There is a special on Pete Seeger on KQED ch 9 now...great inspiration for cleaning house. One summer when I was maybe 9 or 10 years old, I went to a summer music/drama camp near Idylwild in Southern California. Pete was one of the guest artists (and I had such a crush on his then blond son). It was a wonderful experience. Every time I hear his distinctive voice, especially when he is singing his signature songs... I remember that summer. Right now they are talking about his launching a sloop Clearwater, that began the clean-up of the Hudson River. There have been interviews with so many people, historians, musicians, his children and grandchildren. What a motivating force. What a legacy of all those who have been influenced by his music. Interesting to compare the contemporary grey-haired Arlo Guthrie with the youthful one from maybe 30 or 40 years ago.
He quoted a biologist who asked, "Where is the most important place? Where you are right now." Though they were talking more in terms of "think globally but act locally" (which is also important), I'd like to interpret it in a more abstract manner today: the most important place for each of us is in the present moment.
"You've got to walk that lonesome valley, you've got to walk it by yourself; nobody here can walk it for you, you've got to walk it by yourself." Yes, but. There is community, there are friends. But the walk is a solo act.
Now they have the clip of Bill Clinton awarding him the Kennedy Center honor.
"To everything there is a season, a time to every purpose under heaven. A time to be born, a time to die, a time to plant, a time to reap, a time to kill, a time to heal, a time weep," which I still do enough of these days.
But the laundry is away, the shower is washed with biodegradable cleaner, the kitchen floor is swept, and I'm about to vacuum.
Ketzl is sleeping outside in the grasses, in the shade, with his head on a warm rock.
