Deaths in 2016

Yeah, I know. Years are just an arbitrary way of delineating things. BUT — THIS particular arbitrary delineation is an outlier. I take note of deaths in the course of a year. I keep a list. Not just celebrities, but others I know; it’s just a form of remembrance.

I had to look, just to satisfy my curiosity. How many have there been this year, and how many last year, just to pick a convenient year for comparison.

Last year, there were 70 on my list. The most notable one for me was Leonard Nimoy. This year, I counted earlier today, was 87. Now adding Debbie Reynolds, 88. And there are a LOT more highly notables, and many before what could conventionally be considered “their time” — too young.

So, 2016 is worse than our collective most recent frame of reference, 2015. And not by just a little.

Weather report, Oswego, December 15, 2016

When I was in Oswego today? When there was a blizzard warning? And I ran into absolute whiteout conditions? And I was carrying boxes to my car and when both hands were occupied with car keys and boxes, my hat blew off my head and my reading glasses blew off my face? And even with holding the car door, I was worried it was going to rip off?

I found out tonight the winds were 84 mph in Oswego. That’s more than the hurricane I went through with Stephen Hunter. Good times.

Reversion, though, implies a lower plane…

I just got an e-mail inviting me to join a spiritual organization whose beliefs include reincarnation, and who said “And if you are interested kindly revert back to us for more details”.

Hmm. If I did that, what would I be reverting back to? What do they know that I don’t?

(I don’t believe in reincarnation. But my past self did.)

Plumbing vs. philosophy

The society which scorns excellence in plumbing as a humble activity and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because it is an exalted activity will have neither good plumbing nor good philosophy: neither its pipes nor its theories will hold water.

~ John W. Gardner