First of all.................HAPPY 83rd. That's quite an achievement Sir! And you used a word that has become part of my life as my passport gets older (I stopped counting my times around the sun. Only my passport ages!!) This week's newsletter features one of the pillars in my 'formative' years in college, one of a handful of authors that I still treasure and refer to often. Thank you for giving me more to think of today. Your newsletters are always so thought provoking. Living, as I do, in one of the planet's more seismically active zones, for the past 23 years I know I made a good choice to move to this village. We live on a mountain plateau 1,000' above sea level and it's on very solid rock. My anxiety level about potentially dangerous earthquakes is lower than when I lived in Istanbul for 13 years. Last week, western Turkey was rocked by a 6.2 quake and I was surprised that we felt it here, 160 miles from the epicenter, nearer the biggest city in the country. No damage here but I do keep a few bottles, 1/2 filled with water in places around the cottage that serve as a 'reality check' to see if we are actually experiencing another shake or is it my imagination. That's how I deal with that potential anxiety. So far, so good. But I have a dear friend who is having trouble coping. She's a veterinary surgeon, specializing in diseases of the eyes. She lived through the horrific 1999 earthquake near Istanbul and relives the panic whenever the ground moves, even slightly. She had a hard week and I wish I could be more helpful. If anyone has a suggestion, I'd be happy to hear it. I know there might be a quick method to reducing anxiety 'in the now' to help her move on and overcome. She's a bright young lady and I want to help. Ideas anyone? Again, let me wish you a happy 83rd...you certainly are a model of what an octogenarian can do with the time we've been given. And next week's theme...... I KNOW WHO SAID THAT!!! but I'm not going to be a 'spoiler'.. You go guy!! I 'anxiously' await that newsletter!! Big smiles!
Thanks for your kind words, Arlene. How nice to hear that Rollo May is also once of your favorite authors. Your "story" is most interesting, and I appreciate your sharing it with us.
I wish it were possible to give something better than just a big heart to show my feelings about your newsletters!!! Thanks Mardy! Take care. Live long and prosper... and stay productive!!
Sorry for commenting in triplets (this seems to be my week for 3s!!!) but I really thought this helps to balance the stress .... Enjoy... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Anxiety
Mardy, I felt no anxiety reading your post this evening. In fact, you accurately described the growing anxiety of many Americans as rapid and radical changes are happening. I sense this anxiety will lead to anger and corrective action. One common misuse of the word anxiety happens when it is used as a substitute for the word eager, as in “I’m anxious to go fishing this weekend,” instead of “I’m eager to go fishing this weekend.” Word usage constantly changes, as “alright” is replacing “all right.” All right—Happy 83rd Birthday to you, young man.
Thanks for your kind words and other thoughts, Michael. I was planning to mention that "common misuse" in the post, but decided it was already long enough!
Happy Birthday Mardy!!! Your post defined a word that can be misused often. Well done! I particularly liked, “to be afraid when one should be afraid is good sense.” So true! Warning signs are always there before any existential threat, we just need to have paid attention to them.
Better to be anxious early and then act accordingly rather than deny the warning and then regret the consequence.
Thanks for weighing in on this week's theme, Manisha. I especially enjoyed your final comment. You compressed a lot of wisdom into a very few words. Well done!
Well done herein on so many fronts, Mardy! And Happy Birthday for May 2nd!
As you know, I’m just a young fanboy, but it’s been a terrific journey with you and your books and assorted writing over the years! Many more happy ones! All the best, John.
Thank you for your inspirational messages every week. They function as a wonderful balance to the other messages that wing their way towards us across the World.👍
Happy Birthday! My dad's 'would have been May 4th'
Preface this again, I'm an independent, not a Trump fan, didn't like Biden nor Harris. I enjoy reading my news elsewhere, subscribe to The Dispatch, which has won numerous awards (many writers, Jonah Goldberg is my fav, knows his history) - most writers tend to be conservative, however, none have favored Trump - the commenters are very good, varied, knowledgeable & respectful. I also subscribe to The Free Press, also has received many awards. Subscribe to The Liberal Patriot, the issue that pulled me in was March 19, "Citizenship Without Partisanship" - they have commenters from both 'sides', wanting to get the libs to learn what to correct for the next time. Seems to be a problem there. Also subscribe to the Global Post. Free news is 1440.
Now addressing your comments about how 'anxiety' should cause some change now -
personally, I'm still experiencing more hatred, exaggerations & assumptions from the far left, no acceptance of responsibility. Recently there was a situation when someone was selling something & a buyer came onto the property, saw a Trump sign in the garage, cursed the owner & said she would never buy anything from a Hitler lover. "They" can see nothing good at all happening in this administration. I first of all will say, yes, there's plenty of anxiety-causing bad, however, change was/is needed...
Just like Biden, Trump is not going thru Congress, so no rules are actually being made.
I am seeing conservatives, like those at The Dispatch, presenting ideas, etc, of change in the Republican party. Just in the last week a conservative writer at The Free Press, was writing about how he was seeing first hand some neg repercussions of some tariffs to a friend's business & it's awful. However, he also comments how the extremes of the Biden era, DEI, Wokeness, needed to be corrected, & is being done so. Gov needs to be 'whittled' down, however Trump, as is his style/DOGE goes too far... but, I repeat, the libs still seem to be screaming & pointing fingers & not accepting that some of these changes, like the elite colleges—bastions of illiberal leftism that have acted with contempt for liberal norms. From anti-white and anti-Asian discrimination in admissions, to free-speech suppression, to tolerance of hysterical antisemitism, these institutions have long behaved as untouchable.
So, YES, everyone should act as a result of anxiety, while paying attention to taking responsibility to how things got to where they are, not pointing fingers. Please. Too much hatred.
dj overlooks the methods of the current administration in effecting the many changes that some may applaud. Those methods are unconstitutional, anti-democratic and knee-jerk - as manifested by the reversal of so many many demands. They are, in many respects, an effort to create a tyrant.
I wrote this to celebrate my 84th Birthday. It's a close approximation of your experience (83years - you're a mere youth to me.) Happy natal day, my friend, and many more.
Wrap your head around this: At 18.5 miles a second, or 67,000 mph, the Earth, with me on it, travels about 584 million miles around our sun each year. That’s 1,598,878.59 miles per day. One sidereal year takes 365.256 days. I know because both Google and Wikipedia confirmed it. That yearly mileage number again, is roughly 584,000,000 miles in a slightly elliptical orbit. Having reached my 84th birthday, that means that so far, I’ve traveled 48,471,999,856.33 miles, or 83 transits around Sol in my lifetime. Looking at that staggering 48.472 trillion miles number another way, that’s about 100,983,333 (approximately101 million) trips to our moon (240,000 miles each way) and back. However, the “and back” can’t happen. I’m on a one-way trip. So far, my life’s journey has taken 30,316 days. I still remember events in some of them!
So, when I tell you, “I’ve been around!” Believe me.
Skip the happy birthdays and wish me a good trip. Or, for the compulsives among you, check my math.
Thanks, Mike, it's always nice to hear from people older than me! Thanks also for the celestial navigation details. It does bring new meaning the the "I've been around" expression.
That was amazing Mr. Wagner!! I'm still struggling with converting metric to imperial...Although I've been out of the US for almost 1/2 my life, my brain still needs to 'see' what all those numbers mean. You did an awesome job! Thanks. Guess my Passport qualifies as a well-traveled antique!
This computation was the result of a boring few days, as I recall. Earlier in our lives, my wife and I trained for and completed 10 marathons, dozens of half marathons, and countless 5 & 10 K's. After retiring from running, due to my age and finally needing back surgery, I set about compiling all the running we'd done, including training daily for many years. I can't find my computations anymore, but I discovered that we'd run more that 100,000 miles. I'm a retired college prof and researcher, and reseachers count things. Thanks for caring.
Happy Birthday, lucky you as I'm one year older! :-). I do enjoy your emails every week, however, I would love it if you would keep Politics out of it! I'm a strong Republican and obviously you loved what Biden did the last 4 years of his incapacitated state of mind. At least this President is trying to do something and it would be good if we would give him an opportunity and then next election you can open the "border" again.
Hi Luan. Since you're my elder, I am honor-bound to respect you! From my point of view, I'm not being political, but patriotic. Since you are a "strong Republican," I'm wondering if you're familiar with the countless other "strong Republicans" (like the esteemed conservative Judge Michael Luttig) who've been warning for years that Donald Trump is "a clear and present danger" to this country. On the Biden question, I did support many of his policies, but I will never forgive him (or his top aides) for continuing to stay in the office while in a clearly compromised state.
There is no useful purpose in comparing, or referring, to any former President. It is a diversion from the reality of what is NOW going on. The current administration has effectively used the concept of denial and diversion. WHAT IS - is important.
call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. All you have to do is ask to be connected to your representative’s office. It’s that simple.
Ask Congress to actually pass some laws about controlling the border, not to leave it up to Trump & have it be 'dismissed' in 2026 when Republicans could lose the majority.
A very Happy Birthday to you and your family, my friend.
As I read your weekly column, and over the time we have been corresponding, I do not think of you as becoming 83 (to my 86 upcoming in July), rather, I think of it as the 30th anniversary of the celebration of your 53rd birthday.
Stay well and keep on keepin' on.
PS: I share in your remembrance of losing a prostate, but mine was only seven years ago. In a way, it is like being able to live two lives, one after the other.
First of all.................HAPPY 83rd. That's quite an achievement Sir! And you used a word that has become part of my life as my passport gets older (I stopped counting my times around the sun. Only my passport ages!!) This week's newsletter features one of the pillars in my 'formative' years in college, one of a handful of authors that I still treasure and refer to often. Thank you for giving me more to think of today. Your newsletters are always so thought provoking. Living, as I do, in one of the planet's more seismically active zones, for the past 23 years I know I made a good choice to move to this village. We live on a mountain plateau 1,000' above sea level and it's on very solid rock. My anxiety level about potentially dangerous earthquakes is lower than when I lived in Istanbul for 13 years. Last week, western Turkey was rocked by a 6.2 quake and I was surprised that we felt it here, 160 miles from the epicenter, nearer the biggest city in the country. No damage here but I do keep a few bottles, 1/2 filled with water in places around the cottage that serve as a 'reality check' to see if we are actually experiencing another shake or is it my imagination. That's how I deal with that potential anxiety. So far, so good. But I have a dear friend who is having trouble coping. She's a veterinary surgeon, specializing in diseases of the eyes. She lived through the horrific 1999 earthquake near Istanbul and relives the panic whenever the ground moves, even slightly. She had a hard week and I wish I could be more helpful. If anyone has a suggestion, I'd be happy to hear it. I know there might be a quick method to reducing anxiety 'in the now' to help her move on and overcome. She's a bright young lady and I want to help. Ideas anyone? Again, let me wish you a happy 83rd...you certainly are a model of what an octogenarian can do with the time we've been given. And next week's theme...... I KNOW WHO SAID THAT!!! but I'm not going to be a 'spoiler'.. You go guy!! I 'anxiously' await that newsletter!! Big smiles!
Thanks for your kind words, Arlene. How nice to hear that Rollo May is also once of your favorite authors. Your "story" is most interesting, and I appreciate your sharing it with us.
I wish it were possible to give something better than just a big heart to show my feelings about your newsletters!!! Thanks Mardy! Take care. Live long and prosper... and stay productive!!
Sorry for commenting in triplets (this seems to be my week for 3s!!!) but I really thought this helps to balance the stress .... Enjoy... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Anxiety
Thanks, Arlene, I had forgotten about that film!
Mardy, I felt no anxiety reading your post this evening. In fact, you accurately described the growing anxiety of many Americans as rapid and radical changes are happening. I sense this anxiety will lead to anger and corrective action. One common misuse of the word anxiety happens when it is used as a substitute for the word eager, as in “I’m anxious to go fishing this weekend,” instead of “I’m eager to go fishing this weekend.” Word usage constantly changes, as “alright” is replacing “all right.” All right—Happy 83rd Birthday to you, young man.
Thanks for your kind words and other thoughts, Michael. I was planning to mention that "common misuse" in the post, but decided it was already long enough!
Happy Birthday Mardy!!! Your post defined a word that can be misused often. Well done! I particularly liked, “to be afraid when one should be afraid is good sense.” So true! Warning signs are always there before any existential threat, we just need to have paid attention to them.
Better to be anxious early and then act accordingly rather than deny the warning and then regret the consequence.
Thanks for weighing in on this week's theme, Manisha. I especially enjoyed your final comment. You compressed a lot of wisdom into a very few words. Well done!
Well done herein on so many fronts, Mardy! And Happy Birthday for May 2nd!
As you know, I’m just a young fanboy, but it’s been a terrific journey with you and your books and assorted writing over the years! Many more happy ones! All the best, John.
Thanks, John. We've been together on this journey for some time now, and I've thoroughly enjoyed having you along for the ride!
Happy birthday Mardy.
Co-la- breith sona dhut! ( Scottish Gaelic)
Thank you for your inspirational messages every week. They function as a wonderful balance to the other messages that wing their way towards us across the World.👍
Thanks, Bob, I've always loved that saying. Thanks also for your heartwarming words. It so nice to have subscribers from all over the planet!
Happy Birthday! My dad's 'would have been May 4th'
Preface this again, I'm an independent, not a Trump fan, didn't like Biden nor Harris. I enjoy reading my news elsewhere, subscribe to The Dispatch, which has won numerous awards (many writers, Jonah Goldberg is my fav, knows his history) - most writers tend to be conservative, however, none have favored Trump - the commenters are very good, varied, knowledgeable & respectful. I also subscribe to The Free Press, also has received many awards. Subscribe to The Liberal Patriot, the issue that pulled me in was March 19, "Citizenship Without Partisanship" - they have commenters from both 'sides', wanting to get the libs to learn what to correct for the next time. Seems to be a problem there. Also subscribe to the Global Post. Free news is 1440.
Now addressing your comments about how 'anxiety' should cause some change now -
personally, I'm still experiencing more hatred, exaggerations & assumptions from the far left, no acceptance of responsibility. Recently there was a situation when someone was selling something & a buyer came onto the property, saw a Trump sign in the garage, cursed the owner & said she would never buy anything from a Hitler lover. "They" can see nothing good at all happening in this administration. I first of all will say, yes, there's plenty of anxiety-causing bad, however, change was/is needed...
Just like Biden, Trump is not going thru Congress, so no rules are actually being made.
I am seeing conservatives, like those at The Dispatch, presenting ideas, etc, of change in the Republican party. Just in the last week a conservative writer at The Free Press, was writing about how he was seeing first hand some neg repercussions of some tariffs to a friend's business & it's awful. However, he also comments how the extremes of the Biden era, DEI, Wokeness, needed to be corrected, & is being done so. Gov needs to be 'whittled' down, however Trump, as is his style/DOGE goes too far... but, I repeat, the libs still seem to be screaming & pointing fingers & not accepting that some of these changes, like the elite colleges—bastions of illiberal leftism that have acted with contempt for liberal norms. From anti-white and anti-Asian discrimination in admissions, to free-speech suppression, to tolerance of hysterical antisemitism, these institutions have long behaved as untouchable.
So, YES, everyone should act as a result of anxiety, while paying attention to taking responsibility to how things got to where they are, not pointing fingers. Please. Too much hatred.
Thanks for weighing in, dj. Hatred is abhorrent, whether it comes from the far left or the far right.
dj overlooks the methods of the current administration in effecting the many changes that some may applaud. Those methods are unconstitutional, anti-democratic and knee-jerk - as manifested by the reversal of so many many demands. They are, in many respects, an effort to create a tyrant.
I concur.
Excellent post, Mardy. I will link to it in Monday's TNDJ this week.
Thanks, Harvey, I eternally grateful for your willingness to help "spread the word"!
No problem. A rising tide, and all that.
Happy Birthday! Your letters are always interesting, enjoyable, stimulating, inspiring but this one may be the most important of all. Thank you!..
Thanks, Irene, my heart is warmed by your words.
Happy everyday!! Keep on enlightening me with your insights. You are the highlight of my Sunday inbox.
Hi Chuck, what a nice thing for you to say. Thanks.
I wrote this to celebrate my 84th Birthday. It's a close approximation of your experience (83years - you're a mere youth to me.) Happy natal day, my friend, and many more.
Wrap your head around this: At 18.5 miles a second, or 67,000 mph, the Earth, with me on it, travels about 584 million miles around our sun each year. That’s 1,598,878.59 miles per day. One sidereal year takes 365.256 days. I know because both Google and Wikipedia confirmed it. That yearly mileage number again, is roughly 584,000,000 miles in a slightly elliptical orbit. Having reached my 84th birthday, that means that so far, I’ve traveled 48,471,999,856.33 miles, or 83 transits around Sol in my lifetime. Looking at that staggering 48.472 trillion miles number another way, that’s about 100,983,333 (approximately101 million) trips to our moon (240,000 miles each way) and back. However, the “and back” can’t happen. I’m on a one-way trip. So far, my life’s journey has taken 30,316 days. I still remember events in some of them!
So, when I tell you, “I’ve been around!” Believe me.
Skip the happy birthdays and wish me a good trip. Or, for the compulsives among you, check my math.
Thanks, Mike, it's always nice to hear from people older than me! Thanks also for the celestial navigation details. It does bring new meaning the the "I've been around" expression.
That was amazing Mr. Wagner!! I'm still struggling with converting metric to imperial...Although I've been out of the US for almost 1/2 my life, my brain still needs to 'see' what all those numbers mean. You did an awesome job! Thanks. Guess my Passport qualifies as a well-traveled antique!
This computation was the result of a boring few days, as I recall. Earlier in our lives, my wife and I trained for and completed 10 marathons, dozens of half marathons, and countless 5 & 10 K's. After retiring from running, due to my age and finally needing back surgery, I set about compiling all the running we'd done, including training daily for many years. I can't find my computations anymore, but I discovered that we'd run more that 100,000 miles. I'm a retired college prof and researcher, and reseachers count things. Thanks for caring.
Happy Birthday, lucky you as I'm one year older! :-). I do enjoy your emails every week, however, I would love it if you would keep Politics out of it! I'm a strong Republican and obviously you loved what Biden did the last 4 years of his incapacitated state of mind. At least this President is trying to do something and it would be good if we would give him an opportunity and then next election you can open the "border" again.
Hi Luan. Since you're my elder, I am honor-bound to respect you! From my point of view, I'm not being political, but patriotic. Since you are a "strong Republican," I'm wondering if you're familiar with the countless other "strong Republicans" (like the esteemed conservative Judge Michael Luttig) who've been warning for years that Donald Trump is "a clear and present danger" to this country. On the Biden question, I did support many of his policies, but I will never forgive him (or his top aides) for continuing to stay in the office while in a clearly compromised state.
There is no useful purpose in comparing, or referring, to any former President. It is a diversion from the reality of what is NOW going on. The current administration has effectively used the concept of denial and diversion. WHAT IS - is important.
Isn’t there anything positive that is going on amidst the turmoil?
call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. All you have to do is ask to be connected to your representative’s office. It’s that simple.
Ask Congress to actually pass some laws about controlling the border, not to leave it up to Trump & have it be 'dismissed' in 2026 when Republicans could lose the majority.
Happy Birthday -- and thanks for all of your great books, the DMDMQ, and your always insightful and thought provoking posts. - Bob Deis
Thanks, Bob, I appreciate your longstanding interest in, and support of, my efforts.
Happy Birthday! Thanks for the thoughtful and inclusive post this week! It was superbly written as usual!!
🎊🎉🎂🎉🎊
Thanks, Sharon. As usual, your kind words have warmed my heart!
A very Happy Birthday to you and your family, my friend.
As I read your weekly column, and over the time we have been corresponding, I do not think of you as becoming 83 (to my 86 upcoming in July), rather, I think of it as the 30th anniversary of the celebration of your 53rd birthday.
Stay well and keep on keepin' on.
PS: I share in your remembrance of losing a prostate, but mine was only seven years ago. In a way, it is like being able to live two lives, one after the other.
Thanks, my friend. I love the way you've "re-framed" my birthday. And I also appreciate your "two lives" thought. That's exactly the way I view it.