That Paradigm Thing

A New Yorker joke shows one city bum saying to another, "Good news--I hear the paradigm is shifting."  Which might then bring up the question, "Which means ... ?"  When I asked this of someone in the paradigm department in Santa Fe a few years ago (since the term has been around for awhile), he said it portended the change in our belief systems.  How we see the world.  Though a lot of people benefited from (and would try to keep) the old limiting ways, most people were now looking to more expansive views, more peaceful solutions, equity for all.  As for the old paradigm, he said, "It's so stale, it's growing green mold on it."  He also said we were all going to feel the process ... and the earth was, too.

Well, this little year of 2011 has been jam-packed with movement already and it's still only May.  One friend reminded me of that Kingston Trio song, "They're rioting in Africa."  They're also blowing away in Alabama and Missouri.  Being flooded out in Japan and Louisiana.  Tumbled about in New Zealand and Spain.  Covered with ash (again) in Europe.  And so forth.

Even our little town felt a jolt last month when our biggest commercial building right smack in the middle of things went up in flames.  Or the top part anyway.  Previously an old hotel where, the paper said, "Rudyard Kipling and his cronies had once played poker," it now housed ten street-level businesses and some fifty-nine apartments.  Plus a local radio station where two family members were once d.j's.

Apparently, a construction staple started it all by coming in contact with an electrical wire.  A six-alarm fire resulted with trucks arriving from two neighboring states.  No one was hurt and only the top floors burned, but over a period of ten hours, 1.8 million gallons of water were poured on top.  The Red Cross set up shelters for the occupants.  And the businesses either folded, hustled around for a new spot, or decided to conduct business on-line.  Mucky, dripping, and contaminated Provençal table cloths, Indonesian dresses, Turkish carpets, French milled soaps, an entire bookstore of books, plus the remains of a blues bar, restaurant, tailor shop, and hair salon were all junked.  But in our good old American positive way, someone remarked, "This town is good at making lemonade out of lemons."

Later, to quote the paper, the building's owner said that "if there was a silver lining" it was that the fire "altered people's perspectives and united the community."  Considering the Big Picture, that could seem the essence of what's going on all over.  Perspectives are shifting; communities are uniting.  (Which can be accomplished without having to suffer disasters ... but disasters are sure-fire prompters.)

Of course, things are always shifting, change being the one constant, as someone remarked ... though it seems, of late, that the world is being tsunamied with events.  But, though the times are going to roll around us or under us or over us whatever happens, if we aren't at hand to help out, then, as my Santa Fe friend pointed out, we can take some time to renew ourselves ... in whatever way.  Even by doing small things like getting in a good walk around the block.  Or going for a run.  Or driving to the seacoast and listening to the gulls.  Or bringing cheering flowers into the house.  Or helping strengthen our towns by supporting our local vendors.  Or telling someone what a good job they're doing.  Or organizing a pot luck and, with it, a feeling of esprit.  Or getting out a favorite book to re-read.  Or looking up Mae West quotations....

        "When I have to choose between two evils, I always try to pick the one I haven't tried yet."

        "He who hesitates is last."

        "Too much of a good thing can be wonderful."

They're gone now, but some days ago I went out and said hello to my apple blossoms.  At the same time, I found extensive deer damage.  Lower (chewed off) branches weren't leafing out, all having been nibbled too severely when the land was snow-bound and the deer were searching for food.  I called a tree man to see if anything could be done.  But I also decided:  blossoms ... nibbled branches:  they're all part of the whole. 

(The Santa Fe people, José and Lena Stevens have a web-site (here) with monthly commentary.)

What Makes May May

Blossoms blossoms everywhere

Asparagus

Farmers markets

A green landscape once again

The sound of lawn mowers

Orange construction cones all over the place