Easefully

The 2022 fireworks in Philadelphia ended in chaos last night when two cops were hit by bullets.  They still haven’t figured out where the shots came from, and are speculating that it may have been caused by “celebratory gunfire.”  The officers were released from the hospital very quickly, and seemed only to have been grazed by the bullets.  All the kerfuffle over the fireworks shooting distracted some, but emphasized to others all the gun violence in Philadelphia this July 4th.  More than 1,100 people have been shot in the city so far this year.

Since my apartment window looks down on the spot where the cops were hit, I have been practicing living easefully today.  Easefully, like my son’s latest litter of kittens resting with his dog Winnie. Easefully listening to Nina Simone singing Feeling Good.

Birds flying high
You know how I feel
Sun in the sky
You know how I feel
Breeze driftin’ on by
You know how I feel
It’s a new dawn
It’s a new day
It’s a new life
For me
And I’m feeling good
I’m feeling good

Fish in the sea
You know how I feel
River running free
You know how I feel
Blossom on a tree
You know how I feel
It’s a new dawn
It’s a new day
It’s a new life
For me
And I’m feeling good

Dragonfly out in the sun, you know what I mean, don’t you know
Butterflies all havin’ fun, you know what I mean
Sleep in peace when day is done, that’s what I mean
And this old world is a new world
And a bold world
For me
For me

Stars when you shine
You know how I feel
Scent of the pine
You know how I feel
Oh, freedom is mine
And I know how I feel
It’s a new dawn
It’s a new day
It’s a new life
For me

And I’m feeling good
I’m feeling good

Living easefully does not mean forgetting to care about the suffering in this world.  Recall that Nina Simone was also known for her cover of Billie Holiday’s anti-lynching song Strange Fruit.