“Mommy, I can see the whole entire world.”
I hear those words coming from the row behind me, on my cross-country flight.
“As you live your life --- it appears to be anarchy and chaos, a ton of random non-related events. They all smash into each other causing this situation, or that situation. It’s totally overwhelming, and you say, “What is going on with my life how did I end up here, on this path?” Later, when you look back at it, it looks like a finely crafted novel. But, at the time, it sure doesn’t feel that way….and that’s life in a nutshell, we are all building our own novels of life – with constant adding and subtracting.” Joe Walsh.
At that moment – in the morning, the entire world was outside of the window, precisely right in my seat -- 8D, leaving the ground at Newark Airport, en route to LA.
The little boy said gleefully to his Mom as he glanced out from his window seat – sitting in the row behind me, as the plane ascended into the sky……
“Mommy, I can see the whole entire world.”
The whole world, for a 5-year-old boy was in his view – right out his window, from his seat , as the wheels of our plane left the ground.
I’m jaded somewhat from experiences, religion, politics – and people. We all are tainted a bit, to one extent or another from life's experience and mileage. I’m a bit sullen on some folks, and how they relate and treat others.
It sways day to day – from belief, to despair.
I can’t sleep some nights, --- and one night I found myself listening to an infomercial on the radio, while lying awake in bed at 2:32am -- extolling the virtues of Fish Oil pills.
So the next day I go and buy them at the vitamin shop.
Then, a month later I read in the newspaper that Fish Oil causes problems in men, and the Fish Oil pills I bought are bad for you.
So, I stop taking Fish Oil.
I like Roger Waters, and I go see him many times in concert over the years.
His creativity is amazing.
I buy his albums.
I go to see him in concert , and he shows the Star of David, super imposed on a pig – then, overlaid with a swastika.
I chalk it up to creativity.
Then, I see over the past few years --- he wades into total anti Semitism – in a veiled attempt at being “anti Settlement” -- or Pro Palestinian. He is on a campaign to “Boycott the State of Israel” and for the countries of the world -- to treat Israel, the same way South Africa was treated during apartheid.
He wants Israel isolated.
He wants Israel to be a pariah country until it no longer exists, and is destroyed as a Jewish State.
Roger Waters is only Anti-Israel, he does not focus on Islamic repression across the globe -- (he neglects to talk about the treatment of minorities in Gaza or the way Hamas rules, or treats others) – which to me is completely anti Semitic. Simply put, when you want the only Democratic government in the region to kill itself, in an effort to please you, through giving up territory that will be used to kill – then yes, you are 100% an anti Semite. Wear it proudly Roger – it fits you well.
So, I stop listening to Roger Waters. I wont buy any more of his work, and I remove his art from my collection of music.
I stop Roger Waters.
A friend disappointed me recently.
I stopped talking to him.
I’m sitting on a plane – and I watch across the aisle. a man pour his 10th small bottle of vodka into his plastic cup.
What is he thinking about, as he is staring into the back of the blue clothed seat in front of him? He hasn’t moved a muscle other than to pour his drink, and then he only moves, when he pulls the tiny bottle from his bag, and pours it into his cup.
What’s he thinking?
I imagine a story about him. I wonder if he is thinking that he should quit drinking, because it has not helped his life.
He should. Those small bottles are keeping him from being great, and productive --- I tell myself.
He stares. Arms folded.
I wonder if he is angry.
I just watched the movie “The History of The Eagles, Part One” I have 16,000 songs that I own – and there no Eagles songs in my collection of music.
I have Joe Walsh solo works, The James Gang – but, no Eagles.
I’m adding them to my collection as soon as this plane lands. It’s hard not to like and respect them once you watch their history – and creativity.
I’m adding the Eagles.
I watch my children turn into young adults.
I can’t stop them (watching them mature and no longer be the little kid I want them to be forever) – it’s hard, but I’m starting to embrace it.
I try to add my ability to bite my lip, stand down – watch them grow, and stand back so I can in the front row --- of their show of life.
“Mommy, I can’t see the world anymore – it’s all clouds.”
Fish Oil, and Roger Waters - eventually give way to The Eagles, and my daughters growing up ---- and then the sky becomes clear.
And, I can see my world.
