“And what, you ask, does writing teach us?
First and foremost, it reminds us that we are alive and that it is gift and a privilege, not a right. We must earn life once it has been awarded us. Life asks for rewards back because it has favored us with animation.
So while our art cannot, as we wish it could, save us from wars, privation, envy, greed, old age, or death, it can revitalize us amidst it all.”
― Ray Bradbury, The October Country
Been under the weather for a few days now but wanted to at least share a song as is the custom here on Sunday Mornings, along with an image and a bit of writing. I chose the Bradbury passage because I feel in need of some revitalization. I also think we can use a reminder that art has a role to play in trying to maintain this broken democracy cannot be overstated.
I think we could all use a little revitalization about now.
A little hope.
A light at the end of the tunnel. Something to move towards.
Here’s a favorite Neil Young song, Helpless, to round out this morning.
Redtree Times 
Hope you are feeling less under the weather now than when you wrote this. I agree with Bradbury’s comment on it being a gift and a privilege … not a right.
As for Neil Young … well, you are playing to my Canadian root again. Watched part of his set from Glastonbury last night on TV. For someone who will be 80 this year it was nice to see he still had a following here in the UK and as his session continued the crowd increased as well. Finishing with Throw Your Hatred Down. Maybe more should think on those words.
Still feeling off by a bit but I did manage to catch a video of Neil Young at Glastonbury playing the Beatles’ “A Day in the Life” with Paul McCartney running in from offstage to join in, Neil shredding all his guitar strings in the process. Such an enormous amount of energy for the two, one 83 and the other 79. Still rockin’ in the free world!
Thanks for reading my response and for catching a bit of Neil Young at Glastonbury. Sees several of the “oldies but goodies” are always appreciated at that festival. I prefer to hear the music, sans tent and mud.
Yes, I can’t get excited about going to crowded shows as I once did. There’s a wonderful video of Florence + The Machine preforming The Dog Days Are Over at the 2010 Oxegen festival. It’s raining and blustery, but the crowd is wildly reactive, becoming a big part of the performance. It makes me extraordinarily happy to watch the joyful energy of this performance, but I can’t imagine wanting to be in the crowd there at this point in my life.
Hope you are feeling better. When I was in college, I was a big fan of Ray Bradbury and in speech class, I gave a speech about him and why I liked him. My teacher never heard of him and gave me a c for my speech. How unfair!
A College prof who hadn’t heard of Ray Bradbury? Did this prof live in a vacuum or under a rock? I grew up knowing the name because my parents had Fahrenheit 451 on the bookshelf (I was born in the same decade as that book was published, but I also like history) … Still, I would (If in your shoes) have contested the “C” grade for the speech. Anyway, that is my 2 cents worth.
Bradbury and most sci-fi/fantasy writers were looked down upon by the so-called scholars of their time. Time has proven the quality and value of their work. I would have given you an A, Lucy!
I was shocked that he didn’t know Ray Bradbury but back in the day, you didn’t question them plus I was too shy.