August
Our Centennial Celebration at the Chapel of the Transfiguration was a beautiful thing indeed. So much love, food, music. So many beautiful people gathered to celebrate 100 years of love at the heart of this church and the heart of this valley. Well done, all who made it happen and all who attended.
I was having a conversation with a couple guys before dinner, one relative newcomer to the valley, one old timer. The newcomer (sorry Ian, I know you’ve been here for six years, but I did say “relatively”) said, “I’ve heard people speak of Angry August, here in the valley. Is that a thing?” Will and I smiled knowingly, as relative old-timers have an annoying way of doing, and said, “Seems to be a thing.” There followed a discussion about traffic, heat, busyness, trying to cram in as much recreation as possible, FOMO, you know, all the first world problems we face as we live our lives in the short, sweet summer of Jackson Hole. Some of us get worn down, and by August the tension starts to build, and tempers start to flare. It’s natural, I’m prone to it, and it’s a little silly.
You know where I’m going with this, right? Let’s all just slow down. Instead of jamming one more concert or picnic in, let’s try leaving one out. Next time someone cuts you off in traffic, wave and smile. Unironically. Next time you are sitting in a traffic jam, worried that you are going to be late for that important or unimportant meeting, say a little prayer, maybe “Thank you God for this day, these tourists. May they be well and have fun. Thank you for this day and this amazing place I get to live in” and be late. Better yet, stay home. Pet the dog if you’ve got one. Water your plants, they too are thirsty. Hug the people you love. And breathe. It’ll be September before we know it.
Peace,
Brian
