“Fool me once…”
Greetings and salutations from the sand, sun and surf of Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and the once again stunningly beautiful, sunny, pleasantly perfect island of Nantucket! Great to be with you and yours once again on this 7th day of August, 2015, another awesome Cape day if you happen out this way, with temperatures in the low to mid seventies, blue sky and water temperatures to match. A good day to greet our fine and upstanding 44th President of the United States, staying in the Vineyard for the next 17 days, a much deserved vacation. This reporter hopes the whole “FAM” (credit a classic must re-SEA film starring Bill Murray, Julie Hagerty and Richard Dreyfuss, “What About Bob”, circa 1991), enjoys the stay, getting in as much quality Wildlife ‘time’ as possible. Hopefully unplugging and renewing, if only for a few moments, taking the prescription “Dr. M” handed out to “Bob” in said movie, ‘giving him permission” to take a break from all of his anxiety and worry. Writing said ’script to Bob stating, ‘take a vacation from your problems’. To wit Bob exclaimed in great delight, “…take a vacation from my problems? You bet I will!” Taking in all of the Magic that is this little sand bar created 11,500 years ago by the Last Great Ice Age. An Age reminiscent of the image above; captured from this past winter’s Abundance…
On this busy Friday morning, we all say goodbye to Jon Stewart of “The Daily Show”, who brought this nation of OURS much laughter, a few tears and a whole boat load of HOPE, LOVE and JOY. Thank you Jon! Having cancelled my subscription to cable, I was unable to view last night’s last episode, but I am sure it was bittersweet for a man who, since 1999, has transformed how much of this country’s citizenry consumes it’s daily news. Moreover, what they think about it. He became the new Walter Cronkite of our day, bringing sense and sensibility, reason and sanity, some logic and luck, some wisdom and humility, some wit and witness, but above all, he brought down the house with laughter.
Possessing not only the unique ability to poke fun at powerful men like our previous U.S. President George W. Bush–who once famously stated at a press conference, as he built up his defenseless defense of proceeding with an illegal war waged against a sovereign nation posing no real threat to OUR ‘national security’ (the big joke), killing over 4400 U.S. soldiers and far more than 100,000 Iraqis–both civilian and military– not to mention the thousands of American soldiers who suffer 24/7 from acute PTSD and subsequent substance abuse, resulting in many vets being homeless without hope, dowsed in desperation, through no fault of their own, ultimately looked down upon as liabilities, as opposed to the ASSETS they truly are, add to all of that “collateral damage”, American tax payers still left with the cost of ‘the Iraq War’, with credible estimates ranging upwards of 4.1 trillion when combined with the ‘Afghanistan War’, indeed Jon making fun of old “W” time and time again with his one man show and spot on impression of the man who famously stated at said press conference, “…ah, um, fool me once, shame on you? Uh, um, fool me twice, ah, um, er, well, you just can’t get fooled again see…”–yes, possessing not only the sharp, dry wit to put anyone in their place, Jon also possessed the rare trait of being able to laugh at himself.
Ever abiding in the age old truism–”...Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves, for they will be constantly amused.”
Of course, Jon’s work gave us Stephen Colbert, John Oliver and many others, who have gone on to have distinguished careers of their own. Rumor has it that this New Jersey native will be spending more time with his family and creating a safe haven for abused animals. God Bless you Mr. Stewart!
Whatever his future endeavors, be it another fine “Rosewater” film, or a great novel, I am sure it will be Gold.
God speed my man, God speed!
Have a nice week end folks!
PRESERVE THE WILDERNESS! Peace~M
