I'm very, very fond of my girlfriend Squee, and my friend Moliére. We did the Littles Express event as a power-trio (with awesome help from many friends) two years ago. Life stuff happened, and our little trio broke up for a while, which made us all very sad.
But we've got the band back together, as it were. This morning I had a nice little Skype call with them both to show them something cool I'm working on, and just spend time.
It felt good, damn good.
There's this Lao-tzu quote I particularly like, "A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent upon their arrival." This is about a lot more than taking a trip, it's really about living ones's life. You're always on your way somewhere.
Take this morning. It's a busy day for me. I've got to go into the office for a big meeting, had to stop at my mechanic's to get my car looked at (because it's making some funny noises), and I've got this side software project of mine loudly clamoring for attention in my head.
I decided to do a little JavaScript studying while I wait for the mechanic to give my car the once over., and that got me thinking about the no fixed plans thing.
That's my iPad, with a JavaScript video on it, on my lap in the mechanic's waiting room. Yes, the waiting room has a kid's area. No, that is not why I picked them.
At first when I got up this morning, I was all overwhelmed with everything I had to do, and everything on my mind. It got me out of bed around 4:30. After some time thinking, a good hot shower, and a few morning chores I had my loose plan in hand. It got me out the door plenty early, and got me here to the mechanic on time.
I don't have to solve every problem, reach the end of every goal right now. In fact, I can't.
But I can (and will) keep traveling.
Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some studying to do.
This morning my alarm went off at 5:45am. A minute later, my girlcat Yin was up, on the bed, and on my chest. She was being a bed anvil, plopped like a lead weight on me, holding me hostage so I would pet her.
It was wonderful.
My friend Moliére and I are really tight.
We talk all the time. We both work in technology, both are cat people (like that we love cats, not that we have tails and fold-over ears), both are film and sci-fi nerds, all sorts of similarities.
And we talk. Just about every day. We support one another through things.
That matters. Good friendships like ours are very precious things.
Gun violence. Institutionalized racism. Police brutality.
It's a pox on humanity, the whole damn thing.
You can wring your hands, cry, and moan all over social media how fucked up our country is. Or you can do something.
I'm doing something.
What am I doing?
That's a link to a page listing 8 things you can do, 8 actions you can take to stop gun violence.
I signed up for their email list this morning. I'm going to find a local group to volunteer with too. Enough talk. Time for doing.
