Back to the Garden

[H2O Man]

It's a bright, sunny day in rural upstate New York. A bit cold out there, turning yesterday's snow melt into a sheet of ice on my sidewalk and driveway. I carry a bag out to the compost pile near my garden, happy to be beyond the ice. The birds that feast upon left-over cat and dog food call out warnings as my steps make crunching noises as I crush the crust on the snow. After dumping the organic waste on the large compost pile, I turn and look at the snow-covered garden. It glistens in the sun shine.

Today is February 19, I say to myself. The month is two-thirds over, and March is coming up. I'm looking forward to start work on the garden that my son constructed for me last year. Although it is much smaller than the gardens I have had over the decades, it still produces a fair amount of healthy food, and to grow some roses. I love growing roses.

There are large stacks of firewood at the eastern edge of the garden. Oak, locus, pine, maple, and others are stacked near the 7' by 7' fire pit my son built for me. There is a picnic table and benches nearby, which get good use when my children visit me. I also enjoy sitting alone at night, watching a fire, during the warmer months. Because there is no one within hearing distance, I begin to sing “Woodstock (Back to the Garden).”

Back inside, Sam's tail is wagging. A faithful dog, he actually seems to enjoy my attempts to sing. Greater love has no dog than this. Looking out a window, I see a flock of starlings has returned to the clonal colony of sumac, picking through the panicles for seeds. As I turn on the television, Sam pushes his enormous head onto my lap, insisting upon my undivided attention.

As I watch reports on Trump's pardons, I have the sensation of the couch beginning to move. I think that I've left America, and entered the 4th dimension of parasomnia, far beyond night terror. I see Bill Barr grinning as he begins eating the Constitution. Donald Trump has worked himself into a trance-like state as he calls upon the spirits of Adolf Hitler and Idi Amin to make themselves comfortable in the White House. A crowd of people chant, “We must nominate Mitt Romney! Only he can save us!” Then I hear Lawrence Welk singing Jimi's question: “Is it tomorrow, or just the end of time?”

I turn off the television, and instinctively put on Hendrix's version of All Along the Watchtower. “There must be some kind of way out of here, said the joker to the thief. There's too much confusion – I can't get no relief.” I feel myself being hurled through a long, dark tunnel, towards a bright light. Suddenly, I realize I am on my couch, staring out the window at the sun. “Toto, you're here!” I say, as I pet Sam's belly. My eyes search the room for friends and relatives, and then remember I'm here alone with my dogs.

Somewhat grounded into reality, I avoid the risks of watching television for the rest of the day. But at 9 pm/est, I turn on the Democratic debate. I find myself thinking that the panel asking questions are largely characters from my earlier waking-nightmare. Most of their questions have little to do with how we deal with the horrors that Trump has inflicted upon the nation, much less what another four years of his madness would bring into being. Instead, they are baiting our candidates, looking to create petty fights that risk dividing our party.

I take three phone calls during the debate. Each one involves a friend asking, “What the fuck is going on?” By no coincidence, this is the exact question that my son keeps asking as we watch the debate unfold. My response is admittedly sparse: rather than seeking to unite our party in identifying the candidate who is best prepared to defeat Trump in November, this “debate” risks dividing the supporters of the various candidates in a manner that threatens unity in the Democratic Party.

Is that a real risk, you may be asking? Good question. For an answer, read through much of the hostility being voiced on DU:GDP last night and this morning. Keep in mind that a divided Democratic Party is Trump's wettest dream. Read the Senate Committee on Watergate's report, specifically the large section on how Nixon's CREEP infiltrated the various Democratic primary campaigns, seeking to destroy the possibility of party unity before the national convention. Remember what the Russian's accomplished in 2016.

Turn away from that direction. Each and every single candidate we have is far superior to Trump. Each one could beat him in a general election, if we remain united in our purpose. This does not imply advocating for your favorite one. But it does mean not participating in attacking any of the others, or insulting other Democrats who prefer a different candidate. It means making a conscious effort not to repeat or spread the half-truths and outright lies that are being injected into the public debate by our opposition.

We've got to get back to the garden. Together.

Peace,
H2O Man

[HerbChestnut]

1. I counter your version of Woodstock with the original

[H2O Man]

6. Beautiful!

Thank you for that!

[erronis]

24. Loved that. Joni Mitchell's voice is so evocative and timeless.

Rare that I'll listen to a whole audio clip but this was mesmerizing. Perhaps triggering some deep memories way down towards the brain stem - I was in my early 20s back then.

[Dem2]

2. Couldn't agree more n/t

[H2O Man]

7. Thanks!

[cilla4progress]

3. Wonderful meditation

to start the day!

Thanks H2O Man!

[H2O Man]

8. Thanks!

I've got to say that Elizabeth Warren was outstanding last night. Everyone I've talked to has said that, too.

[Pantagruel]

4. Dem primary squabbles

always seem uglier than need be. Just accept that reality, unity will arrive eventually.

[H2O Man]

9. Thank you!

I hope that unity does take hold. There are too many examples of when it has not -- in my lifetime, the Nixon victories in both 1968 and '72 being good examples. There have, of course, been more recent examples .....but since Trump's team's tactics are much like Nixon's, I think that example serves its purpose.

[UniteFightBack]

28. Do you think the McGovern comparison is appropriate? nt

[H2O Man]

31. Great question.

Yes and no. Similar tactics, different overall goal The OP I posted this morning examines that in more detail:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287559915

[babylonsister]

5. I'm still processing

the fact that you have leftover animal food. My pup pal scarfs every last iota down in record time.

I am steering clear of GD/P for the most part. I am too old and tired to argue.

[H2O Man]

11. I get lots

of neighborhood and stray cats here. They tend to make the rounds in my very rural area, and so I don't always know if they will be here on a given day. But I still put out a supply of food for them, and some always seems left over. (On really cold nights, some of the local coyote population ventures near my house, looking for a good meal, too. When that happens, the cats all hide in the garage.)

I try to steer clear of GDP, too. Lately, though, I have been reading OP/threads here more frequently.

[babylonsister]

18. Ah, you're feeding

the wildlife! Nice! We feed birds; that's about it.

It's good to be informed. I read a lot also but rarely share my 2 cents. I keep telling myself I'm waiting for the herd to thin; seems to be taking awhile.

[PETRUS]

10. Thanks for your post, and take heart -

The debate was ferocious, but - to a certain extent - both my wife and I thought there was some value to the gloves coming off. And it didn't diminish our resolve to vote for the eventual nominee, no matter who it is. We both have strong opinions, engage the public often, and have respectful conversations with people who have different viewpoints and prefer other candidates (and are given respect in return). This isn't going to change, and my wife and I and the hundreds of people we talk to day after day can't be the only folks who are able to navigate this primary while both holding to our principles and seeking common ground with others.

[H2O Man]

13. Thank you!

Well said!

[MuseRider]

12. Very nice.

I had to miss the debate, rehearsals come first, and my husband who has never figured out how to use our TV since we cut the cord only got a partial. I can not find it anywhere (I am not too terribly good at figuring it out either). Seems odd that it would not be somewhere besides YouTube that tells me the video is not available in this country (?).

Thank you for the words of reconciliation and fond remembrances.

[H2O Man]

15. Thanks, MuseRider!

There is no person less capable with technology than me! I rely upon my children, who write things down in a notebook for me. Then all I need to do is remember where I put that notebook, since I have not mastered putting it back in one location. Yikes! Getting old presents a new set of challenges for me.

[MuseRider]

17. Oh my, that sounds SO familiar.

I get all the exercise I need just looking for my phone or my keys every single day. You would think, being older, we would know to leave things in a certain place but I cannot even remember to do that! Ahhhh, so much better than the big dirt nap.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

14. Every tv 'debate' is geared for dramatic, petty fights.

Every question asked of every candidate should be turned to point to the most corrupt administration in the history of the country.

[H2O Man]

16. Definitely.

I agree 100%. It would be nice if there was a debate that focused on foreign policy, for example. I'd like to hear how each candidate would seek to heal the severe damage that Trump has done, and continues to do daily.

[Woodwizard]

19. I can relate

We do not watch TV anymore, actually for the last 25 years We read the papers online and listen to NPR, our local public radio station Wjff, and WAMC public radio. Way to much emotion and opinions injected on all of the cable news channels I do not need an opinion spoon fed to me to form my own.

The garden is my sanctuary of sanity and reality we are in the Catskills I keep a small greenhouse in the winter for greens to tinker in

It is saddening to see the same thing being repeated as the 2016 election of a fracturing of supporting groups, I will vote for whoever is on the ticket against the orange menace.

[H2O Man]

20. The Catskills .....

not far from me. Many years ago, I was a social worker in Delaware County, the biggest in the state. I enjoyed traveling the roads there -- except on late night emergency calls in the winter. And in my younger days, I spent a fair amount of time in Woodstock.

Yesterday, in response to an OP asking how might the Russians be seeking to disrupt the 2020 election, I posted a detailed response. I might make it into an OP today. It is the same basic model they used in 2016, based on the very model used by governments and other groups for a long, long time. Indeed, as today marks 55 years since Malcolm X was assassinated, it is worth noting that same model was used. As was the case then, there are many people doing the heavy lifting for those who initiate the project. Just apply pressure to vulnerable cracks.

It's a pleasantly sunny day here, northwest of the Catskills. I hope that you & yours are enjoying it.

[Woodwizard]

21. Beautiful day here

We are getting ready to go back to the hospital to see our daughter she just has a baby girl yesterday. We are officially grandparents where does the time go.

[saidsimplesimon]

22. Well done H2O

This would make a lovely short story in any number of publications. You are an excellent wordsmith.

[H2O Man]

23. Well, thank you!

That's very nice of you to say. I appreciate it.

For many years now, DU has been my favorite place to post my writings. And that's because of the people here.

[5X]

27. We are the better for it.

[Martin Eden]

25. Together we'll stand, Divided we'll fall, Come on now, people, Let's get on the ball

And work together. Come on, come on let's work together ...

Let's Work Together
by Canned heat


Together we'll stand
Divided we'll fall
Come on now, people
Let's get on the ball

And work together
Come on, come on
Let's work together
Now, now people
Because together we will stand
Every boy, every girl and man

People, when things go wrong
As they sometimes will
And the road you travel
It stays all uphill

Let's work together
Come on, come on
Let's work together, ah
You know together we will stand
Every boy, girl, woman and man

Oh well now, two or three minutes
Two or three hours
What does it matter now
In this life of ours

Let's work together
Come on, come on
Let's work together
Now, now people
Because together we will stand
Every boy, every woman and man

Ah, come on
Ah, come on, let's work together

Well now, make someone happy
Make someone smile
Let's all work together
And make life worthwhile

Let's work together
Come on, come on
Let's work together
Now, now people
Because together we will stand
Every boy, girl, woman and man

Oh well now, come on you people
Walk hand in hand
Let's make this world of ours
A good place to stand

And work together
Come on, come on
Let's work together
Now, now people
Because together we will stand
Every boy, girl, woman and man
Ah, yeah

Well now, together we will stand
Every boy, girl, woman and man
Ah, yeah

[Kurt V.]

26. what happened in the debate was raw democracy. Which is something we haven't seen in

so long that ppl didn't understand what was happening.

[Cassidy]

32. I agree. This is just the beginning of the fight to win our country back.

I wish we could discuss the multitude of problems in a dispassionate manner, but power does not give up without a fight. Whomever wins the nomination will need to have a backbone of steel to fight and win. And, if Democrats take back the presidency, keep the house, and fight and win the Senate, that is just the beginning of the real fight to take our country back and get us heading to the future we desire.

[ramen]

29. I'll meet you there, with a little luck.

Thank you for these grounding thoughts. I need them. I suspect I may not be alone.

[Flash953]

30. No You're not alone

I feel the same way.