Trip to Italy

 Dear Barry, 

     You missed a great trip! Matilda and Kenny joined me on another work trip, this time to Italy. We visited Verona with its Roman Arena and Romeo and Juliet's houses. We visited Padua with its 13th Century Basilica and university that dates back to 1222. But the best part by far was our days in Venice. That place is amazing! Especially when there are few tourists due to an ongoing pandemic. I've never been to a city where every portion is beautiful. I can say that it is truly the most beautiful city that I've been.The fact that it is entirely pedestrianised(other than via water) is all the more appealing. Even the grocery store was in an old converted theater! 

The thing is, though, it got me thinking. Why is it all these beautiful places have such sordid pasts? Our hotel was only a few blocks from the Ghetto Nuovo. This was the world's first ghetto where Jewish residents were forced to live(and locked in at night!). It's like visiting Savannah with its slave market. Another beautiful city with blood on its hands. 

Does this mar its beauty or enhance our understanding of the multifaceted nature of human history? After all, Venice was supposedly built by refugees to escape being raped and pillaged themselves and then it turns around and becomes the oppressor.  For that matter, is there any city in this world, or people, that haven't when afforded power, taken advantage of it at the expense of another? And can history be viewed from one act or the play in it's entirety?I don't know. That's why I'm writing you. You always have such thoughtful and knowledgeable answers that I cannot wait to hear back to see what you think. 

I'll just keep exposing Matilda to all the good(and some of the bad) this world has to offer and hopefully teach her that while there certainly is and has been dark moments, the brightness will always shine through. 

I've attached some pictures of our travels.

Until next time,

Danny

Belgium-WW1 victim or perpetrator of slavery?

 Dear Barry,

  I am writing to you today from a bath in Belgium. Or a tubby as my family calls them these days. I don't know if I told you before I headed over to Germany, but part of my job requires monthly trips to Belgium and quarterly trips to Italy. Last month was great because Matilda and Kendra were able to join me. This time not so much. I'm over here by myself and it's a bit annoying. Have you ever had the experience where you enjoy so much the company of someone that when you're not with them, normally enjoyable experiences are less so? 

I know you have. I remember talking with you about Lauren and exactly this. So you know how it is. I'm here in an upgraded hotel suite with an en-suite hot tub, good food, and Belgium Trappist beers and I miss my girls. 

Okay, enough whining, that wasn't why I am writing to you. I was just writing to say I wish you could be over here and discuss with me all of the intricacies of world history. Belgium, the hapless victim of WWI and II, has a horrific history of its own that we seemingly (or conveniently) forget. The more I travel and experience in this world, the more I realize that this false dichotomy of good and bad or good and evil, is really just a way to make us feel ___. I don't know exactly to be honest. 

And that's why I wish you were here to talk to. I'd make the bold assertion that there's been no truly good or bad country and you'd slowly tilt your head, genuinely think of all the possible answers and then answer with an truly astute answer of the man who once with a 4th grader winning the Middle School geography championship. Or just a great listener and better thinker. Either way, I cannot wait to hear what you think about Europe.

Until next time,

Danny

Next Year

 Dear Barry, 

  I was thinking the other day about how I miss our talks about music. More specifically, I miss my ability to bounce my opinions off you on the quality of whatever music I was currently listening to. Usually I'd be wrapped up with a song that I thought was particularly poignant and you'd kindly explain to me the formulaic nature of the beat and lyrics that evoked the same response as a Nicholas Sparks' novel with as much substance. 

  Case in point, there's this song I've been into for a while now, and I'd really like you're opinion on whether I'm onto something or if it's just a piece of ear candy that'll leave me with lasting nourishment. 

So there it is. I'll await your response but until I hear from you, I'll keep enjoying it especially as I think it could be 2020's anthem. So many races, events, trips, even marriages and political normalcy were put on hold indefinitely with this vague next year. 

Next year is such a conniving little beast too. Not too far away, it can easily wrap you up in the security of the almost without giving you anything tangible in return. Far too often, I've seen others(and been a victim myself) fall prey to next year's false promises. It becomes so easy to say, next year will be when I [blank} which gives you the comfort of near action with the satisfaction of having a plan while doing nothing and often getting nothing in return. 

Don't get sucked in! While it's good to have some future plans, we so often lose sight of all the little miracles of each and every day. As I type this, Matilda is sleeping in the other room. I can tell you, there's no easier way to stay in the moment than watching that little tasmanian devil sleep. I know you're pretty good at staying in the moment so I'm preaching to the choir, but I feel that if I write it down it'll be more easy to act on it every day. 

Next year hopefully will be much better for so many people, but I am not planning on waiting and plan to continue to seek out joy in each of these last few months of 2020. 

Hope you can too.

Until next time,

Danny