November 13, 2024

These Autumn winds blowing in from the Northeast often bring the winds of regret for me, and I wonder if you feel the same. Aside from the roiling winds of political mayhem that have been wearing on all of us, I regret putting away my carefree summer clothes and sandals, and my brilliant containers of flowers are going to die soon.

 So much regret…I never harvested my blueberry or cherry crops. The deck furniture is stacked up and covered, tables turned upside down on each other; my fountains are emptied, cleaned, and covered with tarps. It’s dark when I wake up now. I’ve deviated from my fitness program once again, and I haven’t lost the seven pounds I thought sure I would.

I never rode my e-bike this year, never had a fire in our $700 stainless steel, smokeless firepit, summer tomatoes are coming to an end; and last, I have more interest in eating the great recipes I’ve found than in making them.

I didn’t prune my shrubs, and now I am supposed to wait till February or March, when they are dormant, to do the job. I never want to then. My biggest regret is that all this makes me feel like a timewaster. Why can’t I be more efficient…start earlier…keep my commitments to myself,  seize the moment, squeeze more work and more enjoyment out of my 24 hours?

For many years we were sailors, and the wrapping up of the sailing season brought another big pile of regret—the end of fun and the beginning of hard work: decommissioning the engine, hauling home all the items that might mildew over the winter, taking down and storing sails and canvas cover, and then having the boat hauled and put “on the hard” after pressure washing. By the time the work was finished, it was a huge relief to have nothing to do for the winter ahead, days getting shorter each day. I regret regularly ending our sailing days, but I relish the ease of it.

With my list of regrets, I also feel gratitude as the winds blow us toward Thanksgiving: cozy fireplaces, candles lighting up the mantel just as dark arrives. I have a good book on my Kindle. The beginnings of an autumn chill in the air. A touch of brandy. I have finished a fourth edit of a novel I’ve written. Finally, Election Day has come and gone without too much kerfuffle; and now we can hope the emails, texts, and signs will go away. I have a loving family, wonderful friends, and a reasonable degree of health. Perspective is everything.

On a different note, my son is a podcast almost-addict on every topic you can imagine, often economics and world affairs. The other day I posed a question: why doesn’t a solid, legitimate third political party form and succeed? My other question, which shall remain unanswered, is “How can we get the money out of politics.” It is estimated that this election cycle is the most expensive in history and that around $16 billion has been and will be spent. There might be better uses for that sum of money.

These questions we often ponder in our family discussions, and I think of all the money being spent on this political campaign and what good it could do if put to another purpose. Anyway, our son sent me a link to Planet Money’s “Freakanomics” podcast, examining how the two political parties have in essence become not a monopoly, but a duopoly. They compared this phenomenon to the business world using companies like Coke and Pepsi, Microsoft and Google, and more, with the two parties controlling the “marketplace” and using the power of bigness.

The thing that interested me most is that the podcast in so many words states that the parties have forgotten who their customer is—us. They have a different customer now. Listen to it if you get a chance and at the end, there is an interesting solution offered. If you want me to send the link to you, just email me at Anne.wnpa@gmail.com, and I’ll send it. You can listen or read, whichever you prefer.

About E. Anne Pounds

E. Anne Pounds has been a Chadds Fordian with husband Bob, son Jay, and family on all sides since 1992. Partnering with Bob over four decades in several enterprises, most recently co-founding Welcome Neighbor in1999, connecting local businesses to new homeowners. Chesapeake sailors for most of their adult lives, Anne writes about people, food, fun, and occasionally thought-provoking insights she hopes will elicit comments, always with a goal of creating community and friendships. She also shares encouragement with single mothers navigating life after loss or divorce via communities like this one.

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