Along the River by the Trees (Week Forty-Two)

01/02/2021

Along the River by the Trees (Week Forty-Two)

The new year, it seemed, was beginning with what felt like the opposite of a clean slate. The virus, the vaccine, the need for a new lockdown and the ongoing refusal of the government to pay most businesses (and especially the smaller ones) to shut down and for people to stay home, the potential for sweeping legislation on many different fronts, including but not limited to voting rights, universal health care, and the environment (and the likelihood that corporate Democrats -- which is the majority of them -- will sabotage any of these measures, just as they did a few days ago when Bernie attempted to force a vote on the bill for the $2000 stimulus checks). It was a lot to consider. There's only so close you can get to the rising water, I thought while looking at these trees gripping the riverbank, before you fall in.

It was only the second day of the year and I felt like we were stuck climbing these steps to nowhere, a remnant of a more pedestrian-friendly era that can be found in the tangle of ramps and highways under the George Washington Bridge (in case you also take solace in literal ruins).

I tried to enjoy the grandeur and underlying vision of the George Washington Bridge, but these days even the bridge feels a bit tarnished by the fact that its primary purpose is to move millions of cars and trucks back and forth across the river, and that its bike lane is narrow and dangerous.

Meanwhile, a tornado had apparently touched down on the riverbank, somewhere north of 165th Street and south of the tennis courts.

As with the steps to nowhere and the trees on the riverbank, the uprooting of these massive old oaks seemed like a good metaphor for the times, albeit a bit 'on the nose.'

I passed a 'We Can Save the Planet' sign attached to a fallen tree in the woods next to the trail. Maybe we could save the planet, I thought, but will we?

I tried to find some signs of hope and came up with these lichens on the trees next to the river. Is it true that lichen growth is a sign of good air quality? If not, please don't tell me.

Will Joe Biden and his team of (mostly) corporate consultants be able to control the virus and go on to sign comprehensive, far-reaching legislation designed to help a majority of people (i.e., the ones who actually voted for him)?

Or will Joe Biden be viewed as a brief hiatus on an extended stay in Trump World?

Posted at 10:46 AM in Expression, Science Projects | Permalink

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Music: Death Culture at Sea and Saturnine

Listen or download songs and records from my indie-rock past with Saturnine here and Death Culture at Sea here.

Music Video: Remembrance of Things Past

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Video: The Chaos Detective

The Chaos Detective is a series about a man searching for 'identity' as he completes assignments from a mysterious organization. Watch the first episode (five parts) on YouTube.

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Expression//Reaction//ScienceProjects

01/02/2021