Tuesday, April 9, 2013

This Bitter Earth

Oliver and I stood at the back door last night and looked up into the sky. Terrific winds have been raging all across California the last couple of days, and our backyard is littered with palm fronds and tree debris. The stars, though, shone brightly, despite our urban setting, and we both exclaimed how many there were and how bright. Maybe the wind has blown out the darkness and allowed the stars to shine through! I said.

No, Mom! Oliver said. Haven't you heard? Pollution is getting less and less here in Los Angeles and the stars are coming back! I heard it in the news!

I must have looked dubious, but Oliver insisted and said, again, We're getting more aware, Mom, of the planet! It's good!

And I felt so hopeful in that moment, that we have these young, bright minds, these stars, actually, still here, hoping and confident.

I later stumbled across this video on the On Being website, and thought it was perfect to end this post. That's the voice of the Dalai Lama and, later, Dinah Washington, singing This Bitter Earth. May both Oliver's hope and the short film bring YOU hope today!

9 comments:

  1. Does Oliver have any clue how amazing he is? Yes, this post brings me hope, on Oliver's wings.

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  2. "The stars are coming back."
    He gives me hope that one day he'll step out of his own back door and look up and be dazzled nearly senseless. Lovely Oliver.
    And a fabulous video. Makes me want to listen to DW the rest of the day. Maybe I will.

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  3. Lovely. All of it - the star-gazing with your son, the hope, the video. Lovely. Thank you for sharing.

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  4. Yes, yes, yes. All of it. The winds of Los Angeles and the hope all these younger generations give me, as well. I stumbled upon that video yesterday too. It's gorgeous.

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  5. I love that ... the kids know more than we do about these things - as it should be

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  6. Thank you.
    Thank you.

    And know that if you ever visit Seattle, you have a room at my home.

    xoT.

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  7. Oliver is the best. I hope our future is filled with all Olivers. Sweet Jo

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  8. I'm glad you got to see the stars together! I miss stars. I never see them in London and I never saw them in Manhattan. *sigh*

    I think looking up at stars is an essential human experience. It really does put everything into perspective.

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