The Palisadian-Post presents an homage to Will Rogers’ column, “Will Rogers Says,” with a new column by Palisadian Jimmy Dunne—on life in the “greatest town in America.”
In the morning, my wife, Catherine, and my ritual is sitting in the family room with our coffee and watching the morning news.
Yesterday it was story after story of depressing news. “Breaking news” about Afghanistan, about COVID/Delta spreading like wildfire, global warming, Cuomo, the fire and droughts in California, the divisiveness in the country … pick one.
I thought about what I can do about it all. Not a lot.
Today, in the early of the morning, we took a walk instead. I thought about where I am.
I’m privileged to live in one of the most stunning storybook towns in the entire country. My kids absolutely loved their schools in town, where there are wonderful choices of schools, churches and synagogues.
Right in our own town, I’ve made an ocean-full of the most fascinating, provocative, caring, bright, happy, giving friends.
On one border of the town, we’re literally on the edge of the country, where explorers dreamed of one day finding—with the smell, feel and views of the most stunning, inspiring big blue sea on our amazing planet. The ocean is our backyard.
The other border is the magnificent mountains that shadow and frame our town—full of life and full of pathways to endlessly explore with family and pals.
I can go work out any day in the spectacular Palisades Charter High School swimming pool, play tennis at the fantastic park or take a bike ride on the beach that goes as far as my legs will take me. Or play a little bocce at Veterans Gardens.
Smack in the middle of the town, an amazing smorgasbord of everything from casual to snappy restaurants, so many great stores, and a gem of a “Village Green.” A ton of quaint little stores sprinkled down the streets with owners who loved that you stopped by.
It doesn’t mean the problems of the day or the world aren’t there; sometimes you just need to step outside.
Before I came back inside, I stopped for a moment. I looked up. In the absolute quiet, there were a few clouds floating by in the big blue sky painting a picture over the mountains. All I heard were a bunch of happy birds singing about how life was pretty great.
That’s a news station I’m going to start dialing up more often.
Jimmy Dunne is modern-day Renaissance Man; a hit songwriter (28 million hit records), screenwriter/producer of hit television series, award-winning author, an entrepreneur—and a Palisadian “Citizen of the Year.”
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