I remember (augmented by pictures) sitting on the couch, reading a newspaper with my father. It is possible the memory is cemented by images of him reading the newspaper no matter where we lived! There was of discussion of news at the dinner table and sports, morning and night, even more when my brother discovered the sports page!
Memories of major news moments, Vietnam Protests, 9-11, are framed by words, pictures and opinion columns about the events.
For many busy years, my daily reading was the local headlines, but the weekend papers were embraced extra coffee and news abandon.
Lately, I glance over my weekly local paper with updates about fires and politics for about 45 seconds IF the 4 pages do not get drenched in rain before I see it. There is little of substance; yet, I read it out of habit.
These days, I start with the NY Times Online in the early morning and catch updates with coffee. This morning, again, the headlines and the subheads were brutally disheartening. My heart beat faster and my angst grew exponentially as I tried to make sense of the many fights, feuds, and frays along with the threats, lies, and theatrics.
These days, I no longer look forward to the news.
These days, I am afraid.
3 comments:
Oh how this resonates - and sadly, too. I remember my parents reading the paper - and I remember reading it, too, but these days I can barely bring myself to read beyond the headlines some days. Here's hoping for better news sooner rather than later.
Oh, the newspaper! Actually, I almost bought one the other day to stick in the wall. We're doing a renovation, so it would be a good time capsule. I settled for a bit of good old-fashioned graffiti instead...
As for me, I've pulled back on my news consumption as well. It's easier than I had thought, since much of the (national) news is cycled, recycled, aired and re-aired constantly before the next major scandal emerges.
It steels my resolve to just be a better human in real life.
(but I do miss my comic strips)
I have very fond memories of reading the newspaper comics on Sunday mornings while having donuts with my stepdad. The news is truly awful these days. Interestingly, my friend shared that reading the newspaper was her answer to staying off other forms of news that were much worse for her mental health.
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