(First winter carrot)
Sometimes I think the most important parts of being alive are the least dramatic. They happen in the in-between spaces. You know, those times before or after big events, when something deemed important hasn’t quite happened yet, or after it just did.
These are the times of anticipation, dread, relief, exhilaration or plain old boredom. You might call them the connective tissue that binds us to time as we float through space, or maybe it’s more the out-of-focus nature of those undocumented moments that make them so special.
I should probably get more specific here.
Recently, I had a health scare. It’s one of those things that happens with alarming frequency to people my age and each time it is scary. First, you have to undergo tests, some of which are invasive, which may be followed by procedures, which are decidedly more invasive.
There’s usually a period of waiting, of not-knowing what’s going on inside your body. In my case, my imagination fills the gaps with dreamt-up worst-case scenarios. “I better get my things in order. I should update my will. How will I break this news to my friends?” And variations on those themes.
During this most recent health scare, which involved my brain, the most bizarre vision I kept having was of an imaginary obituary of me. This happened just as I was trying to drift off to sleep. It seems that I’d written it the way I would wish it to be, only to quickly acknowledge that such an idealized summary of my actual life was unlikely to see the light of day in any reputable publication.
Still, as I grew sleepier, this rosy post-death scenario continued to include some sort of flowery memorial service, with all manner of touching tributes, tears and laughter. Oddly, I saw myself there, right in the front row, witnessing the whole gorgeous, bittersweet thing.
At this point, it occurred to me that it would be far nicer if we could all be at our own funerals just to hear those nice things before we’re gone. But then I woke up and berated myself for indulging in such a monumentally egoistic silliness in the first place.
***
Meanwhile, back in what we usually consider reality, my brain health scare came to a happy ending in my doctor’s office when I received an “all clear.” (For now.)
Afterwards, I firmly resolved to live the rest of my days much more mindfully, and much more conscious that each day could indeed be my last.
And one more thing. Maybe from now on I’ll try a little harder to be worthy of that good obituary.
HEADLINES:
Five takeaways from Pete Hegseth's confirmation hearing (BBC)
Democrats assail Hegseth as too divisive, inexperienced to run Pentagon (WP)
Pete Hegseth’s Secret History (New Yorker)
Special counsel Jack Smith explicitly said he believes the Justice Department had enough evidence to obtain and sustain a conviction were President-elect Donald Trump to stand trial over his efforts to subvert the 2020 election, according to the report he sent to Congress early Tuesday. [HuffPost]
Jack Smith Gives Up (Atlantic)
Strong Santa Ana Winds Return For SoCal (Weather Channel)
Strong winds in Los Angeles create ‘critical’ conditions for fires that have killed 24 (WP)
Wealthy Homeowners and Their Insurers Turn to Hired Help to Fight L.A. Wildfires (WSJ)
A New Age of American Interference in Europe — Elon Musk and MAGA are already disrupting the status quo, and Europe seems ill-prepared. (NYT)
From Greenland to Panama and Mexico, leaders are in shock (Economist)
Incoming senior Trump administration officials have reportedly begun questioning career civil servants who work on the White House National Security Council about who they voted for in the 2024 election, among other things, to determine their loyalty to Trump. [HuffPost]
Berkshire Hathaway operates the dirtiest set of coal-fired power plants in the US. (Reuters)
The coming battle between social media and the state (Financial Times)
Hopes rise for Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal (CNN)
Gaza ceasefire appears close as US, Egyptian leaders put focus on 'coming hours' (Reuters)
South Korean police launch huge predawn operation to detain impeached president (WP)
News Outlets Take Unusual Steps to Prepare for Onslaught From Trump —Media organizations are preparing for what they fear will be a legal and political onslaught from the new administration. (NYT)
US to remove Cuba from state sponsors of terror list (BBC)
How Religious Schools Became a Billion-Dollar Drain on Public Education (New Yorker)
Speaker Orders Capitol Hill Flags Raised for Inauguration (NYT)
Amazon races to transplant Alexa’s ‘brain’ with generative AI (Financial Times)
The Next Robot Invasion (NYT)
Target Losing Market Share As More Americans Opt To Forgo All Earthly Possessions (The Onion)
TODAY’S ARCHIVAL VIDEO:
The Beatles - Live in Australia 1964 [Full Concert HD Remaster]. All black and white, you can hear the songs above the deafening screams. At least one fan faints.
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