Here is some haunting Norwegian Christmas music. (My mom used to give me haircuts like the singer’s haircut. It’s a Norwegian thing.)
All posts by Rondi Adamson
Berlin
Such horrors yesterday – in Berlin, in Ankara. I keep thinking about this speech. Times have changed, though. I cannot imagine the Democratic Party of today ever choosing a leader like JFK (as yes, the Republicans today would never choose a Reagan). Think of how much we need someone like either of those men now.
Snow
Curb Your Hysteria
In regards President-Elect Trump, I think everyone needs to calm down. I say this as someone who likely would – were she American – have voted for Hillary Clinton. Or not voted at all.
And yet, the week after the U.S. election I was concerned for the future not because of Trump’s victory – but because of the reaction to his victory. Such histrionics. Such hysteria. It makes me fear for the next generation and wonder about the Millennials. It seems they really are that fragile.
For example, a friend of mine’s daughter wrote that – due to Trump’s victory – she felt “triggered and unsafe” and needed to seek professional help! Seriously? This is an adult woman – albeit a young one, but an adult nonetheless. If I reacted that way each time someone I didn’t like won an election, I’d be in a straight-jacket in a padded room by now. For heaven’s sake! Calm down.
I think that Trump will probably disappoint some of his supporters and will very likely surprise (pleasantly) some of his detractors. As I said to my grammar prof in Italy – non potrebbe essere peggio di Obama. He couldn’t be worse than Obama (see: Syria). I also think he will have a hard time being more divisive than Obama (see: America).
It’s worth contemplating this: he won with pretty much all of the mainstream media against him, and while spending about 10% of what the Clinton campaign spent. This is extraordinary, as big “f**k yous” to the status quo generally are. Without California, he would have won the popular vote – if you need any stronger reason why the electoral college system is a good one, look no more. I also think it’s worth remembering that the American system is a great one, with a set of checks and balances that have long worked well. And Trump will have a cabinet that, from the looks of how it is shaping up, will be diverse. And when I say “diverse” I do not refer only to gender, colour, and creed (what the left generally mean when they refer to diversity), but to ideology, world views, concerns, convictions and experience (something totally lacking at universities, just for starters). The latter type of diversity is much richer and offers more, I believe.
This could be good nor not. But let’s give him a chance and let’s curb our hysteria. And in the meantime, let’s enjoy watching the impotent rage of the elites and of the left (but I repeat myself) – it is a delightful thing to behold. What really gets me is their tremendous condescension, and how even Trump’s victory has not taught them that perhaps that condescension is the problem. Elitists and leftists (but again, I repeat myself) have never been long on self-awareness. In fact, I still hear many of them dismissing the election as the work of angry, racist, stupid “deplorables,” – their last gasp, so to speak. When I read/hear such “analysis,” I want to scream, “This is why he won!”
And win he did, so again, curb your hysteria and we’ll see how things roll.
December 12: Sinatra 101
This day can mean only one thing – Frank Sinatra’s birthday. In tribute, here is some Sinatra Christmas cheer, with Der Bingle along for the fun. (And here is my HuffPost tribute to Frank last year, on what would have been his 100th birthday.)
The Crown
Binge-watching ‘The Crown,‘ and I must say that it is simply impossible to overstate how truly superior a series it is. I thought people were exaggerating about it – but they were not. Everything about it is perfect. It took me a while to figure out why the actress who played Elizabeth was so familiar to me — and then I realized she is the same woman who played Anne Boleyn in ‘Wolf Hall.’ Give her all the awards, and throw a few in the direction of John Lithgow, as Sir Winston.
Extraordinary. To be watched and re-watched and re-watched.
Infamy
I’m Back
Yes folks, I’m back on this side of the Atlantic, with many tales to tell of striking Lufthansa pilots of whom I cannot complain because they allowed me extra days in Rome; of jet-lag and postponed surgeries; of reverse culture shock and a desperate need to catch up on all my work. This wee post is just a start. In the meantime, here is a pic of a lovely girl I saw in Rome’s Protestant Cemetery.
Remembrance Day
I posted earlier about the quakes and such going on here, and it occurred to me that I really need to put things in perspective. I was talking to a couple of classmates here in Italy who are from the Ukraine, and they basically said they felt safer taking their chances with quakes than going back home to deal with war. And then I remembered my uncle’s letter about nearly being killed in a buzz-bomb attack (two months before he was killed by a German shell). Please read that letter and spare a thought for those who serve and those who served. Remember all those young men and women.
Missed Every Day
Four years ago today, my brother died. I miss him every day and while I don’t want to dwell too much on sadness, I never want to let this day go by without acknowledging what a hole his death left in my life. He was the only member of my family (of origin) with whom I spoke every single day, in some capacity. I miss those talks. I miss the intelligence and the moral compass. I was surfing his first blog (which is still online here) the other day and felt such grief. But — sappy as it sounds — he wouldn’t want that. So I will add that I was so lucky to have him as a brother and friend.