Thank you for this piece. I feel the same and I think sadly this happens in most big cities all over the world. Quite often it's the most magical places that are lost. I guess it is because this kind of magic and community is not something that can be measured in any way, only experienced.
Reading this really late... the summer has been quite exhausting, just too much going on. I've been at that point where I need to take lots of time to rest and restore.
Beautiful Jesse. I pray for the garden. It sounds so magical. How can the planners, politicians be so short-sighted?? I grew up on Staten Island, taking the ferry into Manhattan innumerable times. Always loved it! I used to go into the Village as a teenager to shop & take it all in. This was in the late 60s- early 70s. I loved the vibe, the people, the shops, restaurants… all of it. I was there in the more recent past & I was so sad. It had become an array of chain stores & restaurants. The charm & unique character of the Village was gone. Manhattan has been ruined by corporate greed & it breaks my heart.
In America, we pave paradise and put in a parking lot. Literally. It is depressing. It is sad. It is unhealthy. This is one of the reasons why when I can, I love traveling with my husband overseas. Because Europeans seems to honor their history and beauty. American Developers love their money even when it makes everything ugly and unhealthy. I personally could not live in NYC. Don't get me wrong.. it is an exciting city filled with treasures and amazing stuff. But it is so much energy. So much energy. And if you are sensitive, empathic, intuitive, inherently an introvert and need genuine connection cities can suck your energy levels dry. This summer has been one of the weirdest ever personally for me. I got Covid which took my energy and sucker punched it...then the HEAT was utterly draining...then the constant never ending shit show of the sadness of humanity on planet Earth. This is when I ban all news, stop my social media stuff and go into nature. My mom has Dementia and is in assisted living which is sad and my Dad is 89 so sometimes I have complicated grief and anticipatory grief. I just make myself my favorite tea with milk and sugar and allow my feelings to flow so they don't get clogged up in my soul. I allow myself to cry instead of shaming myself. We are not machines. Our modern world is overly complicated. We have to memorize or know numerous "passwords " when up until the early 90's all we needed to know was our address and phone number. There is a lit going on and not all of it is pleasant. Sometimes we try to stop bad things and we can't. So we do what we can. So this week I vowed to go through my closet and get honest about what I wear and don't and donate or sell. I can be kind to the people I come in contact with daily. I had a package incorrectly delivered to me and went and delivered it to the correct address. I talked to the bunnies in our yard. I talked to the pumpkin vines growing from last year's pumpkin seeds and told it I really hoped we could have pumpkins for Halloween. I make sure I am eating healthy as I usually do but pay more attention. Anyway....I am going on and on..but you are not alone. This Summer has been Hot & Hard. So, it is okay to just feel all of our feels good bad joyful and ugly. It is okay to make tea with milk and sugar and cry because I miss not having tea with my Mom and babies are dying and they just took out more woods nearby to build giant data centers. Afterwards what we can realize is love cannot be destroyed. Our ability to love and to be loving and to be loved cannot be destroyed...and this will always give us hope...even through Shitty Summers and Shitty Times. Sending Love Out and Looking forward to Autumn and Hopefully Pumpkins in our scraggly backyard🌜💫💛✨️🌛🍁🍂🎃
The old adage of take what you need and leave the rest is looked upon as just that by some - quaint, old fashioned, especially by those who live by the creed "greed is good" (Good for who?) or "what's in it for me?" Agendas cloaked in the banner of "progress". NYC has a finite amount of space and not
enough affordable places for people to live. I imagine the folks responsible for the planned housing
project felt this would be a good selling point. "Look at the good we are doing here". Wolves in
sheep's clothing, unfortunately - though I may be broad brushing here. But as you pointed out, Jesse, this is not new. If someone can make money, a beautiful garden means about as much as a parking lot. It seems to me a change in who makes the decisions is necessary. Someone who shares your priorities or is at least willing to consider them. Then you're into the politics of it all. There is no question about the need for affordable housing. But why the Elizabeth St Garden when there are other sites that would work.? For me it's the same mindset that takes music, art and drama out of schools. "Unnecessary" say the money men. What does that say about us as a society? These things deemed "unnecessary", "frivolous", "elitest" have the power to enrich us all. It's easy to get discouraged with all that's going on
the big and little "stuff". You simply do what you can - it sounds like you are. Thanks, Jesse.
In france during the first lockdown, bookshops were classified as "unessential" so had to close, like clothing stores ans such. There was an outcry from many people, saying what an essential thing a bookshop was, especially with all the people being cooped up at home. So they were authorized to open on a "click and collect" basis. This is what your comment on what is deemed "unnecessary" and "frivolous" made me think. I hope we can fight for the gardens as well.
I want to see more people interacting with each other in their special groups. More writers, poets, artists, readers and philosophers finding each other and enjoying themselves together in person where thoughts are not planned over a phone, and stuttering is heard. I want more people to find people to enjoy themselves with.
My apologies for being direct folks, but I've been in this environmental dilemma seemingly from the beginning of time. We know what the solutions are, and agriculture is the key; we also know we can do it, we can reverse climate warming. Will we do it? ...
It inspires me. Lately I find ‘on we go’ punctuating my journal writings. It keeps me focussed. Reminds me to hope, to keep doing the work. I wish you good luck re Elizabeth Street gardens. Take Heart. Keep Trust. Love. On we go.
Halo Jesse - This isn't easy for me to write. So I will just cry along the journey. My mind and health are like The Pit & The Pendulum. And the hour glass that is racing to turn her over before her sand runs out. I live both in Heaven and Hell and doing them at the same time is really hard. Everything and emotions that I have and have had for a long time is kind of like....where do I belong and where can I really rest? The kitchen.....my bathroom....the stairs...Oh I forgot I'm in too much physical pain to focus on laying down anywhere. And I was never been afraid of anything. And fear is not my friend. I was thinking of some quotes and one of them I do not like is "fear is fear itself" something like that. So if that's all we have to fear I claim is more that total bullshit. As it's not that simple. Thank you so much Jesse. You make so much sense to me.
I too have been resting fitfully . I broke my right pinky toe and fractured a few next toes over- my left leg decided to display neuropathy systems . I’m mostly comfortable after hot bath , epsom salts, a variety of lotions such as blue Emu oil, then compression socks. CBD helps also then my sinuses decided to act up - and that can push you over the edge for sure . Hang in there Shannon. 🕊️
Very sad that the people we trust with our cities and towns can disappoint the masses. I loved Elizabeth Street part when I visited NYC. The spring blossoms were amazing.
Thank you for this piece. I feel the same and I think sadly this happens in most big cities all over the world. Quite often it's the most magical places that are lost. I guess it is because this kind of magic and community is not something that can be measured in any way, only experienced.
Reading this really late... the summer has been quite exhausting, just too much going on. I've been at that point where I need to take lots of time to rest and restore.
Beautiful Jesse. I pray for the garden. It sounds so magical. How can the planners, politicians be so short-sighted?? I grew up on Staten Island, taking the ferry into Manhattan innumerable times. Always loved it! I used to go into the Village as a teenager to shop & take it all in. This was in the late 60s- early 70s. I loved the vibe, the people, the shops, restaurants… all of it. I was there in the more recent past & I was so sad. It had become an array of chain stores & restaurants. The charm & unique character of the Village was gone. Manhattan has been ruined by corporate greed & it breaks my heart.
In America, we pave paradise and put in a parking lot. Literally. It is depressing. It is sad. It is unhealthy. This is one of the reasons why when I can, I love traveling with my husband overseas. Because Europeans seems to honor their history and beauty. American Developers love their money even when it makes everything ugly and unhealthy. I personally could not live in NYC. Don't get me wrong.. it is an exciting city filled with treasures and amazing stuff. But it is so much energy. So much energy. And if you are sensitive, empathic, intuitive, inherently an introvert and need genuine connection cities can suck your energy levels dry. This summer has been one of the weirdest ever personally for me. I got Covid which took my energy and sucker punched it...then the HEAT was utterly draining...then the constant never ending shit show of the sadness of humanity on planet Earth. This is when I ban all news, stop my social media stuff and go into nature. My mom has Dementia and is in assisted living which is sad and my Dad is 89 so sometimes I have complicated grief and anticipatory grief. I just make myself my favorite tea with milk and sugar and allow my feelings to flow so they don't get clogged up in my soul. I allow myself to cry instead of shaming myself. We are not machines. Our modern world is overly complicated. We have to memorize or know numerous "passwords " when up until the early 90's all we needed to know was our address and phone number. There is a lit going on and not all of it is pleasant. Sometimes we try to stop bad things and we can't. So we do what we can. So this week I vowed to go through my closet and get honest about what I wear and don't and donate or sell. I can be kind to the people I come in contact with daily. I had a package incorrectly delivered to me and went and delivered it to the correct address. I talked to the bunnies in our yard. I talked to the pumpkin vines growing from last year's pumpkin seeds and told it I really hoped we could have pumpkins for Halloween. I make sure I am eating healthy as I usually do but pay more attention. Anyway....I am going on and on..but you are not alone. This Summer has been Hot & Hard. So, it is okay to just feel all of our feels good bad joyful and ugly. It is okay to make tea with milk and sugar and cry because I miss not having tea with my Mom and babies are dying and they just took out more woods nearby to build giant data centers. Afterwards what we can realize is love cannot be destroyed. Our ability to love and to be loving and to be loved cannot be destroyed...and this will always give us hope...even through Shitty Summers and Shitty Times. Sending Love Out and Looking forward to Autumn and Hopefully Pumpkins in our scraggly backyard🌜💫💛✨️🌛🍁🍂🎃
The old adage of take what you need and leave the rest is looked upon as just that by some - quaint, old fashioned, especially by those who live by the creed "greed is good" (Good for who?) or "what's in it for me?" Agendas cloaked in the banner of "progress". NYC has a finite amount of space and not
enough affordable places for people to live. I imagine the folks responsible for the planned housing
project felt this would be a good selling point. "Look at the good we are doing here". Wolves in
sheep's clothing, unfortunately - though I may be broad brushing here. But as you pointed out, Jesse, this is not new. If someone can make money, a beautiful garden means about as much as a parking lot. It seems to me a change in who makes the decisions is necessary. Someone who shares your priorities or is at least willing to consider them. Then you're into the politics of it all. There is no question about the need for affordable housing. But why the Elizabeth St Garden when there are other sites that would work.? For me it's the same mindset that takes music, art and drama out of schools. "Unnecessary" say the money men. What does that say about us as a society? These things deemed "unnecessary", "frivolous", "elitest" have the power to enrich us all. It's easy to get discouraged with all that's going on
the big and little "stuff". You simply do what you can - it sounds like you are. Thanks, Jesse.
In france during the first lockdown, bookshops were classified as "unessential" so had to close, like clothing stores ans such. There was an outcry from many people, saying what an essential thing a bookshop was, especially with all the people being cooped up at home. So they were authorized to open on a "click and collect" basis. This is what your comment on what is deemed "unnecessary" and "frivolous" made me think. I hope we can fight for the gardens as well.
I want to see more people interacting with each other in their special groups. More writers, poets, artists, readers and philosophers finding each other and enjoying themselves together in person where thoughts are not planned over a phone, and stuttering is heard. I want more people to find people to enjoy themselves with.
My apologies for being direct folks, but I've been in this environmental dilemma seemingly from the beginning of time. We know what the solutions are, and agriculture is the key; we also know we can do it, we can reverse climate warming. Will we do it? ...
I want to see world peace for every being 🙏🏽❤️
Spell check went all AI on some of my wording - Rest well - Best Wishes for the Elizabeth St. 🪴 Gardens.
Thank you for your eloquent call to action.
It inspires me. Lately I find ‘on we go’ punctuating my journal writings. It keeps me focussed. Reminds me to hope, to keep doing the work. I wish you good luck re Elizabeth Street gardens. Take Heart. Keep Trust. Love. On we go.
"... a body reduced to breathing and moving." ...Things could be worse.
Arthur Lee wrote a great song about August:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY8rkJ2uWHE
Good luck with the garden!
Halo Jesse - This isn't easy for me to write. So I will just cry along the journey. My mind and health are like The Pit & The Pendulum. And the hour glass that is racing to turn her over before her sand runs out. I live both in Heaven and Hell and doing them at the same time is really hard. Everything and emotions that I have and have had for a long time is kind of like....where do I belong and where can I really rest? The kitchen.....my bathroom....the stairs...Oh I forgot I'm in too much physical pain to focus on laying down anywhere. And I was never been afraid of anything. And fear is not my friend. I was thinking of some quotes and one of them I do not like is "fear is fear itself" something like that. So if that's all we have to fear I claim is more that total bullshit. As it's not that simple. Thank you so much Jesse. You make so much sense to me.
I too have been resting fitfully . I broke my right pinky toe and fractured a few next toes over- my left leg decided to display neuropathy systems . I’m mostly comfortable after hot bath , epsom salts, a variety of lotions such as blue Emu oil, then compression socks. CBD helps also then my sinuses decided to act up - and that can push you over the edge for sure . Hang in there Shannon. 🕊️
Quick addition. Mercury turned direct in Leo today so hopefully that will strengthen the cause for The Garden!
https://substack.com/profile/170622180-lee-penman/note/c-67066644
And remember to be kind. 🕊️♥️
Thank you! I pledge to keep working hard for long term battery storage to fight climate change.
Very sad that the people we trust with our cities and towns can disappoint the masses. I loved Elizabeth Street part when I visited NYC. The spring blossoms were amazing.
Protesters in Florida just had a win - "Following protests, DeSantis says plan to develop state parks is ‘going back to the drawing board’"
https://apnews.com/article/florida-desantis-state-parks-golf-pickleball-development-7e6c6e0dca8f49d6fb1bb72c52c35198#
Keep it up. maybe you can save Wlizabeth Street garden as well