Do I Try to Keep Up?

Dearest Rachel –

I’ve told you numerous times in the past three and a half years that I’d prefer not to talk about current events with you. Aside from the obvious fact that nothing that’s happening on this tiny little mud clod in of much concern to you at this point (apart, hopefully, from Daniel, myself, and others of those you love and remember), there’s the fact that the best literature (and other media) – not that I can aspire to any of that – has a timeless quality to it that doesn’t focus overmuch on the events of the day, lest it become dated. It’s the more universal things of life and living I’d rather focus on, as opposed to this or that piece of news – even though that used to be the subject of many a mealtime conversation, especially during the last couple of years we spent together (as the question “how was your day?” began to grow a little pointless when we were spending all of our time together).

However, I have to admit that it’s hard to avoid as life swirls around us; and it probably doesn’t help that Daniel and I both immerse ourselves in our respective news feeds on a regular basis (and by regular, I mean several hours every day. I’d say several times, but I can’t speak for how often Daniel might come up for air in a given day; it might be that he’s immersed in it for the entirety of the day, which is part of why I usually make sure to watch some mindlessly fluffy YouTube channels with him when I get home, so as to clear both of our minds). And it doesn’t help that the news cycle has been growing exponentially faster since you left.

So the question is, since there’s so much going on around me (even though, if I’m forced to admit it, not much of it really affects me directly), do I try to keep up with it? Do I try to keep you up to date with it?

It would make more sense if you were still here, and we would discuss this or that topic with each other. You’ll remember me reading certain articles to you, in practice for when I might take my efforts online (which never did – and probably never will – happen), but we would often discuss what was said. As a rule, we tended to be on the same page, but there were nuances between the two of us that made any subject interesting. But since this letter is basically a one-way conversation, telling you about the events of the last few days, weeks and further back, no matter how momentous, seems rather pointless.

And yet, this is most of what has been occupying my – and everybody else’s – attention lately. The sorts of things that have been happening are things that haven’t happened in a generation, in ever. Sure, most of them center around something that happens every four years without fail (although to hear one side or the other talk, you’d think it would never happen again if the other side were to emerge triumphant), but the components that make up the sum total of this particular years-long race include momentary events that upend everything with a single stroke – and there are still more than four months to go before we arrive at a conclusion that, odds on, half the country isn’t going to accept as legitimate, no matter which way it goes (it’s only a matter of which group complains). As much as I’m looking forward to the day that the dust settles, I’m not even entirely sure that the dust will even be allowed to settle from this day forward.

And you’ll notice that, while you might guess that I’m referring in general to the upcoming election (which has been going on for what, a year now?), I’m not going into details about the things that have been coming thick and fast to making this one the most interesting of our lifetimes, if not the entirety of our country’s history. It’s the sort of thing that reminds you that the expression “interesting times” was meant as a curse. Yes, boring is… well, boring, but it’s steady, stable and safe. Times like these come very close to being scary, even for those of us who might be considered to be better insulated from the worst of it. And I don’t dare go into detail about it, lest more come barreling down the pike that overshadows what we’ve already been run over by; every new chapter seems to be that much more ridiculous than the one before, and to say ought about what’s already happened seems to be nothing more than an invitation for history itself to say “hold my beer,” and top itself yet again.

In a way, I’m glad you didn’t have to endure it, as it’s been a real roller coaster ride – the kind that leaves you more nauseous than exhilarated. Then again, your presence would probably have made our ride that much easier to take, so I can’t help but wish you had been around all the same. Still, at least you can keep an eye on us, honey, and wish us luck. We’re definitely going to need it.