2024

I don’t know how much you think about sharks but I used to think I think about sharks the regular amount. Which is to say: I don’t think about sharks. Unless I’m at a natural history museum. Or the aquarium. Or I’m near a 3-year-old singing “Baby Shark.” Or I happen to be rewatching Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws.” Other than that, I don’t think about sharks. I don’t dream about sharks. I don’t daydream about sharks. I don’t have nightmares about sharks. Sharks are kind of an abstract thing that exist … someplace else, I guess. Sharks are someone else’s problem.

If you’re at all like me, it probably feels like we’ve already been through at least three different presidential election years so far this year. And given the pace of events, it’s a good bet that between now and November, there’s more to come. The presidential contest has so thoroughly dominated our attention — not to mention news cycle after news cycle — that even the Senate and House races have pretty much disappeared from view. In this environment, the central role that ordinary Americans play — except as poll respondents — isn’t even an afterthought.

I spend many summer days with my great-niece, Lily, while her dad works 12-hour days. Lily turns 3 at the end of February. She is a fish, so we swim and play water games. We are happy mermaids, because I love to swim. Lily also is a monkey and climbs anything and everything. I do not follow her climbing antics. I keep both of my feet solidly on the ground while encouraging Lily to be brave and climb.