After the shock of election day and weeks of grieving, I feel ready to move forward towards the future. God grant me the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can, and to have the wisdom to know the difference.
Here’s a start: sunrise over the American River, looking southeast at the Tara O’Sullivan bridge and California State University, Sacramento (aka Sac State).
I took this photo with my IPhone 11 December 5, 2024 at 7 am. No tweaking at all. I love seeing sunrises and sunsets; I love the transition from day to night or night to day, and they are quiet for me personally but busy times outside. The stark outrageous beauty appears for only a few minutes, and I like thinking that they are made just for me and the few nearby hardy enough to be out before dawn.
Regarding the bridge: we call it the H Street Bridge, but several years ago it was rightly dedicated as the Tara O’Sullivan Bridge; it is represents the memory of a young police officer who gave her life in service to the public.
I use the The Photographer’s Ephemeris app for IOS to give me a good estimate of when the sky will be lit up. It is $35 per year. I write this at 5:30 am on December 7; it appears like we will have another great sunrise today.
In my neighborhood, there are no great vistas for sunsets, unfortunately; the American River is our natural border on the northern and eastern sides of our neighborhood. Sac State nearby has two five story parking garages though, and they are just 10 minutes away by bicycle, but dinner time is usually busy and a good time to be at home with my wife.
Which brings to mind this song by Gordon Bok of Maine and performed by Wendy Grossman. It is firmly in the style of what Martin Mull has called the Great Folk Scare of the sixties (“That crap almost caught on! Whew!”) but it is a wonderful song of hope in hard times. And, in case you wonder which way the earth turns, just remember this song (that is, looking down at the earth above the north pole, counter clockwise). I don’t know a lot about this performer; but I once heard her play a terrific fingerstyle version of the Scottish pipe tune “The Atholl Highlanders”.
And lastly, finally a great article by James Fallows in Wired magazine on the promise of California in the years to come. (Also try this link to get around the paywall) The New York Times (one of the few remaining newspapers worth subscribing to) regularly has articles tut-tutting about California and its upcoming slide into the Pacific Ocean. This article was written before the election: clearly being from California was a factor in Kamala’s failure to be elected. Perhaps Kamala should have leaned into the accomplishments of her home state.
California has led the nation in significant ways, and continues to do so.
Forward in all directions!