Bedlam Farm Blog Journal by Jon Katz

A few nights ago, I turned to Maria, sitting across from me blogging, and just blurted, “We need a break; let’s take some time off.” To my surprise, Maria, a true workaholic, answered quickly: “I’d love that; we need it.” We had a brief negotiation. First, we’re not going away; we will spend these three days at the farm, reading, talking, walking, if possible, napping, meditating, and sleeping late.

I had one condition: I would not blog, take photos, or post Flower Art or other posts, but I would post Sarah’s daily request for Cambridge Pantry Support on the blog. I hated the idea of people getting hungry because I wanted a rest, so I’ll do pantry support on the blog daily. We have a beautiful, vital, and meaningful streak going with the pantry, and I don’t want to break the pattern. I know the Army of Goodwill understands; they never stop doing good.

Maria’s condition was that we go to a museum in Albany to see an exhibit on fiber art. We can’t miss that one, so we will look for a good Korean restaurant to have lunch at. Then, we will be back home for the weekend. There will be no blog posts, Flower Art, or photos other than those relating to the food pantry.

I have a good friend, Dave, a co-partner of the fantastic Lofty Pigeon bookstore in Brooklyn; he regularly sends me books and gets me even from a distance. He asks me what I’m looking for, and I say, “I want to read every book you love; I trust you completely.”

Four books arrived this week. I’m deep into the first one and drooling over the other three. Dave and I primarily work with mysteries from different countries.

So I have what seem like excellent books I intend to dig into this weekend: Dissolution, by C.J. Sansom, a mystery set in a 13th century England’s corrupt monastery; In The Morning I’ll Be Gone, the third in a series of books by Adrian McKinty about a conflicted but honest Catholic police officer – Sean Duffy –  working during the awful  “troubles” in Ireland; (I’m hooked on this series); Bruno, Chief Of Police, by Martin Walker. This is the story of Benoit Courreges, a/k/a Bruno policeman (and former soldier) who loves country life’s pleasures and slow rhythms. He has a gun but has never used it or carried it. A local murderer suddenly forces him to deal with the open wounds of the very dark Nazi occupation.

Then, finally, Zoo Station by David Downing is the first in the new John Russell Novel series.  An American freelance writer stays in wartime Berlin to be with his son and is drawn into the middle of multi-nation spying. I’m dying to read all of them (I never know what Daved will send until it gets here; he hasn’t failed me yet or even come close. I love our friendship. My daughter, a rabid reader of her life, turned me onto the Lofty Pigeon right in her neighborhood in Brooklyn.

Dave and his bookstore, the Lofty Pigeon,  are a real blessing for me. Dave is a dream bookstore owner. This will be a delightful and restful weekend. Maria is right. We both need it. The books are all new paperbacks, and the prices are reasonable. I used to insist on hardcovers, but Dave broke that habit.

I’m reading Dissolution first; I love the early England details and the hunchback lawyer at the center of this book, which has hypnotized me. This is a tough one to put down.  I’d like you to please stay tuned for pantry requests during our retreat. Otherwise, I’ll see you Thursday and tomorrow, blogging as usual, and off Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. It’s true, we need a rest. It’s as simple as that.

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Note:  I need to make clear that there will be no political hate messages from any side on my blog postings. There is no hate politics, no arguing; there’s enough of that outside of us. The blog is a safe zone, a sanctuary blog; the only one who can argue is me, and I never argue my views or beliefs on social media with strangers.

Please keep your thoughtful and insightful posts coming; I don’t want any complaining about any politician or political movement. I won’t post them. Trolls: don’t waste your time; I have the most wonderful blocking and banning software. I don’t need to know who you hate, why, or the see-what-he-did-today posts. Could you tell me what you think about life, fear, and anger that is thoughtful and useful to others? I’d love to read it, and don’t comment on thoughtful posts other than to thank people.

Ideas have the right to breathe and live.