I definitely took on too much in 2009. I'm easing up a bit next year. How? I've decided (and I've already started this a couple weeks ago) I'm not watching the news next year. Nope. None of it. I could care what the hell happens. It's all going to end in 2012 anyway... See? Now why'd I have to see that? And why are folks making money off that line? So, I'm done. Yes sir, no more knowing what the hell is going on outside my circle of being. Because if it's REALLY BIG NEWS and I need to hear about it, I will. Somebody will tell me.
Many years ago I was on a blind date that was going very well. The woman was very attractive and smart in a business sort of way. I kept giving her all the right answers until one came out of my mouth: "I don't read the newspaper..." (Oops!) Well she damn near took my head off. The date ended abruptly. She couldn't stand to be in my presence. And boy did I feel small. I'm a major dyslexic, so reading isn't high on my list of things to do. And unless you know what I'm talking about, then well, I can't explain it to you. Just know this. I'm a writer and I don't even read what I write. Reading gives me no pleasure. In fact, sometimes it's down right painful. But even so, from that day on I started to look at the newspaper more. I tried to keep myself up with the world events. Looking back on it, I shouldn't have done it. I take the news to heart. I was getting more and more depressed. Some of the things that happen these days make me so mad I could scream and sometimes do. And it's a game now, the news. Walter Cronkite, may he rest in peace, is gone and so is what we used to call the basic news program. (maybe PBS tries) Now a newscaster's main job is to get a rise out of his audience. Somehow getting viewers angry boosts ratings. Maybe folks call each other and say: "Are you watching this asshole?"
I just finished writing a one-woman show based on the life of Fanny Brice. (pictured above) She was the great female stage comedian of the 20's and 30's. The star of the Ziegfeld Follies, and the subject of that Barbara Streisand movie, FUNNY GIRL. Now Fanny had probably a six grade education. She never thought of herself as high society. In fact at that time, actors, writers, comedians couldn't be in high society. My... have things changed. One thing I learned was that Ms. Brice didn't read the papers or care about worldly news. She focused on her own life (which was her stage career and her children) and kept it at that. And Fanny was a frequent traveler to Europe. When asked about WWII, Fanny replied: "I don't have to know what's happening, I know what side I'm rooting for."
I don't know if it's right or wrong, stupid or smart or if 2010 for me will be "The Year of the Ostrich." I just know I'm going to do a little more keeping up with my house and forget about keeping up with the rest of the world. I'm happier already. Health care? Tiger Woods? Tell me when the war's over. If the rest of the world wants me, they'll know where to look. Until then, I'm putting up my "Please Do Not Disturb" sign, and keeping it at that.
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