Thoughts on the Independent Voter from a Dead Gadfly

"We are reformers in spring and summer; in autumn and winter we stand by the old -- reformers in the morning, conservatives at night. Reform is affirmative, conservatism is negative; conservatism goes for comfort, reform for truth."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson, writer and philosopher (1803-1882)

Not-So-Great Depression

In case you're wondering why you feel that way, today is the most depressing day of the year. The British have studied this. If January 24 is the most depressing day it implies, of course, that there are others. If you are generally depressed it might tell you that of all the days you feel like that, this one is the worst. As if people with depression need any help deciding why any particular day is lousy.

I suppose you can put anything in a news story and it takes on some authority: The Democrats have lost their way. The Republicans have lost their minds. Balloon boy fantasizes about Angelina Jolie. How your cats are plotting to kill you.

Some things get to you more than others. It doesn't surprise that any young boy would fantasize about Jolie, mother figure that she is. Or that either political party has deteriorated in any imaginable way. Every member of the Democratic party could spontaneously combust and we would think, "that's just like them." Republicans could encircle the National Mall wearing only adult diapers while waving sharp sticks and we would shake our heads and flip back to Law and Order reruns. Cats plotting against you? Of course they are.

But I'm resisting the idea that today is the most depressing day of the year. I got up this morning and took a long snow shoe through the woods and back on a perfectly still, crisp, Vermont Sunday. Granted, some of you got up this morning and strolled down a warm sunny beach, but that doesn't depress me. You might have stepped on a sharp stone and got an infection. It may not be infected yet, but you never know. My feet are fine.

I was far more depressed last night than today. Take-out pizza and Night at the Museum II with the boys. Saturday nights used to be a lot sexier. I'm not too old to remember that. The prospect of tomorrow is more depressing than even that -- Monday. Lunches to make. Kids to prod and bully into the car. I think there is a doctor appointment in there somewhere. Tomorrow - yuck. Today - I'll take it.

Have a good day. Keep your eye on that foot.