Sometimes I remind myself that I haven’t talked to an old friend in a while. There are a lot of excuses, of course. Days pass by. Everyone is busy in some way. But when I do decide to pick up the phone or write a note, I am almost never disappointed.
“How are you?” I ask. It can be a throwaway line, a perfunctory conversation starter meant to elicit an “I’m okay,” and then move on. But I mean it, and I want to know.
These are difficult times. We all know that. There is a lot that is dispiriting. There is a lot that is demoralizing. There is a lot (more than we might want to admit) that can be outright terrifying.
We all try to soldier on as best we can. We carry burdens that are personal, professional, communal, and familial. Fate strikes us all in unique and unpredictable ways.
And then there is all that hangs over us at the national and global level. We talk about it often here — the threat to democracy, our climate crisis, a pandemic, attacks on our constitutional rights, and on, and on.
But where we can find hope, support, empathy, and resilience, is in our human connections, our communities, our networks of friends and family. Age, distance, the pandemic, financial burdens, and many other hurdles can make that closeness more difficult to maintain.
So tonight, on a random Monday in August, I just wanted to reach out to all of you in the Steady community and ask, “How are you doing?” I want to let you know that I am thinking of you, and I know others here are as well.
When we founded this newsletter, I wanted to call it Steady because the word has guided me, like a North Star, through life. But sometimes the skies get cloudy and the direction forward is hard to decipher.
Amidst the fog of weariness and uncertainty, it is all the more essential that we call out to each other, our fellow travelers in this moment on the ever-changing sea of life.
Steady as we go.
Mr. Rather, at nearly 70, you have been a calming and honest presence during most of my life -especially during the Vietnam war. How am I? I’m scared. Of Covid, of Trumpers overturning our democracy, of climate change, especially here in our home state of Texas and our ultra religious Supreme Court . And I’m tired of the hate and the lies. Thank you for doing this. We need it
Personally, I am fine. Achy bones, but at my core...fine. That is my choice. To be optimistic and hopeful.
But if I were to choose a word that describes how am I doing...how are we doing? I would say that I am disappointed. I never thought that so many Americans could be so hateful and cruel...and be proud of it. I am disappointed and I am embarrassed by the millions of us who care little for others, who embrace lies and dishonor our nation.
But I, me, I'm fine. Thanks for asking.