Another Monday morning

I'm in for a strange couple of days. I'm having my third cup of black coffee because it's one of the things I'm allowed to have. It's time for the screening colonoscopy, one of those over-50 events that we- who- do- not- like- to- subject- ourselves- to- medical- procedures nonetheless subject ourselves to because we've known people who have suffered the consequences of undetected cancers. Today is "prep day" --only clear liquids to eat, jello, broth, apple juice,tea, and then later this afternoon, the liquids get more, shall we say, "interesting."  Tomorrow, I'll be happily sedated for the up close and personal scrutiny of my innards, so I'm planning on losing out on a whole day. I'll resurface on Wednesday! But in the meantime, I thought I'd  get a few words in.  So, I'll include this as a public service announcement: if you're over 50, get the screening. If you are uninsured, check with the department of health to see about a free or low cost screening.  They are offered here in Chautauqua County and in many other locations as well.

Now, to abruptly change the subject, here are some thoughts on climate change. Yesterday's church service addressed it from the perspective of Earth Hour. From it's inaugural event in Sydney, Australia in 2007, it has grown into an international phenomenon of turning out the lights for one hour, 8:30-9:30 pm local time, every March 23.  If that seems to powering down and saving the planet like a crash diet is to weight reduction, well...yeah, my thoughts exactly.  It's good that it has helped to "raise awareness" of climate issues, but anyone who isn't "aware" by now has a brain full of novacaine, and a lot of "aware" people have actually done very little in the way of personal behavior change. It's going to take more than "awareness" and it's got to start happening a whole lot faster. Sure, they've expanded awareness to asking for "commitments" now-- what are you willing to commit to to save the planet?  I'm very concerned about people patting themselves on the back for turning out lights and taking their deposit bottles and cans back to the store.  Next they'll want merit badges.

On the other hand, I also watched the film "The Age of Stupid" last week, and it was pretty dark and depressing. You know what? People are really stupid about this stuff. And it does absolutely no good to tell them they're doing everything wrong and they have to just stop doing it, or face catastrophe. Because they get depressed and shut down when confronted with such bleakness, fingers go into the ears, blinders go on, and you hear a chorus of "lalalalalalala" as they persevere with business as usual WHILE THEY STILL CAN. It's time that somebody started articulating a vision of a much better,cleaner, healthier way of life that is not so dependent on cheap energy and cheap entertainment, and telling people what they can do to make it happen. Because it's not the world we have grown up in. We are not accustomed to doing things for the good of ourselves and others and enjoying the benefits of freedom from over-consumption. We need a new owners manual for our own lives.

Adventures in "upcycling": this week I learned how to turn plastic grocery bags into "plarn" (plastic yarn) and how to crochet. I am making a rug that can be hosed off when it gets dirty. How is this a solution to our plastic addiction? It isn't. But it's a creative use for some of those plastic bags that are everywhere, more interesting than just taking them back to the store to be recycled into more plastic bags. And until plastic bags are BANNED, it's one of those problems we have to deal with.

Also, a word about the first annual (I hope) Jazzfest Jamestown: WONDERFUL. We are blessed with abundant local talent here. Culture needs to be cultivated, and it is cultivated here, and it's one of the things that makes Jamestown such a great place to live.

This Thursday evening, September 27, Ken Hardley starts a new season of his popular live music and radio broadcast concert series,under the new name of Rolling Hills Radio.  More info is available at the link.

That's all she wrote.

New beginnings

The thing about community building is that sometimes you get so busy doing it that you don't have time to reflect and write about it. I started to write this entry after we returned from our Labor Day weekend in Massachusetts, but was promptly diverted and am just now getting back to this.

Anyway, summer is over. Not quite by the arrival of the autumnal equinox, but Labor Day has come and gone, the kids are back in school, and the nights are chilly.  It's apple and pumpkin and chrysanthemum time. And football, for those who are so inclined.  Okay, let's not go there.

We got to spend a wonderful holiday weekend  with our two favorite little people.  They are our primary motivation for taking a careful assessment of where the world is headed and doing what we can to slow down the destruction so that we leave behind an environment in which they can thrive. They will reach adulthood in a world different from what we have known, but hopefully one in which life is actually LIFE-sized, less frenzied, more in harmony with our Earth instead of sucking every last bit of life out of it.

Even as the growing season winds down and the leaves prepare to go out in a blaze of glory as they turn to fertilizer for the next cycle,  there are new beginnings of other kinds.  The four-year-old, Logan, has started preschool, leaving the family cocoon that has protected him since birth and entering a larger world of outside influences --  teachers and the peer group.  His mom has ended her maternity leave and returned to work, and his baby sister, Quinn,  is now spending most of her waking hours in the care of the nanny who has been a partner in the parenting process of this family since Logan was a baby. Such is life in the 21st century for families in which the parents are fortunate enough to have careers.  For now, at least.

My local community efforts have recently been focused on our church community,  a wonderful group that needs an infusion of younger members to ensure the continuation of this community into the future. Not to mention the fresh ideas and new energy we all benefit from when we welcome new friends into our lives. For my part, I am involved in resuscitating a children's program this fall, something I really wasn't planning to do, but I've managed to make a career as a gap filler. And the kids are a lot of fun.

In the larger community, there is the ongoing discovery of new dots and possible connections and not really knowing where the journey will lead. So many issues, so little time.

This week:

"Addicted to Plastic" will be the film shown and discussed at JCC, the latest in the "Endangered Earth" series for the month of September, Tuesdays at 7 pm in the Student Union.

"God’s Favorite," a comedy by Neil Simon,continues this Friday and Saturday night at the Robert H. Jackson Center at 8pm. All proceeds form this production are being donated to: The American Red Cross, The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy, LOVE Inc. and St. Susan’s Center. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by calling the Church office 483-6405, Ryder’s Cup Coffee 763-5686, Labyrinth Press Company 708-2471, Daniel Pierce 969-7412 or any cast or crew member. There are also 12 great baskets to take a chance on. Tell everybody you know!

On Saturday,  the Jamestown Unitarian Church on Prendergast Avenue will host the First Annual Jazzfest Jamestown from 6:00 to 11:00 PM.  Jazzfest Jamestown is a FREE family event,  partially funded by a grant from the Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation and a donation by Jamestown Awning, presented to our community to showcase the outstanding jazz musicians in our area. Popular jazz standard songs from all eras and styles will be performed including blues, swing, be-bop and funk. Area saxophonist, John Cross, will host and narrate the event. Other area jazz musicians will be invited to “sit in” at 10:00 PM with The Babalu Band which has performed for the Chautauqua Lake Idol Competitions for the past 9 years.