June moon and a lot else

         

    Whatever else Benjamin Franklin knew (a lot of many things to many men and women) he may have known himself best of all. He knew about  'soulspace' perhaps more than anyone else in the past or present celebrity world - both a mental and physical place..  Philadelphia was his favorite  city- "more wide open than New York," he said. Yes, that' word is hard to define. H seemed to suggest is is where a person feels he/she flourishes best., The city was where he felt  most at home- as the author  Eric Weiner of a new book called 'Ben and Me' might define it: He certainly prospered there although he spent many of his long years (death from pleurisy in April of 1784 ) in Europe - especially London (not his favorite, being as he saw a closed society).

Among his many inventions, Weiner writes is - most surprisingly - a glass harmonica,. Nothing was too challenging for him - not even editing Thomas Jefferson's words for the Declaration of Independence'  the  corrected from TJ"S original: We hold these truths to be self-sufficient that all men are created equal." Of advice, the old sage had plenty. Notably, as Weiner recounts, he had three rules or advice for any age. Number one was to listen to guard your anger, to doubt your convictions, and, above all, 'be curious.' The influencer of his day was also the original 'social entrepreneur., although, surprisingly, Weiner notes, Franklin was quiet among strangers . Also, somewhat of a surprise, the multitalented Franklin said  the best way for getting along with others was "get someone to do you a favor.'

  In this 250th year of this country's ongoing origin(we invent as we go along, still trying to figure out what this experiment called democracy is all about). Franklin above all was tough and fussy, believing 'only the virtuous  people are capable of freedom.'

A tough number, as we might say in modern idiom.

 But such stern words  from a largely self-taught man were accompanied by good humor and a flirtatious personality.All of which makes him, in Weiner's words, "the least dead of our founding fathers.' That isn't to forget Ben's somewhat careless and selfish attitudes to the women in his life. Lots of them apparently. But so goes the mystery of the man that books interpreting him keep rolling off the pressses.

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In a far less touted method of 'reaching out,' it might be useful to suggest how even local, everyday interactions of people can be revelatory and humbling. Perhaps even thrilling. On personal note, I was recently within hours on a humid hot day  walking and "Metroing' as I often do. I had no special thoughts in my head when I found myself hailed at a street crossing by a woman driver holding a bottle of water out the window. I supposed that, seeing my exposure to the really horrid weather she meant to offer it to me.  (DOubtless she felt sorry for me from her air conditioned car. I thanked her indicating I was carrying some H20 for relief so she would not have to stop and hold up traffic behind her.It was notable because she was Black and I seldom have ever had such generous encounters with strangers.  

Later that afternoon I was seated in one of Metro's chard cement passenger benches awaiting a train when I noticed a youngish Black man sitting beside me tying some sort of butterfly decoration to the top of his sneakers. It's currently a trend among young girls, I  had been told by an 11-year-old. Bravo for the fellow's attempt to add some flair to his  everyday attire and told him so. In response, he  reached  into his backpack and pulled out a bottle of soda, indicating with a gesture that I might want to take it or share. That just is not normal (but assuredly welcome) behavior among strangers on a public platform...I might have tried engaging him in some conversation but the train was pulling in and, once aboard, he seated himself from me some distance away.

Ah, well, ring a bell for possibilities.

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I'm reminded of how people  generally distance themselves  from others so deliberately in a closed space and how difficult it is for so many  in Washington's transportation system to reach out to others. Not longI broke the rule while on a bus seated next to a woman reading what I thought seemed to be an unusual printed form. Our physical closeness - seated next to one another in the front 'senior/handicapped' section - made it easy to engage. It turns out she and I were to get off at the same spot but I was unclear where the bus stop would be. She offered to  help me find my way....

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May-be

     I'm on a bus, headed home  Sunday to Capitol  Hill from Adams Morgan. It could be any bus operated by Washington Area Transit   Authority. One is transporting heavy bags of clothes and groceries, taking up two  seats of the front section reserved, as the sign says, for handicapped and seniors. No one seems to care about signs. Another passenger, a man in a long robe and cap, puts his  wares for sale on the seat next to him without regard for anyone needing a place to sit down. He is nonchalant - careful not to impose yet somehow commanding attention. His wares are small bottles - perfume perhaps? 

     It's not a long ride and traffic is not so challenging on a weekday night. When a man enters with an undisclosed package no one takes notice. 

What Happened to 2025 now that it is March 2026?

 

Nothing to apologize for. This winter season has been eratic on all counts. March brings spring so 'hope springs' eternal I think the  saying goes. But only if it is your head to  believe such things. Onward to the blessings of renewal. So to keep a modicum of sanity and balance in what is now a warring world.

Hence, this thought: Each day is its own opportunity for renewal in ways big (colorful, remarkable)  and small. Though mostly in what is considered a small thing. So when I am on a crosstown Metro bus I can cherish the driver's spontaneous comment - a compliment - when I pay and she says 'I like your pin.'  I am overjoyed: This is a connection between two strangers that is outright positive. 

No reason that she should interact with a passenger at all, secluded safely between her heavy plastic shield (with an opening on one side). I am thrilled for no real reason other than she was reaching out. My pin is a sparkly rhinestone butterfly covering the Patagonia label on the front of my down vest. "Cheap," I respond - making my return gesture to mean such a pin might be available for anyone. Then  later I take my seat up front in the senior and disabled sections across from an extra large passenger  - a few hundred pounds or so - and see that he is carrying a large sack containing the familiar label of  petitions for signatures that enable a candidate to qualify for a race. We are connected in that way, too. This is the season to prime for the primary races locally. I've done my share of work in my Ward. The weekend market is almost a chorus line of similar entreaties.

'Only connect" was the much quoted slogan attributed to the English novelist E.M. Foster.  Melancholy words in an era when it seems most connecting is done through automatic, mechanistic means. Seeming to prevent any real personal contact. Still, it's worth the effort  though  a person may feel hopelessly archaic and  ridiculous when the stranger  who is unexpectedly approached, responds with a look of puzzlement if not fear.

Or maybe the better  word is

'engage,' any way, if a 'connection' doesn't quite describe the effort.

As a minor form of rebellion I  try not to let the opportunity  get away every day. So on a recent airplane ride,  I managed a real conversation with  two seat mates on two different trips.In neither case was the stranger immersed in the solitary exclusionary act of watching a video on their screens - thus it seemed not out of hand to engage. One easy one:  Are you a native of (------ wherever the passenger has begun the journey or where he/she hopes to land)? In one case, a fit looking middle aged man in military dress was on his way to Hawaii to test his deep fishing skills, being a licensed outfitter for water trips on land. I learned a great deal about challenges to the sport, limits imposed by local government to save a species from extinction. (catch and release after taking the photo). On my return, the woman beside me was rapidly cleaning with a  packaged wipe her seat as well as the drop-down board. Turned out she was  a  suburban Marylander interested in politics and the arts: both of my favorites as well.  Yes, she would consider coming to a fundraiser for a Montana candidate running for the US House ...