Today's MOZEN: The Constitution Made Simple - The 1st Amendment

Words and photo by F LoBuono

The 1st AMENDMENT MADE SIMPLE:

PEOPLE ARE FREE TO BE ASSHOLES.

We don't have to like it but there it is . . . 

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT: Easy Living

It may be an understatement to say that we live in challenging times. The COVID virus is reeking havoc in so many ways and the current political climate hasn't been this polarized since the Civil War!

Yet, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, we also live in wonderous times too - and in ways that have become so ordinary that we hardly take the time to notice.

I just experienced one such event - 

On a brutally cold January evening I went into my bathroom to take a shower. As I entered, I turned on the lights with the flick of a switch. I activated my small heater to make the room nice and cozy. Then, with virtually no effort, I opened the valves and clean, clear, HOT water flowed freely.

At that moment, it occurred to me how much in our lives we take for granted. I tried to imagine what a Herculean effort it might have taken to do the same thing just a few generations ago - fetching the water to fill a tub - cutting the wood to create a fire to heat the water - providing light and warmth to the room, etc., etc.

And, this is just one example of so many ways technology has improved our everyday lives. Again, think about it: phones, cars, planes, trains, food shopping, TV, the Internet, garbage disposal and so on are all available to us with virtually NO effort.

Amazing.

So, take a moment to realize that life consists of two sides of the same coin - we experience new challenges that are unique to our time while at the same time we are equally privileged to enjoy the luxuries that these life and times have to offer.

Today's MOZEN: An Infamous Date

Words and photos by F LoBuono

January 6, 2021, a date which will live . . . oh, wait, that's already been used.

But, you get my point.

That day must, and WILL BE condemned in the strongest terms possible. The ATTACK on the U.S. Capitol was not just an assault on a building, it was a defilement like this Country has never seen before. 

Some will argue that the Capitol was actually attacked once before, during the War of 1812. And, that is true. However, there is an important distinction: that atrocity was committed during an invasion by a foreign enemy, i.e. the British. The Insurrection (a more proper term) of 1/6 was committed by our fellow Americans.

Yes, sadly, we are all Americans.

However, as Ulysses S. Grant once famously said: 

Whatever may have been my political opinions before, I have but one sentiment now. That is, we have a Government, and laws and a flag, and they must all be sustained. There are but two parties now, traitors and patriots and I want hereafter to be ranked with the latter, and I trust, the stronger party.

I couldn't agree more.

There are those of us (thankfully still a majority) who do not wave huge banners in a gross attempt at blatant, false patriotism but live quietly within the laws of the Country and do the things necessary to maintain the peace among ALL Americans.

It's called RESPECT -

And, respect doesn't mean blindly following everything that our Government sells us. I am a child of the Vietnam War era and, so, have a healthy skepticism when it comes to politics and politicians. However, I also believe in the ideals of this Country which include a process for addressing our grievances.

One of those methods is called The Vote. And, in November of the previous year, THE PEOPLE of this Country used their SACRED RITE to express their will and totally, completely, and emphatically REJECTED, the previous administration of one Donald J. Trump.

However, true to form, Mr. Trump concocted some bullshit story of a Stolen Election. Despite absolutely NO CREDITABLE EVIDENCE, he continued his drumbeat of FALSE information to the point of encouraging his minions to take what became their despicable actions.

In a way, I never expected more from Mr. Trump. He always was a grifter and he always will be. What still surprises me is how many Americans are still so gullible (or worse) as to not only believe him, but possible even die for him. Him? Really?

I'm sure this appeal will fall on deaf ears. Trying to argue logic and reason with someone who is not willing to listen is like trying to administer medicine to the dead. But we can never stop trying to do the right thing. 

Join the realm of the righteous - condemn that heinous attack, bring those responsible (ALL those responsible) to justice and join your fellow Americans back on the path of real liberty.

Today's MOZEN: The Bucket List - NYE in Times Square

All words and photos by F LoBuono

During my long career as a photojournalist for CBS News in New York, I had the opportunity to not only experience the events many would include on their so-called Bucket Lists, but to be well-paid for it to boot (an important distinction - more later).

These lists often include events that may present challenges with participating in but appear to be worth the experience - well, at least once anyway.

2 of these are Mardi Gras in New Orleans and New Years Eve in Times Square. 

We'll save Mardi Gras for Lent.

I covered New Years Eve from Times Square about a half dozen times for CBS (about 5X's too many). And, I have to say that it is everything that a Bucket-List event should be - because it IS an enormous challenge to accomplish for a very rewarding experience, even if the culmination lasts but a few, shinning moments.

As a photographer, my day started early and ended the same way - early the NEXT day. We would take a taxi from the CBS Broadcast Center on W57th St. with our gear as far as we could go and fight the already assembling crowds to get to our position at the main stage in the heart of Times Square. One year, the crowd was thick that a couple of burly NYPD officers literally passed me, my partner - and our gear - over the crowd to get in place!

The Main Stage, Times Square

By the time we finally got in with our stuff it must have been around noon. We would be on the multi-level platform facing the Main Performance Stage just below the legendary Ball Drop.

You certainly couldn't get a better seat in the house. We were usually situated in the position just below CNN. I remember how they started with Kathy Griffin and Anderson Cooper - before she committed professional suicide and was replaced by Andy Cohen.

Traditionally, next to us was one of the Spanish stations which always managed to rock the platform with too many people having way too good a time!

And, I remember the weather.

Some years we got lucky and the temperatures hovered at freezing or just above. But, I recall that most years we battled the brutal cold for hours at end. At least I could move around the platform a bit, mingle with the crown for interviews, and even use a bathroom in a nearby hotel that was reserved for the press. The civilians waiting in the cattle pens lining Times Square would have no such luxury.

Still, it was enormously challenging. I can still feel the near frostbite in my fingers and toes! I can only imagine how those poor bastards penned up with no chance for leaving until released managed. It must have been very high on their lists for them to go through this.

As the day, evening, and night wore on, the excitement continued to build and it was palpable. The performers were deliberately chosen for their pulsating stage presence - and they never disappointed, whipping the crowd into a frenzy.

Despite the cold and what must have been bursting bladders (NO bathroom trips allowed), the crowd was simply euphoric. They were penned in like cattle, shoulder to shoulder, from every corner of the Country and Globe - for hours. Yet, there was NO violence. NO anger. NO Trouble - Only singing, comradery, and LOVE.

Millions of them!

Then, the Countdown beings:

TEN, NINE, EIGHT . . . 

The excitement builds to a fever pitch . . . 

THREE, TWO, ONE . . .

Then EUPHORIA .

HAPPY YEAR!!

We an explosion of fireworks and the dropping of a magnificent crystal ball, the enormous crowd erupts as one - singing, crying, and hugging.

I've never experienced a single, collective moment of good will like it. Even if for a brief moment, the WORLD IS AS ONE.

And, that my friends, is why it's worth it -

. . . and, I got paid a lot.

HAPPY NEW YEAR - EVERYONE!!

Epilogue: The NYPD and the Department of Sanitation are among the best in the world. Millions of people have assembled, virtually without incident - and, the detritus from it is cleaned up with an hour. 

The Clean up

Today's MOZEN: Moving On

The world keeps turning - sometimes in odd and ironic ways - but turn it does.

I was a recent recipient of just such an ironic twist.

21 years ago, at the age of 45, I decided to marry for the first time. Not only did I marry, but I decided that after all those years of childless bachelorhood, I choose a woman with three, healthy, wild boys aged 12-16.

I like challenges.

My friends thought that I was crazy.

They were probably right.

But, despite her three children, Catherine (who very appropriately asked to be called Cat, never Cathy) was wonderfully wild and fiercely independent. Like the proverbial moth to flame, I couldn't resist.

We burned brightly - for a while. When we were right, we could light up a room with our energy.

And, we traveled the world.

But, then, things changed and we drifted. We no longer had that creative energy that drove our wagon. We started to go our separate ways more and more until, one day, Cat simply went away - entirely.

After 12 years of marriage she decided that she needed to find another way to happiness and just split. She took a 10 week temporary lease on an apartment in the City, something she had always dreamed of doing. The boys (now men) and I were left to fend for ourselves - and we did - as best we could - until it all fell apart. it wasn't as if we were destitute but our center was gone.

I thought there was gas left in that car. I mean, who junks a car simply because it needs to be refueled or tuned-up?

But, that was just me.

Literally.

It was over.

Still, I dallied for a full ten years. 10 years!

Perhaps, in the back of my head, I always believed that somehow we would be able to come together to recapture that old magic we once had. And, I made half-hearted attempts at reconciliation - all to no avail. But, it was also simple laziness. After all, it was just over and no peace of paper was going to change that. That's between two people. So, why bother?

It takes two to tango and I found myself dancing in the dark - alone.

She was no longer interested - and never would be again.

It was time to take action. There were legal implications. Who would inherit my vast fortune, etc.? LOL

After a grueling, brutal process that was MUCH more difficult than it should have been (a post for another day), We finally completed and filed the paperwork with the Rockland County Court to begin our final chapter - divorce.

This happened on Christmas Eve, 21 years to the day to the day I first proposed - and, she said, yes.

On the drive home, in a further twist of fate, Anne Lennox' version of The Clash's, Train In Vain, played on the radio.

The irony was not lost - on me, at least.

Almost a Shakespearean Tragedy, don't you think?

Or, perhaps, a comedy instead.

There was noting to contest anyway. We have no children together. The grand house we owned is long ago sold and the bounty divided. I have no claim on any of her property and she none on mine. And, I want nothing. Nothing. I don't even have a wedding photo.

It was what it was, when it was . . . 

Indeed my friends, World Keeps Turning.

 

Today's MOSTLY TRUE SHORT STORY: Christmas - Then and Now

With Stella

When I was a kid, Christmas was always a modest affair at the LoBuono's - well, with the exception of the incredible food we had on both the Eve and Day.

The Eve in particular, with the legendary, traditional Sicilian Feast of the Seven Fishes, prepared by hand over the course of several days by my mother, Stella, our house was the envy of many of my non-participating friends. To get an invite to the feast was a much- coveted ticket! Shrimp, in various forms, calamari - both fried and sautéed, fillet of sole, and, of course, my mother's favorite, Baccala, or salted cod, that she had soaked in water for days and prepared in a potato soup, was served with sturdy red wine (and club soda, of course).

Yes. Those were the days. Stella is nearly 98 and no longer capable of making that kind of effort. My sister is simply too busy. And, I'm a good cook - just not that good! But, all is not lost - we have it catered now - maybe not the same but who cares? The food is always excellent and we eat TOGETHER.

Back to the past -

We did our best to decorate our house with strings of lights. I always wanted to do more but Stella would have none of it - understatement was more her thing. And, she may have been right. Her favorite thing was a few strings of simple, white lights strung over the lilac tree in the center of our yard. It was beautiful. Stella also didn't like pine needles all over the living room so we always had a nice, white (or silver) tree - never real - I always missed that wonderful fresh, earthy smell. But, I must say that both my mother AND father did have beautiful, traditional ornaments, many of them family heirlooms, to decorate the tree with, making it beautiful still.

Of course, there were presents under that tree - but, not many. We received one gift from our parents, one from each our grandmothers, and one from my mother's sister (my aunt, Anna Maria). My brother and sister contributed when they could (not that often, LOL). Our parents were not of great means but always did their best to get us that one gift that we wanted so very much. I was always thrilled to receive just about anything. A new baseball mitt might have sent me off squealing with glee. My sister was not so easy to please and couldn't help hiding her disappointment if she didn't get the exact gift she had asked for.

The rest of our bounty usually provided the other ancillary stuff that we didn't necessarily want but sure needed! With the possible exception of a nice sweater or shirt, that usually meant things like underwear and socks. We always feigned great pleasure at having received them.

We opened most of them on Christmas Eve. We simply couldn't wait for the morning! We may have left one or two (or our parents hid them) to have one more dose of excitement for the morning but the majority were eagerly exchanged on the Eve.

Well, 50+ years later and some things have changed and some haven't. We're so much smaller as a family that our wonderful meals have not been eliminated but greatly reduced. None of us had children so, sadly, many of the traditions just faded away. Those BIG Christmas Day meals at my grandmother's in Brooklyn with all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins are gone forever. And, we are still very modest with our giving (and receiving). It was just never THAT important and still isn't. What IS crucial is that those of us who have survived are TOGETHER  and will celebrate that very fact.

And, one more thing - as for the underwear and socks? I've aged to the point where I actually asked for them - and, slippers too!

MERRY CHRISTMAS - PEACE ON EARTH - GOODWILL TO ALL

Today's MOZEN: In The Quiet of Morning

Words and photo by F LoBuono

In the quiet still of some mornings, before the rest of the apartments in my building come to life and with no TV, music or other unnatural sounds except for the ticking of an old clock to distract me, I have the time and inclination to reflect.

Sometimes, the mornings are ablaze with golden sunshine. At others, like this morning, the skies are grey and dreary. For most of them, just before the coming of full light, the multitude of birds serenade me with a natural symphony that man-made music can only hope to recreate.

Then, almost as suddenly as they appeared, the birds are gone, leaving me alone once again, except for the ticking of the clock and the deep thoughts in my subconscious mind surging to the surface.

I simply sit and soak it all in, letting my feelings wash over me like a hot bath after a cold walk into town.

That's when they come to me.

- all of those whom I have loved and who have loved me and gone before.

There is no pressure on my part to make them come. I simply open my mind to the possibility that they may once again appear, if only in my mind's eye.

And, if I believe, they do come.

I most often smile but I sometimes cry as well. I miss them all - my father, Paul, Cynthia, Jim. And the critters, too - Sammy, Franny, Belle Star, The Bear, Big Red. . . I am thankful to have had them (and, still DO) in my life. I love them all.

They are always brief visits. The world keeps turning. We, I, must move on. It's time to take a shower and truly begin the day. Besides, the young couple in the apartment above me is now awake. I hear their footsteps as they begin their own day, too. And, if I wait too long, they'll be no hot water left for that shower!

I suppose, in this Season of Thanks, I am grateful to have those in my life today and to those who have touched my life in so many ways and continue to do so in new, magical ones.

Today's MOZEN: The Bag of Groceries

It's been going for years - at least 6 by my observations. I first wrote about it at this time in 2015 (https://talk-frank.blogspot.com/2015/11/todays-mozen-its-matter-of-mind.html) during a difficult period in our County.

And, it's been happening ever since.

It's one of the reasons that I love this place. 

Certainly, that was the first time I happened to notice but it may have been going for longer without my knowledge: a simple paper grocery bag filled with canned goods that would be suitable to serve with a nice turkey dinner appears at the bus stop on the corner that separates the villages of Nyack and South Nyack. Obviously, the cans are available to anyone who may need them.

It's funny, because just a week ago or so I passed the spot and wondered if the grocery bag would be back.

Well, sure enough, at the same corner bus stop, there was the bag stuffed with cans of cranberry sauce, corn, and vegetables.

At The Bus Stop, Broadway and Cedar Hill

To this day, I have no idea who does this. I've never witnessed anyone deposit it there. Perhaps they do so in the dead of night as to remain anonymous.

A truly selfless act of kindness.

Whomever they may be, they represent the true meaning of Thanksgiving. And, they are blessed.

Today's MOZEN: Lessons From A Fern

It certainly isn't the most beautiful specimen of Boston fern.

But, a few years ago, it was.

That same plant was thriving - lush and deep green. I found a great spot for it and treated it with TLC, even misting it with cool water every day.

Then, early one Spring day, I decided to move it, at least temporarily, to a spot where it could get a little more sun.

I should have left well enough alone. . . 

I forget it in that spot and it turned out to be a much hotter day than had been expected. Since, ferns like indirect sunlight, it burned - badly - and, began dropping leaves almost immediately.

No matter how hard I tried to reverse the process, the defoliation continued until there were a only a few, pathetic little sprigs remaining.

It seemed hopeless and friends suggested that I simply get rid of it and get myself a brand new, full, healthy one.

But, that's not my way.

Perhaps, at least among my close friends, I have a well-earned reputation for hanging on to things way past their so-called expiration dates. These may include items of clothing that are down to their last threads (pun intended) to partially broken tools, and, yes, barely alive plants. My friends kindly call me frugal - not cheap, but frugal. This may be accurate but it doesn't tell the full story.

Now, before you get the wrong impression, I am NOT a hoarder! My apartment, although full of the mementoes of my life, may be a little cluttered but it is also clean and orderly - sort of like my brain!

But, we are experiencing an environmental crisis that borders on catastrophe. And, perhaps the largest culprit in that crisis is WASTE. 

We have become a disposal society where planned obsolescence is not even noticed; use something for a while, then simply throw it away where it magically disappears.

Well, where do you think it all goes?

Sneakers are a great example.

They are often made with sturdy materials that make them last - a good thing BUT also a bad one. It's good because you need them to be durable when you wear them, but bad when you need to dispose of them - because they will take so long in the landfill to decay.

So, the key is to make sure that we get every last measure of use out of everything we consume - everything.

Now, back to the fern.

Since it was clinging to life, I made it a mission to see if I could restore it to good health. It had nothing to do with $ - they're $20! It was a matter of giving it a chance to not only survive, but thrive once again - to simply not waste.

I found a good place on my porch for it this past summer - not too hot and with some filtered sunlight. I misted it and watered it regularly. And, it never moved from that spot.

Slowly but surely, I began to notice another green shoot rise from the brown remains of the former plant - then another - then another - until most of the dead, brown shoots were being replaced by small, fresh, green ones.

But, I had to remove it from its berth on the porch for the winter. So, I located a spot with similar logistics in my bedroom and placed it there. So far, so good. The plant has responded with even more new shoots! If it continues at this pace it will only be a few more months before that plant is just about as good as new.

Of course, this is also a metaphor.

Don't be so anxious to throw things away. Use them in their totality. It honors them and you. Of course, I apply this most to human beings. No person is obsolete. They may be damaged and a mere vestige of what they once were. But, they still have value. And, with a little kindness and compassion can once again experience a full bloom.

A Healthy Boston Fern

Today's MOZEN: The GREAT Experiment

So much has already been said. And, so much more will be. Besides, what more is there TO say? Whatever might have been cannot undo what has already be done. There is NO Double Indemnity here.

However, if I may add some brief comments:

My heart aches with rage and frustration today, mostly for the families of those lost to Mr. Rittenhouse's callous disregard for human life. But, I also fear for what my Country seems to be becoming - more and more each day; filled with anger, rage, and discord.

However, I will not - cannot - lose faith in the great experiment that is American Democracy. We have survived outrage before. And, unfortunately, we will again. There have been MANY failures (despite those who will not acknowledge them). But, this IS the experiment. If we do not lose hope in achieving a greater good we WILL survive. In fact, if we learn from this, we can only get better. Still, if we keep making the same mistakes over and over, then we are doomed to fail.

I will not watch the news of Mr. Rittenhouse's so-called triumph and the praise that will be heaped upon him by many. I will not even watch those bold enough to protest against the decision.

I'm moving on with an eye to learn from this and do whatever I can to insure that it cannot happen again.

I urge everyone to, once again, remember this:

“I do not pretend to understand the moral universe. The arc is a long one. My eye reaches but little ways. I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by experience of sight. I can divine it by conscience. And from what I see I am sure it bends toward justice.”

                                                               Theodore Parker