The World is Too Much with Us

All I can think of tonight is William Wordsworth’s sonnet, “The world is too much with us, late and soon.” It’s what the current turmoil in our country has done to my brain. When I wake up, I’m aware at least that the orange man hasn’t gotten us blown up overnight, but my next thought is, “What has he done? What has he tweeted?” News junkie that I’ve become, I seem incapable of turning away from it.

I am alternately fascinated and amazed that any one man can distort news so badly. It was bad enough when he took credit for zero major air crashes in 2017—when we haven’t had any since 2009, and the credit is due the airlines, the FAA, and other regulatory bodies. He has had nothing to do with it.

Today, bashing Bannon, he announced he won the 2016 Republican primary, beating out sixteen other hopefuls in what he called the best group of candidates the Republicans had ever fielded. Don’t you remember? We all called them the “clown car.”

There are two ways to look at it: he’s cunning as a fox, and this is all part of some elaborate scheme to end democracy and take over the government, or, he is seriously delusionl and advancing farther into dementia with every day.

I read a New York Times article today, based on Michael Wolff’s new book Fury and Fire, about how the plan was for Trump to lose the election and what ensued when he found himself in power. Remember that first moment when it was announced—the surprised look on his face? Those first months in the White House, with Bannon still calling the shots, are frightening in retrospect. Find the article and read it.

Politics aside, and we must put it aside for our own sanity, my day was ordinary—work, lunch with a good friend (yeah, we talked politics but also a bit of history, which I love), a nap, more work and fiddling at my desk, dinner with the family. Christian fixed a roast in the crockpot and made gravy of packets of ranch and au jus seasonings, drippings, a bit of chicken broth, and cream cheese—so wonderful! Tasted like stroganoff. And that was my day—pleasant but unremarkable.

I’m grateful that it’s gradually beginning to warm up. I can’t complain, however, because my cottage has stayed warm and cozy. We can’t say, however, that spring is just around the corner. We’ve got Stock Show weather coming up.

Stay warm and safe.