Cocktail Civics

Sobering times on many levels.  9/11 anniversary, resurgent Covid, a darkening of days as fall sets in.   Some people have lost their optimism, others maintain it with greater difficulty.  I'm in the latter category.

For me the lasting image of the Covid Times will be the side yard cocktail circle.  As the world faltered, shut down and then fitfully reopened it was a constant.  A circle of lawn chairs set six feet apart, being moved here and there as the seasons changed and the angle of sun at 5pm Friday changed.  In all weather conditions short of the genuinely vile you'd find us gathered there, generally excepting November through February.

Beverages are mixed and distributed.  The circle expands and contracts with attendance, sometimes impromptu additions being waved over from the nearby sidewalk.

The usual membership is older, mid 50's and up.  But otherwise quite varied.  Male and female, married and otherwise, people from the East and West and assorted points in between.  We talk about our kids, who are spread out even further.  Africa, Sweden, the wilds of L.A.

Politics comes up as it will.  I'm no fan of the current administration.  Most of the rest of the Cocktail Circlers were, to put it very mildly, no fans of the previous one.  And oddly this seems to color the optimism/pessimism scale.  Perhaps if your base faith is in Progress you can never be entirely happy, because to strive ever forward means you are never allowed to stand still.  Naturally having fallible humans in charge of the Arc of History can only be a source of frustration.

As the lone admitted Conservative I have a different perspective.  The world generally has a lot of problems but these are outstanding times to be alive.  And while I am not prepared to vouch for other places - still thinkin' bout that kid in L.A. - the community we live in is doing alright.  I expressed this opinion at the tail end of our most recent session.  One of the folks with a different world view expressed doubt, but also sincere hope that I was right.

I should have explained in greater detail, but it was time to go in for dinner.

As I see it we have a great deal more that unites us than divides us.  If there were a problem on the other side of the street each and every one of us would be willing to go over and help.  A kid sitting on the curb looking distressed.  And old person who appeared lost.  A minor fender bender.  No matter, everyone would pitch in and help.

We don't live in an exclusive, gated community.  A few hundred yards away there are people with a great deal less economic security.  They'd help too.  

It helps to have known the neighbors for a long time, although newcomers and the occasional peripheral walk on are equally welcomed.  But mostly I think it helps to be in person.  On the internet it is easy to believe that villainy is the default mode and snark the appropriate riposte.  In person, not so much.  When nonsense is spoken it is gently called out.  And when things are unspoken, mostly problems with our extended families, they are supported by a group of friends who have in most cases been there too.

So in days that are getting shorter - and is that not true for us all in the end? - I highly encourage you to rake the leaves, set up the circle of chairs and raise a glass together.  There is a lot of good in my community, and I'm confident there is much in yours as well.

Cheers