Walked almost 6 miles this morning. Though I join Claudette and friends in this daily ritual, my journey’s mostly done in the solitude of deep thought and contemplation.

I started walking regularly, with a daily goal of 10,000 steps about 2 years ago. Today I made 13,931 and feeling like a million dollars. A million dollars with the weight of the world on my shoulders perhaps, but a million dollars none-the-less (as opposed to Jeff Bezos estimated net worth of 237 billion dollars and who clearly doesn’t give a rip about the state of the world).

When I walk, I feel good both physically and mentally. It is without exaggeration – good for the soul. I encourage anyone and everyone who has the physical capacity to do so, to get outside and start walking.

My “walking thoughts” today strayed through my normal spectrum of personal and political, settling on the personal (which of course also includes the political).

I began singing to myself as I walked,

“Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don’t stand in the doorway
Don’t block up the hall”

Bob Dylan without a doubt, played a key role in shaping my world view.

The year was 1968, I was 14 years old, the war in Vietnam was raging, my older brother joined the Navy to avoid the draft, bombs were dropping, people were in the streets protesting – and Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin” rang in my head.

It’s funny. I worry frequently about forgetting passwords and peoples names, but today I remember every single word of those lyrics. Same with “Blowing In the Wind” “Mr. Tamborine Man” and perhaps the saddest song ever written, “The Ballad of Hollis Brown”.

I named my first-born son after Bob Dylan.

Sometimes, when describing what keeps me awake at night, I’ll describe to people “the man under the bridge” as a social justice metaphor.

In retrospect, I realize today my commitment to social justice was to a great extent shaped by the tragic image of Hollis Brown as described by Dylan.

Another tragic truth-telling is his American history of war entitled:
“With God On Our Side” written 60 years ago.

Oh, my name, it ain’t nothin’, my age, it means less
The country I come from is called the Midwest
I’s taught and brought up there, the laws to abide
And that the land that I live in has God on its side

Oh, the history books tell it, they tell it so well
The cavalries charged, the Indians fell
The cavalries charged, the Indians died
Oh, the country was young with God on its side

“I learned to hate the Russians all through my whole life
If another war comes, it’s them we must fight
To hate them and fear them, to run and to hide
And accept it all bravely with God on my side”

I’ll close today’s missive with one of my very favorite Dylan tunes. I encourage all to listen to and to share with family and friends.

“Forever Young” written in 1974.

May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
May you stay forever young

May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the light surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
May you stay forever young

May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
And may you stay forever young
May you stay forever young