Last night I was unable to sleep, waking up in the middle of the night, my head full of thoughts. Thought of anger, thoughts of retribution, thoughts of dismay, thoughts relating to the horrors that were visited upon me. Beginning with a wrongful arrest during which I was injured by the evil of Officer Mendes, of the Central Marin Police Department, whisked off to the Crisis Unit of Marin General Hospital, a rather spiffy deserted jail. Days later another knock on the door by the Landlord Representative, a man considered to be a friend with a notice commanding I leave my apartment in three days. The Muslim faith provided guidance in oh so many ways, One way is to simplify complex matters, so rather than deal with the nuances of human behavior, the Qur’an instructs that there are good people and evil people, and they are to be treated differently. There is no doubt that Officer Mendes is evil, causing needles injury during an unlawful arrest. There is also evidence that the Landlord Representative is an evil man – blindly ambitious, not well educated, wields power without accepting responsibility, lies and speaks with a forked tongue. . Then telephone conversations with Tam Ridge’s attorney – again an evil man who does NOT use his law school education for good, but for evil. He terrorizes and oppresses clients, kicks them out of their apartments with his bullying tactics, misusing a code provision not intended for the situation he applies (more about that later) Oppressing tenants unsure of the law, their rights and privileges unknown and concealed to them. The wrongs perpetuated upon me are ones perpetuated by millions in this country. I merely had the opportunity to join the club and then, thankfully for a short period of time. I can walk away from all of this – and I shall. Thank Allah and my own hard work and determination to make walking away, to a better place possible.
It is best to attempt to put this behind me and not dwell on this as it would, in the long run, bore my faithful readers, and myself.
Beneficence is the word that comes to mind. Discovered that it is a early 17th century: from Latin beneficent- (stem of beneficentior, comparative of beneficus ‘favorable, generous’), from bene facere ‘do good (to)’. It is sometimes interesting to see the origin of a word, and fascinating that we can now, thanks to the power of technology. I need to attempt to exert some beneficence which is (of a person) generous or doing good. Used in a sentence: a beneficent landowner (not the case at Tam Ridge, oops, negative again Another definition is resulting good. Used in a sentence, a beneficent democracy (well not in the USA because of the Republicans, oops negative again.)
I became negative again and thought of the word pander. Pandering another word. ratify or indulge (an immoral or distasteful desire, need, or habit or a person with such a desire. The origins of that word: . late Middle English (as a noun): from Pandare, the name of a character in Chaucer’s Troilus and Criseyde (see Pandarus). The verb dates from the early 17th century.
Rather than discuss why the word came to mind (a certain person indulged in a distasteful habit) instead find the discovery of this word energizing and cheering. Long ago and far away, there were cocktail parties. They consisted of a gathering of people sipping alcohol, they have become obsolete what with the pandemic. Even If there is an alcohol sipping gathering again they are accompanied by blazingly loud music which prevents conversation. So back in the old day it was fabulous when one discovered an obscure and amusing facts, then it could be used to impress your fellow imbibers – to banter about. Nowadays cocktail parties are no longer in vogue, times have changed.
But, by the way again, pander is a person who assists the baser urges or evil designs of others. The word could be used to describe the attorney who drafted the notice. (Oops, negative again).
But to get back to yesterday and the miraculous insight. Awoke after the fitful sleep, performed my morning prayer and soon was off The delay due to construction was not bad so got to JCC almost on time for water aerobic class. The last song played was There Is a Season. I Googled it., the song title is actually Turn,Turn,Turn
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And 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 to laugh, a time to weep
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven
A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it’s not too late
Following the class I said to the aerobics instructor.
Me: I cannot believe the last song you played, It was exactly the song I so needed to hear.
She: I am glad, You did well in the class, despite your bandaged hand.
Google it and find a version that you enjoy. Pete Seeger is the author of this song. I learned from whence Pete Seeger found the inspiration. Lyrics of Pete Seeger’s song “To Everything There Is a Season” were taken word for word from the Bible (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). The only words Seeger added were “Turn! Turn! Turn!” and “I swear it’s not too late”.
This is totally mind boggling – no other words can describe it. So, for me, there has been a time to hate, a time to mourn, a time to refrain from embracing, a time to break down and a time to weep but now is the time to laugh, to build up, to dance, to love, to gain, and to embrace.
Speaking of embracing an Instagram appeared. It was a young Arab boy, haltingly singing, in English, My Fight Song. I was blown away as it was My Song when in England. How could someone know that? It was a piece of the puzzle not in place. But found it, as communicated to Wise Man in a text.
Me: The young boy is singing it is being recorded. It had to be him as no other explanation and I am logical as well you know. recorded – it on Instagram Impossible without him. No other explanation and I am logical as well you know. No other explanation and I am logical as well you know. The missing piece was how did he know about Fight Song. Piece found, in a blog . “When I was in London having a difficult time I would constantly play This is My Fight Song. I am listening to it now. “ I found it by using the search engine. But no wonder my statistics are huge with the research team. Reminder: I am NOT crazy.
Wise Man: no …..you are many things but one of them is you are not crazy……
Me: I am laughing! See you soon!
So perhaps it is a time to embrace. Synonyms for embrace are hug, take/hold in one’s arms, hold, cuddle, clasp to one’s bosom, clasp, squeeze, clutch, seize, grab; nuzzle, caress; enfold, enclasp, encircle, enclose, envelop, entwine oneself around; canoodle, smooch; embosom.
It would be wondrous to hug, nuzzle, canoodle and embosom this little boy. Hopefully I shall.
The identity of all parties is confidential and must remain so. Well, all the parties except Alexis McBride, who has no privacy. The price of fame according to Jamie Lee Curtis, spoken in a recent The New Yorker interview.
So Google the song, Listen to the longest version by The Byrds. When I listened I convulsively wept but it was not tears of sorrow but tears of joy.
The attached photo seems to be the story of my life, it is amusing, but most accurate.
