#116 Summer Meditations And Dead Butterflies
The traffic that tries men's souls...
For many folks Summer is about road trips.
The call of the open road!
The adventure!
The traffic!
Ugh.
The bumper to bumper “you’d better have a full tank of gas and the ability dial to down your impatience because you are going to be on this stretch of road traveling at one mile an hour for a good long while” traffic.
The amount of time you will spend locked in between that trailer full of jet skis (that look unsettlingly insecure) and the semi-truck breathing down your rear view mirror, is, unfortunately, going to be impossible to determine.
You might think you have an app that will tell you exactly what is going on and how long it is going to last but, in my experience, these apps should be listed in some fantasy section of the app store because their accuracy more often resembles fiction than fact.
Keeping your cool (pun intended) can be a real challenge. Especially if there are other stressors in the vicinity.
Such as:
The guy two cars up ahead who figures this is an awesome time to treat everyone within a quarter-mile radius to his rockin’ playlist. He has invested in the most powerful car speakers ever brought to market for just such occasions.
The air conditioning that is on the fritz that you meant to have someone look at but somehow never quite got around to it.
The grumpy spouse who told you not to come this way and, while not actually saying “I told you so” out loud, is radiating the sentiment from every sweaty pore.
The dogs who see this as an opportunity to bark at the occupants of every other vehicle – alternating between enthusiastic and aggressive depending on whatever criteria dogs use to make such determinations.
The children who have tired of sitting in a confined space and no longer are appreciating, or being distracted by, whatever entertainment options you packed for this trip.
The sticker on that vehicle to your left – the one that is extremely political and in complete opposition to your own stance.
The driver in front of you who seems more interested in looking at their cell phone than keeping their eyes on the road - leading to all those other cars getting to pull in front of them into the space created by NOT moving forward when the rare opportunity actually presented itself.
You could be forgiven at this point if you snap.
But try not to.
Take a breath.
This is your learning moment.
Your Buddhist monk in training moment.
There are few situations more challenging to inner peace than this.
Embrace your opportunity.
Be one with the Universe.
Or bang your head against the steering wheel and let out a giant dog-muting, child-attention-getting, don’t-ever-ever-say-I told-you-so scream.
Your choice.
Copyright© 2025 Anne Morse Hambrock All rights reserved.
Where Were The Cars?
We live extremely close to the spot on Lake Michigan where our city shoots off their annual Fourth of July fireworks.
Close enough that folks park in front of our house and then walk to a viewing area anywhere from six blocks to a mile and a half away - depending on how close they wish to be to the action.
We generally stroll down to the lakefront, enjoy the show, and stroll back.
Giving smug and pitying looks to all the folks now waiting at least an hour in long lines of traffic to get back out of our neighborhood after the conclusion of the festivities.
Only this year that didn’t happen.
Within twenty minutes our streets were clear.
Later, I started seeing posts, and hearing from friends all over the country, that celebrations in their area were much more sparsely attended than usual.
I mean MUCH more.
I’m not sure what it means.
I know what it MIGHT mean.
I’m curious about your neck of the woods – was attendance up? Or down? Enthusiastic? Or Muted?
You can drop a note in the comments section.
If you are not sure how to do that please refer to issue #115.
Tip Jar
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A big THANK YOU to everyone who has donated! It really helps me keep going.
Changing Things Up
Even the most productive routines can become stale so the hubby and I are changing work spaces for a while.
The down side:
As referenced above, whenever I come down to his studio to work I am reminded that men and women tend to have rather different needs in the toilet paper department and his supply is often insufficient to my demand…
The up side:
I get to look at this gorgeous view and be surrounded by amazing art and stuff. Whenever I am working down here, instead of posting a pic from the garden, I’ll be sharing a nook or cranny or just cool thing from the space.
The Edison Lee Arboretum
Just a few of the many pieces of original cartoon/comic art gracing the studio walls. If you look closely you might recognize some.
Oh, and a fabulous turned and carved wooden sculpture by my late stepfather-in-law…
Surprise!!
Whilst searching for inspiration this morning I was casually perusing a paperback book when THIS fell out.
I don’t know where I got the book, I don’t know where I got the bookmark, I don’t know if it was produced commercially or homemade.
I only know that when random dead and flattened wildlife fall into your lap it’s a bit of a shock.
Books
If you like my work there are two book collections for sale.
Neither book has any dead butterflies in it.
Archives And New Subscribers
If you are just joining us I’m so happy you are here!
Consider poking around the archives - there’s some fun stuff.
Keep The Messages And Comments Coming!
I appreciate the feedback and knowing how often I have struck a chord with your lives.