Ohtani!

As a diehard San Francisco Giants fan I am programmed to detest the Los Angeles Dodgers. Happiness is seeing the Dodgers lose.  Full Disclosure: Back in the day I was a Brooklyn Dodgers fan and continued to be when in 1958 I was living in L.A. and the Dodgers came west.  That changed when I moved to San Francisco.  So now it is "Go Giants" all the way. 

At the same time I've been an admirer of Shohei Ohtani since he came to play in the U.S.  No problem when he was with the Angels, but then he signed with the Dodgers, so in theory at least he became the enemy.  But emotionally I still had an affinity with him.  The only way I could resolve my dilemma was to want him to do well and hope the Dodgers lose.

But what he did the other day was a joy to watch even if the Dodgers would win the game.  Pitching as well as hitting he did what no one had ever done before.  He pitched for 6+ innings and gave up only 2 hits while striking out 10.  And he hit not one, not two, but three towering  home runs.  All this in the same game.  That it was a deciding game in a postseason series made it even more memorable.

So good for you, Shohei.  Its a pleasure to cheer for you!

Cease Fire!

Like most people I am very happy that there is a Cease Fire in Gaza.  And like most, even reluctantly, I give Trump credit for creating and managing the process that made it happen.

And as I listen to the pundits/experts opine, I'm in agreement with most of them that while this first step is welcome, most of what is left to do to attain a permanent peace and stability in the Middle East is just that - left to do.

Since I'm on the subject of reluctant kudos, I was interested and surprised to read a lengthy article in the Times that detailed Jared Kushner's role in getting to this Cease Fire.  It painted a positive picture of what he has done and how he has done it.  I wouldn't have guessed he was that effective.  

So go figure -a couple of surprises today! 

Speechless!

Friends have been asking why I haven't posted recently.  Good question.  Is it because I have no opinions worth sharing?  No, that's not it.  Is it because I'm OK with what I see happening in the world around me?  No, definitely that's not it.  What then has made me kind of mute?

Every day I think about what I observe and silently talk to myself in a reaction.  Usually, these days what I have to say to myself isn't a positive interpretation.  I am appalled by what I see pretty much everywhere I look.  And it seems that the trend is downhill for as far as I can see.

So if I write about it I am adding my voice (or scream) to the noise and it won't make a difference, so why bother?  That's not a pessimistic outlook, its worse than that.  It is cynicism.  And I realize that being a cynic, and talking about it, is not helpful - either to me or to anyone who may be listening.

So I keep it to myself.  I choose to be speechless.  Not something I'm proud of, by the way.  But in copping to it now I am taking a positive step, more in keeping with my commitment to telling the truth as I see it rather than surrendering to the forces that cause me to be speechless.