Sunset of nice connections.
- Matthew - Matthew@Alphasongs.net
- Mar 16
- 3 min read

Yesterday, I spent a very nice evening out, both to see a modern choral concert put on by the Seattle choral ensemble, Opus 7 at St. James cathedral and a chance meeting before the concert with a couple traveling from Vancouver BC Canada down to see the NHL game tonight between Winnipeg and Seattle. The couple was staying at a nearby hotel that had run out of parking and had a question about parking in a paid street parking spot on a Saturday evening. I was walking to the same hotel to grab a bite and get out of the cold rainy weather.
With the current trade war escalating between the US and Canada, I felt surprised to run into visitors from Canada and immediately felt apologetic about the current circumstances between our governments. The conversation expanded quickly when they mentioned traveling both because of the hockey game and the great hotel deal they got through the company I retired from last year. I offered them to join me for a round of drinks at the hotel, while I had a quick bite before the concert.
I was delighted to have them join me. We had a wonderful conversation on many topics. Prior to my retirement for over a decade, I had many close working relationships with several of our company's employees out of our Vancouver BC office., I always enjoyed traveling there to spend time with my Canadian work colleagues. How could the Canadians be anything but our best friends among nations. Buying a round of drinks was the least I could do to help this delightful Canadian couple to make them feel welcome traveling down here.
I instantly associate Canada as our best friends. I started thinking about the other border with Mexico and my associations are even deeper. I associate Mexico with family and origins, specifically my mother's family's origins. It is weaved into the lyrics of my song, My America. Following drinks and a small bite with my new Canadian acquaintances, I attended a concert featuring an outstanding performance of mostly modern classical choral works, mainly by Ukrainian composers. The yearnings for peace and God's love in these works of music were powerful and emotional. It was an excellent concert that was very well attended (a few hundred). I'm thankful to my composing teacher John Muehleisen for pointing out good concerts for me to attend. Both John and his wife, Lynn were also in attendance. Good to see both of them.
As hostilities broke out in 2022 in Ukraine, I was still working professionally as a data engineer. Our engineering team had two Ukrainians living in Kiev. We video-conferenced with them daily and they were good engineers and workmates. I worked directly with one of them. Their perspectives added much beyond what we got from the news. I'm also aware that my father's origins are from parts of Eastern Europe including Latvia and Ukraine. So yesterday evening was also going to stir my thoughts and associations with Ukraine. I associate both good friends and family when I think of Ukraine.
Two months ago, the circumstances between my government and my feelings about these three nations, Canada, Mexico and Ukraine were totally in alignment. I feel these three countries are our friends and family. But my personal feelings about these three countries are no longer aligning with my government.
I'll conclude by saying that I've seen and been diagnosed in my personal life as traumatized and damaged from narcissistic abuse coming from false judgments of those incapable of learning and evolving through educated observation and compassion. People get stuck in and blinded in their own judgements that never evolve. I remember in my childhood how President John F Kennedy could read 5,000 words a minute. Reading and learning helps you evolve. Makes me think about contrasts in literacy between leaders then and now. I always want to know how fast my government leaders can read (or if they can read.)
Why do I feel some of this same narcissistic abuse is now being directed at these three countries on a national scale with trade and aid being withheld by my government. I know about the trauma of family hurting family in a personal way. Can't we stop being judgmental and show some love. Or is that something now being demonized as being woke? I feel I'm witnessing a sunset in many parts of my life. Narcissism on a national scale is a stupidity creating scourge. Wish I knew how to get away from it.
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