fed some of the immature carrot greens to our rabbits out back, Covey and Glacier. As they munched happily, I noticed how affectionate they are with each other, two male friends who really do love taking their meals together. Later on, I watched a lot of old music videos about the fantasy world of sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll, which took me back to my wilder days as a writer for Rolling Stone.
On Wednesday I took a long walk to the park, where I watched some dog-walkers, tennis players, and nannies with babies in strollers. Impulsively, I also did some early online Christmas shopping. But this proved to be too much alone-time and my mood started to veer back into worrying about the election.
On Thursday I attended my ten-year-old granddaughter’s annual Halloween Parade at her school. The children in their costumes mirror adult society, with its angels, witches, heroes, devils, dreamers and aspirants to a myriad array of options.
But by now I was backsliding into election angst, even as the kids circled happily in front of me. “Choices are what a healthy society provides its citizens,” I thought to myself. “How dare anyone take away my granddaughter’s right to do with her own body!”
Fortunately, I was roused out of this stupor by the site of her happy face, waving through the crowd in her light blue dress and white bunny ears. Later, I extended my enjoyment at our weekly happy hour with a group of friendly neighbors.
So, you see, I’m spending these autumn days trying to focus on uplifting activities rather than fretting that this may be our last good week together before we lose our grasp on what matters for a long, long time.
And since it’s an eight-day week, it’s only halfway gone.
Earlier diary entries:
Tuesday Diary -- “One Week Before 'What Happened' Happens” — the romantic intrigue of this moment of witnessing history together.
Wednesday Diary -- “How Math Determines the Fate of Democracy” — the numerical basis behind mass fascism.
Thursday Diary: “Who is that Man in the Garbage Truck?” — how not to go insane when a train crash is happening before our very eyes.
HEADLINES:
Americans are anxious and frustrated about the presidential campaign. (AP)
Donald Trump vows to be protector of women ‘whether they like it or not’ (Guardian)
What the early voting data shows about new voters — a group that could swing the election (NBC)
Safeguarding the Pennsylvania Election (New Yorker)
It was a legendary suffragette’s home. This year it’s a voting site. (WP)
Elon Musk’s SpaceX, Already a Leader in Satellites, Gets Into the Spy Game (NYT)
Judge declines to block Elon Musk $1 million voter giveaway as billionaire seeks to move case (Reuters)
Elon Musk Could Have US Citizenship Revoked If He Lied on Immigration Forms (Wired)
Road rage has soared in an increasingly angry nation: ‘People are just overwhelmed’ (WP)
The US Economy Is in a Sweet Spot. Why Risk It? (Bloomberg)
The economy is booming, but inflation is on voters’ minds as election nears (WP)
U.S. Turns to China to Stop North Korean Troops From Fighting for Russia (NYT)
Patronus AI launches world’s first self-serve API to stop AI hallucinations (VentureBeat)
Google Maps is getting new AI features powered by Gemini (TechCrunch)
This Is a Glimpse of the Future of AI Robots (Wired)
New Indiana Law Requires Women Voters To Show Husband’s ID (The Onion)
LYRICS: “Forever Young” by Bob Dylan
May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
May you stay forever young
May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the light surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
May you stay forever young
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
And may you stay forever young
May you stay forever young
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