Among the world's chaos, I invite you to celebrate two commitments
Amanda across the ages: about four; in my early 20s (hair!); and now, in my mid-sixties. During my university days, a roommate and I planned a party. We invited people to come over on a Friday evening to celebrate our new apartment. The time came, the place was ready, and we waited. And waited. No one showed up. No one. Not one person. While this hardly counts as trauma, it was disappointing and it scarred the party-planner in me. I’ve never wanted to repeat the experience of all that buildup and expectation followed by all that letdown. I have hosted the odd large-group gathering since then, but I have never been able to shake the spectre of that no-show Friday evening from so long ago. February is my birthday month, so that spectre is particularly vivid as I consider how to mark my birthday. Short story: There will be no party. The longer story is more complex. Living in this world, I am part of what goes on in it, however minuscule my impact on it, or contribution to it, might be. T...