Thursday, January 21, 2010

Dang! In spite of the fact that I have hyacinths...

poking up out of the ground in my sloppily-maintained little flower bed, I AM JADED! Usually the spring's first shoots are a welcome sight, but it's January, for heaven's sake, and they are not supposed to be here this early---even in the Pacific Northwest where we can legitimately brag about them in February.

I am jaded, I tell you! Jaded by the incessant messages about climate change and how that relates to too-early green shoots! Jaded by the criticism of the poor Obama administration which has been working its heart out to get things done in the past year, cleaning up the god-awful mess the Bushies left behind and still can't please the critics who think things should be done quicker and better even though the Re-pubs refuse to help.

I am jaded by the endless debates about one thing or another: Haitian relief---too little too late? Wall Street bail-outs---too little? too much? too unregulated? too foolish? too co-dependent? I am jaded by the nightly news which spews the latest murders, robberies, lootings, abuses, and other forms of bleeding in tones which ought to be reserved for birthday parties and such, instead of suspected scandals or other mayhem. I am jaded by the HuffPost, whose headlines scream "looky here, everyone, another big possible mess!"

I am jaded by the casual cruelty of celebrities who trash each other publicly for publicity's sake, or trash ordinary people for the sake of a joke. I am jaded by public figures whose embarrassing private lives are trumpeted by others as long as the "looky-loo factor" can be prolonged. I am jaded by jadedness! And don't you all dare to tell me why I shouldn't be jaded about these things or tell me your opinion about one or another of them. Because I am jaded and sick of it all!

Here's what I'm NOT jaded about: friends who confide their personal struggles; singing together; grins across a room; earnest conversation about things that matter; hugging; laughing; taking a walk; petting the cats; planning a worship service; loving my friends and my congregants and my family; being alive.

I've been feeling jaded about writing a blog post. Nothing seemed worth commenting on; my brain was resisting putting two thoughts together. Even reading others' blog posts seemed uninviting; I'd scan the list on UUpdates and think---naw, not that one, not that one, not that one. Oh, there's CC posting or Chalice Spark or CUUMBAYA---not jaded by those folks. But an appalling number of swear words and "stupid" were falling from my lips as I'd read one rant or another about things I was already jaded about and didn't need to be jadeder.

So what do I do? I write a post about feeling jaded. What else could I do?

13 comments:

spiritualastronomer said...

Thank you for this, Kit. As I sit here in the wet and windy California desert where the electricity went off 20 minutes ago, I've been reading Michael Durall's latest, "The Almost Church Revitalized," and realizing why I've become so disenchanted with the UU church as a whole lately. Or, to use your words, jaded and wondering how/if it can be fixed. I appreciate your comments, not only the jaded ones, but the very positive ones.

Joel said...

Jadeder? I don't know that I could ever be jaded enough not to wince at that.

In seriousness, Auntie, this was a great post. I agree with pert' near everything in it. (Which may make you want to reconsider it.) :)

For what it's worth, I thought the Haiti relief was handled fairly well and in true American fashion. Complain though others may, Americans are still by and large among the most generous people out there. This is when I'm really proud of my country. Anybody can win a war; a disaster is where the rubber meets the road. We're the sort of people who will bring casseroles to the family down the road whose house burned down or whose mother has cancer. Haiti is the same thing on a larger scale.

And don't be fooled by the hyacinths. This is the Northwest. Winter is just trying to psych you out.

LinguistFriend said...

Ordinarily cabin fever comes before mud season, but for the folks you discussed, it is always mud season.

Lilylou said...

Thanks for your thoughts, all. And LF, what a perfect analogy!

Joel Monka said...

I'm reminded of the first time I ever heard the phrase "jaded mandarin". I knew what jade was- mom had a couple jade pieces. I knew what mandarins were- canned oranges. I had some interesting images in mind before I got home to a dictionary.

Linda Reeder said...

Yep, me too. I just got your link from a friend who thought I would really enjoy what you have to say, and in this first post, I certainly do. So far, so good.

After being so hopeful about the Obama administration, it's hard not to be jaded. A blog friend in Portland, a vocal advocate for years, is planning to bury her head in the sand for a while.

I'm not there yet. Jaded, yes, but aldo damn mad. I'm still fighting.

Lilylou said...

Ooooo, Joel, me too!

Lilylou said...

Thanks, Linda, glad you've stopped by.

Mile High Pixie said...

LOL, Rev Kit! I'm jaded about the progress in DC, and I'm also jaded about the cynics complaining about things not getting done fast enough. What's a girl to do? :-)

I find that I have to be jaded and annoyed for a while, and then the answer (my course of action for me) will come. In the meantime, feel free to curse at your TV and computer screens.

(And I've boycotted local news for 13 years--when they called house after my dad was killed (the day of, I might add), I decided that they didn't have the guts to go after real news and just went after hurting people for an easy story.)

My verification word is "pingent", which may be a new word to describe your/our mood!

Lilylou said...

Pingent indeed! That's me, all over the place. Thanks, Pixie.

I am always disgusted by the media thrusting mics in victims' faces and asking them how they feel. What a total disregard for people's grief!

Miss Kitty said...

LOVE this post, Ms. K! What to do when you're tired of cynicism? Write a post that kicks ass and takes names!

I boycott local news, too...I was the one who answered the phone when a newspaper reporter called and asked, "How do you feel?" Back then I was young, naive, stunned. If it happened today, perhaps I'd have the presence of mind to answer, "Umm, well, my father was murdered today by his &^**%*$ brother, who then killed himself. How the &^$% do you THINK I feel?!? Now &^$% off!"

(LOL!)

Robin Edgar said...

"Write a post that kicks ass and takes names!"

I thought that was my specialty. :-)

Lilylou said...

That it is, but you're not the only one!