Worthless Things

Yesterday, for the first time in 40 years I didn’t read the local morning paper. For my parents, reading the morning paper was a ritual and demonstrated that you were educated and refined, keeping up with worldly news and able to perform reasonably on the daily crossword puzzle.A few weeks ago, I’d reflected on the first 15 minutes of my day when I pour my first cup of coffee and ponder over the morning news. But what I found upon reflection was pretty grim. I learned of school teachers who had been suspended for inappropriate conduct, a rising opioid crisis in Tennessee, and the kidnapping of a 15-year old by her teacher who had abducted her and taken her across state lines. Even the global news wasn’t encouraging: a bombing in a European country and death of two soldiers by friendly fire.I realized then that I was neither being informed or nourished by the morning paper. I cancelled my subscription effective Apri