SAID THE CAT: More. Again and Again. Now it's Philly.

I was just about to edit a final draft and launch this post when an email alerted me to killings and shootings in Philly last night. Sick with worry, I texted Keoni to see if he was in Philly between travels in New York and then Hawaii, but there was no reply. Further texts—Wendy and John texted back he is out of text range in upstate NY and he will be taking off from Boston to the new destination. What devastation people are going through! It's unholy. Now I'm angry.

MYTH AMERICA

gun poster boy John Wayne

died years ago.

Get over it, gun supporters!

What you're doing is

wrong,

WRONG,

WRONG!

Seven years ago after the June 17th slaughter in Charleston's Mother AME church, I thought we could come together and turned to writing to help sort the pain in my mind and heart. I thought then there was hope for getting this sick gun culture out of our society.

On June 20, 2015, I wrote:

"FEAR AND HOPE

The events of last week in Charleston cannot go unnoticed or unremarked. It is murder no matter by what hideous scales it is measured and added to the heap of our violence. The stunning frequency of violence among ourselves invokes fear in me that harm, at any moment, will take away or ruin a life or lives of those I cherish. Will some inebriate on a colossal high of bigotry kill or maim my African-American granddaughter or great-grandsons, kill or maim my Caucasian grandsons. Slaughter them just because any of them happen to be there that day, that minute, that second? Will my African-American son-in-law be dragged behind some Confederate-flagged pickup truck just because he was driving in his car with his Caucasian wife--my daughter?

I am fearful.

The hope I hold out is that the hideous aberrations in so many terrible, recent events are the darkness before dawn when America has grown up enough to see to it that there is justice and support and succor for all who live among us: black, white, brown, red, yellow without regard for gender, age, status, or spiritual pursuits.

It can be asked that the more that murderous events, dreadful injustices, and wanton insanity have appeared, is there some tipping moment ahead when we all, collectively scream stop! enough! Then, make that happen...?

If there is anything I'm able to drag out of this mountain of death, it is to see that every living day I have a responsibility for what goes on in my head, what words I use, what attitudes I strike, how I treat others, what spiritual, cultural or political platforms I support. And if at bedtime I can see that these intangibles and activities of my day are on the positive side of the ledger, I'll have moved one day's step ahead for my brothers and sisters with whom I share this planet.

My hand is open. Let me take yours and we'll walk together."

Now it's seven years on. Guns. Killing. Maiming. Harming. Now it's Philly. Repeal the damnable Second Amendment, throw the guns in furnaces so people can walk the streets, go to school, go to houses of worship, dance together, shop for groceries, LIVE! without continual worry that the next argument, the next umbrage taken, the next bully, the next grievance, the next despair will put a bullet in their heart or their child's, or someone they love.

I need kindness and love and shelter and food and safety and stability. So does everyone. The only way we'll even begin to grow people to approach a solid, decent, dependable society is to get rid of the poisons of hatred, bullying, grievance, and guns.

I need The Arts Desk...

From Tucson, Paula gives us another look at the springtime there which now in June is a look back. The months of Fall-Winter-Spring clement weather have given over to soaring summertime temperatures. But what a Springtime it was! illustrated by a day's entry in her backyard journal. Paula and Carl's cultivation and natural restoration of their desert foothills homesite now affords the desert flora and wildlife a place to flourish, and also an ongoing treat for their observers...

And the Palo Verde trees have had their bloom-time, too...

Paula and Carl evaded the early summer 100+ temps with a couple of drives up the Catalina mountainside to Rose Canyon's 70-degree high-altitude comfort, documented with a brief video...

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Keoni's wildly active music life in April spilled over into May. He sent from Peenemünder, Germany some photos of the venue where he played in the viola section of the New York Philharmonic...

NY Phil Viola Section in Germany.

They played in what was once a munitions factory during WWII that has been converted into an arts venue.

Keoni found time to bicycle around the area...

Here he was standing in Poland, looking back across the border into Germany.

It brought home the reality that what appears in the news is way more than words and pictures in cyberspace.

Back in the USA some time ago, Keoni played in the NYPhil viola section while Yo-Yo Ma played cello and John Williams conducted a number of recordings. From this NPR Story & 8 Minute audio of "Shindler's List" portion of the recordings, I learned the album they made, A Gathering of Friends, is now released and available on a number of music services and also some purchase options.

At home, Aidan continues his summer teaching commitments with an age spread of grade school age to retired persons. Lately, he put together some more music and tech...

______

Sometimes, I get to hang out with musicians...

Keoni and Aidan, one of our walks at the farm.

Keoni on a walk here at Dock.

...and sometimes I hang out with a cat...

...Toby hunting varmints...Aidan captured these on one of our walks...

I told Toby, "I hang out with musicians."

He replied, "I hang out with dogs."

Furry friends. A portrait from Aidan.

We move now to The Sports Desk to report that Elijah is keeping up the beat with his basketball games and tournaments. He has captured some attention, too, which Jeff has shared with us...