Galena
Decided to visit Galena Illinois for the weekend. Galena is close by the Mississippi River and and is known for it’s most famous resident, General Ulysses S Grant. Grant lived in Galena at the conclusion of the War Between The States. Galena has a Main Street, looking to be at least a half mile, a gentle curvature faced on both sides by three to five story brick buildings in excellent state of preservation. A wide variety of shops occupy the re-purposed buildings. I was told that the motto for those who work and live in Galena is “our future is in our history.”
I enjoyed an extended conversation with the owner of Devour Cafe, and the barista on duty. Was drawn inside by the restored 1960’s vintage DKW motorcycle displayed in the window. Didn’t expect to ever see one of those. I had to go in. Over coffee I asked about the beautiful old motorbike. I learned about the challenge of running the business. Also I listened with interest about the judgment process involved with placing art on the walls and selection of non coffee products, such as the jewelry for sale. I felt kinship with the owner.
The evening featured a visit to a steak house on Main Street. I’ve not had a better steak than at Log Cabin Restaurant. Not only was the New York strip cooked to perfection, I felt that I could have been in a time warp within that vintage decor. Could that be Sinatra seated at a far table?
No escape though from the madness that is lapping at the edges of consciousness. This morning I involuntarily viewed/listened to the Fox channel news feed over coffee in the hotel lobby. Clearly the ubiquity of media is designed to occupy totally, every waking moment. The images and commentary convey stimulation, amusement, alarm, always hectoring, —inscribing emotion into every conscious moment. The objective is to occupy the time of the viewer with emotion laden images.
Here is alternative word of advice from the old master, Lao Tsu.
All things flourish and each returns to its root.
Returning to its root is called quietude.
Quietude is called returning to life.
Returning to life is called constant.
Knowing this constant is called illumination.
Acting arbitrarily without knowing the
constant is harmful.
Knowing the constant is receptivity,
which is impartial.
Impartiality is kingship.
Heaven is Tao.
Tao is eternal.–Tao Te Ching 16
