I suppose it's popular — at least in some circles — to reflect on the closing of "periods," be they days, months, quarters, seasons or years.
June 20th marks the Summer Solstice, and also the end of spring and the official start of summer. And... it's the longest day of the year.
Remarkably, summer did actually show up today, with our first significantly warm and sunny day, this year.
For me, "time" has typically felt very artificial... while paradoxically also tending to rule my existence.
Much as I have always hoped I could skate through life primarily as a Creative Slacker, truth is that I am eternally looking at clocks and schedules... making sure I leave for town in time to make it to the bank and post office before they close at 5:00; getting my shipping information on eBay uploaded before midnight...
My typical lament has been "I wish I could live independently of clocks, but I just can't AFFORD to."
Suck it up, Buttercup — life in 2024 is expensive.
Now, I'm not naive enough to say something like "But I have no CHOICE!" in a slightly whiny tone because the truth is that we always have a choice.
The underlying problem is that we don't like the consequences of that choice.
If I were content with "Living in a VAN, DOWN BY THE RIVER" I could also live largely independently of clocks... because gone would be the insurance bills, electric bills, cable bills, roof repair bills and so forth.
Of course, so would conveniences like indoor plumbing and running water... unless you count aforementioned river as "running" water!
If you believe in any sort of self-reliance, you inevitably must also embrace the reality that you get what you pay for, unless you're into being a professional mooch. Which wouldn't be very self-reliant, would it?
And so, I accept the inevitability of clocks as dictators in my world.
Like right now, I just set the alarm for 6:00am because I have to be at a sales event by 8:00am tomorrow.
Like many in my generation - I would be the very oldest of Gen X - I was brought up in an environment of "having to figure stuff out on my own." My parents "ruled" by a sort of "benign neglect," meaning that I never felt like we were "without" anything... aside from parental love and guidance.
I suppose everyone would have their own response to such a situation... mine was always to expect absolutely nothing of anyone or anything around me. Funny to think that even with such low expectations, disappointment has shown up often!
So now I am headed to this art sales event for a couple of days... and while I certainly hope to make some sales, my expectations are near zero. I'll start feeling better when the vendor fee is covered!
In the meantime, I am grateful for a summer day, and for long days with lots of light! I'm even grateful for all the rain we've had because it keeps things nice and green!
Meanwhile, we still have a few days left in this 2nd quarter of 2024. It has been a difficult and disappointing one... and I have my doubts that a turnaround can be pulled out of somewhere to make it less than a financial disaster.
But so it goes...
Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your Friday!
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Created at 2024-06-21 00:46 PDT
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