Winter thoughts

Winter has descended on Southern Nevada…   It’s a cold grey day…  with a high of 47 degrees today… but the it will top 60 all next week…

Reports from the north suggest there is snow in Carson City, more in Reno and lots more on Donner Pass…  Here in the south it is all about protecting frost sensitive plants…   On the eastern seaboard they are in the mitts of a named storm…  We forget how good we have it here.  Still, once acclimated to summer heat, 47 degrees, especially with a wind, (and god knows we have wind) is cold… so we reserve our right to complain.

The new house is weather tight, so am hiding inside… thinking about outdoor chores…  Playing Music… And the music recalls an issue..  

These words from Mark Knofler’s  Baloney again playing on Pandora…

We don't eat in no white restaurants
We're eating in a car
Baloney again, baloney again
We don't sleep in no white hotel bed
We're sleeping in a car, baloney again
You don't strut around in these country towns
You best stay in the car
Look on ahead don't stare around
You best stay where you are
You're a long way from home, boy
Don't push your luck too far
Baloney again

Said to have been inspired by an old black guy who Mark knew who explained that touring the Southern states in a choir required a certain sacrifice to segregation.

Sadly, there was a recent time where the color of your skin meant you COULD NOT… could not stay in hotels… could not eat in restaurants… Here in Las Vegas, Sammy Davis Jr could not stay at the hotels where he preformed… instead he had to stay at a west side guest house… a boarding house, a kind of ethnic B&B.

We have one preserved guest house, evolving into a museum the Historical Harrison Guest house.  In a world where we are accused of having too many house museums this would be one with a special message, speaking to an issue of local history.

In the time of President Obama, it is easy to forget or deny that there once widespread segregation.  As an old white guy I like to think that is now somewhat past that issue… I am not sure if I am write, but it’s a nice thought… But if not completely, but moving there… we need to remember… remember that in the past it was not a kinder gentler world…  and the Harrison Center might be that place to remember here in Southern Nevada…

Back to the weather… even when grey in southern Nevada it is not grey… the cold skys lead to ice clouds, and the high winds create wonderful patterns...  we are surrounded by mountains, and they along with broken clouds create spectacular sunrises and sunsets…  both photos from the library window…