Although I have never stopped believing in the importance of writing, reading, language and communication, sometimes I have wondered if it matters.  And then I remember what's happening in the world, and how even though we will never truly completely understand one another, or even ourselves, it improves the quality of our lives if we try, and that's why words, sentences and well expressed ideas joy riding in our grey matter will always really matter, especially if we want to communicate what's the matter and make the world gladder

Labor Day

In honor of today, I recommend Eric Foner's The Story of American Freedom.  I'm about halfway through, but today I read from the chapter about the introduction of the idea of "wage slavery," real slavery, women entering the workplace, the late 19th century labor movement, the early twentieth century progressive movement, and all the various definitions of "freedom" Americans have produced

Again

 7 days later I made it to the summit