Meditation in an Ice Storm

Today’s weather in Iowa was what the local newscasters like to call “a wintry mix” and which my friend Gary likes to call a “Mintry Wix” for indeed the latter is more descriptive of the conditions. By late morning Iowa City’s streets and sidewalks were glazed with ice and a heavy fog and sleet was full upon us. By late afternoon one couldn’t walk outside without alpine equipment. And so it was not a nice day in eastern Iowa. I spent much of the day answering e-mails and talking to my dog Nira who clearly wanted to go for a walk. I did not promise “the walk” knowing that this Mintry Wix could hang on for another day.

I tried hard to avoid the news. The election of Scott Brown (Scott Brown!) to the senate seat held by Ted Kennedy these past 48 years was enough to scour the last barnacles of hope off my hull. But then I remembered that Scott Brown ran on a platform of opposition to health and I felt better. You can fool some of the people some of the time, etc. And Brown will be out before his cordovans lose their luster. This thought cheered me of course and I took the opportunity to fold some socks.

Can I make a blog post about half hearted political rationalization, bad weather, and domesticity? Sure. I can also remember the cafe tables in a Greek fishing village where the old men and old women sat and drank coffee half in shadow and half in sunlight. They could do this all day and they could talk to one another without saying a word. You could see them there, their shining hats on their knees, wise smiles on their unvanquished faces.

And so on a dark day I am motionless, fixed, awaiting better times. I think I know what they will look like.

S.K. 

Author: stevekuusisto

Poet, Essayist, Blogger, Journalist, Memoirist, Disability Rights Advocate, Public Speaker, Professor, Syracuse University View all posts by stevekuusisto