Clare Consultation, LLCAmerican Dreams
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” Mary Oliver During this week last year, a comment appeared on the EX:Change blog from <expatrick>: “Asking people to put their dreams into words is asking a lot, but it also helps them get a step farther down their own path. These are people’s prayers you’re hearing.” The other thing I’m remembering from that time was… Read More
“I can’t do this alone.”
“Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.” Howard Zinn Last night in the State of the Union Address, President Obama said these five words. “I can’t do this alone.” He said many notable things. Two in particular match well with what many of the people who make up the 100 voices of EX:Change were saying this time last year. The public officials elected by… Read More
EX:Change 2.0
He could say, “We need change. We need change. I’m going to change this.” He can say all he wants, but actually without the people out here, nothing’s going to change. Art Garcia Jan 21, 2009 A year ago today headlines read: “Antarctica Is Warming,” “Relatives Say Peltier Beaten Following Prison Transfer,” “Israel Completes Gaza Withdrawal,” “Brazilian Midfielder Kaka Stays Put,” “Sen. Kennedy Hospitalized After Suffering Seizure.” Then there were… Read More
Home — 70 Days In
3-27-2009 Just South of Division Ave. Portland, OR Home a week. I’ve slept for most of it. And I’ve walked. Home again to the neighborhoods, to the stretches of bank on both the east and west sides of the Willamette River, and to the downtown streets – careful, clean and bustling. Aaaaahhhh. Portland, Oregon. Home sweet home, indeed.
Saving Grace
3-19-2009 Near the Airport Salt Lake City, UT It’s a long way from Chicago, IL to Salt Lake City, UT – especially in two days by car – tiny car. Fortunately, there’s been saving grace – lots of it. One certain sign of this abundance is the fact that I’m sitting here right now, safe and sound after so many miles through all kinds of weather and, in the instance of I-80 through Iowa… Read More
A Quintessential EX:Change Convergence
3-17-2009 Corner of Pulaski & Leonard West side of Chicago It’s St Patrick’s Day. I just finished an impromptu interview with a Police Sergeant. McMurphy. In Chicago. On St Patrick’s Day. ‘Nuff said. Except to add my thanks to the officer for his time — ex-hippies do make the world go round!
Hawk Sightings
3-15-2009 PA Rte 6 W Allegheny Mountains Hawks. I have a thing about hawks. It’s part ornithological (I mean, what cool raptors). It’s part romantic/poetic (their metaphorical range is considerable). And it’s no doubt part mystical. The mystical part could be embarrassing from the perspective of ‘woo woo’ attributes since I tend to take their appearance as very good signs. If circumstances are dicey or uncertain in any way, the appearance of a hawk,… Read More
Water
3-13-2009 A bench facing the Hudson Manhattan Island It’s Friday the 13th. My interview schedule has fallen apart due in large part to equipment weirdness. Symptomatic, maybe of it being Friday the 13th? Whatever the case, I’ve given in and am now sitting in the 40 degree sunlight – all wrapped up and warm. I’m looking at the Hudson River, the way the afternoon light shows off its silver and enduring majesty… Read More
Pumpjack Riding and Confirmation Hearings
3-9-2009 The Fringe of the Beltway Our Nation’s Capitol I had to pull over to write this down. It’s just too great! It’s been a long driving day. I left Asheville, NC shortly after 1:00 p.m. The birds were singing, the sky was blue. I’d had a big bouncy walk up into the hills above the city with my cousin – my cousin, a master woodworker and accounting student who has two… Read More
Sustainability and Joy
3-10-2009 11th & E, NW Washington, DC A small pastel bouquet of balloons – green, pink, yellow, white – just floated toward the sky between the Hotel Harrington and the ESPN Building. I can’t tell where they came from, and now can no longer see where they’ve gone. Pastel balloons don’t really fit here. Compared with the communities I’ve visited across the South, more people here are wearing black and walking quickly…. Read More