#319

M 'n' m keep doing well in school. Their grades are shipshape, and I have nothing dramatic or troublesome to report about school (knock on wood). Life can be a buffet of trouble and drama if we look for it. And we look for it. There are reasons we do; it makes perfect sense. We're drawn, as observers, to havoc and chaos and mudslinging; our presidential debates are disaster-circuses and we watch them. It's important stuff to keep tabs on. (M 'n' m watch them too and I probably shouldn't allow it; that's sad.) And then the kids come home and tell me the nation is being attacked by creepy clowns. I say, "You mean the politicians?" and they say, "No! We mean real clowns!" Huh? I think the kids are nuts but I google it and sure enough, sightings everywhere.... Humans are wired to look for danger. We're built to identify, escape, avoid, and prevent the destruction of ourselves and our social groups. We can thank evolution. We keep tabs on things that threaten, like celebrity break-ups. Brad Pitt is imploding and we need to know why. It could happen to us, movie-stardom and mega-millions and then a faceplant. Ben Affleck, Tiger Woods. I'm being facetious, of course, but I truly believe life isn't easy for any of us. It can be awesome, but it isn't easy. So, umm, M 'n' m are doing well in school.

According to Men's Health, the poet Walt Whitman left us advice — over 150 years ago — on developing "herculean strength, a sparkling eye, and an ever-happy soul." He says get up early, take brisk walks, "pull the oar," eat a lot of meat, and avoid being a "puny, hollow-breasted fellow" by "swinging the dumbbells." And my favorite, dedicate yourself to a "cheerful temper" or risk a life of "gloom and feebleness." Amen, Walt! Nice beard. M 'n' m have dumbbells and meat but no oars, no boat. They're cheerful. Sometimes. Sort of. We're working on that, especially with Meg. Regarding a sparkling eye, I told Jeanette last night (during the Cubs NLDS ending victory!!): I understand that Kris Bryant is a 'handsome fellow' — as Walt Whitman would say — and I can see why the ladies swoon (and the dudes when he's blasting homers the Cubs desperately need to make a World Series for the first time since dinosaurs) but Javy Baez is the guy that has a sparkle in his eye. He's special. She didn't disagree.