Overload!

My mind is approaching overload status! I have so many thoughts about so many things, that this latest compilation of thoughts could go on forever…or at least until my lunch arrives. These are crazy times, my friends and it seems more difficult than ever to plan for the future. But, we arise each day with as much optimism as we can muster and with commitment to ensuring a better world for our children and grandchildren. One of our grandsons is approaching college age and two others are in double digit ages. Even the youngest two are wise and worldly in their own youthful ways, so the sense of urgency to see domestic and international peace, reversal of destructive climate conditions and sanity in politics is ever more pronounced.

The challenges for these ambitions are daunting, but we have no choice. The alternatives are frightening. So, here goes…

1. Nicholas Kristof was interviewed last night by Frank Bruni at Duke University. Three things stood out for me:

a. Trump as president again would be far more destructive than imagined. Kristof noted the critical need for a leader with foreign policy experience in the years ahead and how awful a Trump presidency would be with his disregard for Ukraine and NATO and his inability to articulate any pathways to peace anywhere. His planned vindictiveness absent any counterbalancing staff around him spells disaster for the US. But, Kristof also reminded us of the need to understand his supporters and not simply dismiss them as ignorant or hateful. We have much work to do in the months ahead lest Trump ascend to the presidency and do his worst.

b. As bad as we think things may be around the world (and Kristof pointed out horrible circumstances in Darfour and elsewhere that get no media attention), world-wide poverty rates, child deaths and illiteracy levels have dropped significantly. Reading levels by 4th graders in, arguably the worst US for many quality of life conditions, is now near best in the country. Positive achievements are possible when we put our best minds to use addressing the problems.

c. He confirmed that Taylor Swift is NOT surreptitiously running the country. I suspect that more fact checking is required!

2. We have our Vinfast VF8 car. The process for acquiring it is too long to recount, so suffice it to say that it took more than two weeks for the dealer to lease it to us. And, yes, we leased it because Vinfast has made a lease deal so financially appealing that buying it outright would have cost us $8,000 more over the next four years. I’m not sure I understand their business model. The car has many features we like and others we’ll enjoy once the software is updated. The glitches are occasionally annoying but for the price, we’ll try to be patient. [Side note: moments ago, the dealer called me to tell me that they’re crediting us back the cost of the charger to compensate for these annoyances. Amazing dealership (Leith Vinfast in Cary, NC)]

3. It’s still winter but here in Durham, NC the crocuses have begun to push through the ground and several other flowers are beginning to make their appearances. Spring may be teasing us with an appearance, but it will soon be here. I know that’s not true for many of you further north and those of you suffering damaging rains and winds out west. We’re heading to Denver in a couple of weeks to visit with our son’s family and just hoping not to run into a snow storm out there! Climate change is real, friends, and unless the world collaborates to address it, I truly fear for the future.

4. Kristof also mentioned the need for more support for community colleges, acknowledging the critical role these schools play in education and workforce development. I fully agree and want to give a shoutout to the Belk Center for Community College Leadership (https://belk-center.ced.ncsu.edu/ )at North Carolina State University and it’s awesome director, Dr. Audrey Jaeger! I’ve come to appreciate community colleges far too late in my career and realize how critical they are to personal and community advancement. Next time you’re writing a check (or clicking on the donor button) to your alma mater, consider matching that gift with one to your local community college. The same dollars will accomplish far more to the latter institution that to the former.

5. In a response to another LI post about college sports, I offered the comment that NIL, transfer portal, league realignments, Gen Z disinterest in sports, ESports and unionization among other disruptors will undermine the future of collegiate athletics. Already, the notion of student-athletes is pretty much non-existent. Add the absurd coaches salaries, ridiculous travel schedules, expansion of gambling and prevalence of hazing (and other grievances) and college sports seem destined to long-term failure. Or will it all survive, morph into something else or simply persist despite these influences? All I know is that my own interest in commercial sports at any level has definitely waned. But, for all that: Go Sox! Go Celts! Go Patriots! Go Bruins!

6. Golf courses I’d like to play (if anyone’s looking to sponsor me): Pine Valley (had a tee time in 2001, but my mom died that day. She succeeded in assuring that I’d never forget her); Bandon Dunes, Cabot courses anywhere, Paine Valley, Augusta (of course) and any course in New Zealand. I hope to be on St. Andrews in 2025 and look forward to playing several courses in Ireland this coming summer.

7. Local elections are extraordinarily meaningful and several races in North Carolina are particularly critical. The governors race is between a Jewish, liberal Democrat who is the current Attorney General? and an antisemitic, homophobic, Black Republican who currently serves as the state’s Lieutenant Governor. The local ads, which I hate watching, feature several Trump acolytes who identify themselves as subservient to him, fervently conservative and nauseously anti Biden. They’ve latched on to the immigration crisis as they’re talking horse and incredibly try to suggest that the country is in an economic mess because of Biden. Last I looked, the economy as pretty strong. Lying has become the currency of Republican campaigning. It’s incredibly disgusting.

8. Ok…I’ll admit it. I just finished listening to Henry Winkler’s autobiography and I liked it. It was nice to read about the life of an insecure man who generally thrives and with a happy ending. Judy and I also listened to “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store” on our drive to Florida and felt like we had much to absorb. People who have read it rather than listen to it felt that they got more out of the book by having time to re-read passages. The book has aged well for me and the many stories embedded throughout the text have come back to me unexpectedly. I don’t necessarily recommend the two in tandem, but I do recommend both of them. I need a new book to listen to while rowing, so nominations gratefully accepted.

9. Speaking of book, our first book club meeting is coming up and I’ve been delighted by the response to the formation of the club and the reaction to our first book, “Ours Was The Shining Future” by David Leonhardt. Several have told me that they enjoyed the book and some have sent other articles as companion pieces that I’ve relayed to the group. I’m not sure exactly how we’ll launch into our discussions (I should look for a teaching guide to the book) but I suspect that we’ll quickly get into the fray. I’m searching for a second book which takes a more conservative perspective on the U.S. economy, political divide and the future. Again, recommendations would be lovely.

10. And, finally, our first international trip will take place next month when we fly to Costa Rica for our nephew’s wedding. My sister, Marilyn (ok…you got your shout out…lol) was blessed to have her daughter married 16 months ago (by me, btw), and her son will marry his beloved Shelby in March. We’ll hang out in the mountains of Costa Rica for nearly a week after the wedding and hope to spot a quetzal or two!

It’s 2024 and an election year! Find a way to get involved. Start a book club or just invite your neighbors to dinner. Let’s just get conversations going with people who’s opinion differs from yours. Avoid condescension, respect their positions and do whatever you can to change their minds.

Good luck to all of us!

Larry