Systems

George Carlin used to ask people (during his act) how the water tasted in their town. Invariably, someone would say it wasn't good, which he would say was proof that "The system was starting to break down."

I mention this because I just arrived at the subway station to see a crowded landing - a sign of a missing or late train. When it did arrive, it was packed not quite like one of those Japanese trains...but close enough to it for me.

I let the other people get on. Another train was about two minutes after it. Although we had to wait for the first train to move forward, there was room to breathe on it.

While I know we're in the Crisis, that's not the same as believing It is the source of every obstacle in our way. Trains run late, people lose jobs, airplanes crash. Some of these happen in their own cycles, some because of intentional acts, some just randomly. Lose sight of that and you might zig when you should have, well, done nothing different at all.

I heard Mr. Carlin ask that question when I last saw him in concert...just over 20 years ago. (Solidly in the 3T, the Unraveling, for those keeping track.) I think the water in my town tastes fine, still.