‘Missives’ came to me the other day. Why that particular word would pop up, I can’t imagine.
I had to look up the meaning. ‘Missives’ are written messages.
Doesn’t the word sound a bit old fashioned? Like in merry, old England, you might be imagining someone named Nigel suggesting his friend, Lady Penelope, should be reading the monarch’s recent missives on British hegemony.
The Daily Post has missives… editor Bill Hudson’s ‘High Altitude Spending’ editorials about the outrageous cost of projects, for example, with Strong Towns Founder Chuck Marohn’s thoughts on the topic as well, in the August 22, 2023 editorial.
What could be more necessary than missives encouraging folks to be wondering if their tax dollars — their hard-earned money — is being spent prudently, or not so prudently? With so much going on in peoples’ lives, keeping track of politicians’ oversight — or lack of it, as the case may be — may not be top-of-mind for taxpayers footing the bills.
That’s one, of many, missives.
Daily Post columnist Gary Beatty’s observation that “truth is transient,” in a recent column, is something necessary to be thinking about as well, just as columnist Louis Cannon’s humor points readers to key missives that also are necessary to have in mind. Humor, so often, sheds light on concerning, serious issues.
And I’m doing my thing with missives, as are other writers in the Daily Post.
A missive, several days ago in one of Bill Hudson’s editorials, came to me at just the right time, as I was reading in my phone’s newsfeed about Alaska’s shrinking Mendenhall glacier… which would have been disturbing, had I not recalled his historical perspectives regarding glacier meltdowns having occurred, at times, throughout history.
And there was something about legendary investor Warren Buffett, in my newsfeed, selling $8 billion of investments, which, perhaps, maybe or maybe not, might impact stock markets, and the economy.
There was something about a “natural compound in white button mushrooms” possibly benefiting animal and human health.
I’m no expert on White Button mushrooms… My wife cautions me about even watering plants, around our place, I tend to screw that up. So I can’t weigh in on mushrooms, or any other plant life, for that matter.
But there’s a whole lot of missives, on a whole lot of topics, coming our way, all the time.
So, my main missive for now, is to judiciously pick and choose what’s truly important and truly necessary.
Harvey Radin is former senior vice president in charge of corporate communications and media relations, Bank of America Western Region. He makes his home in Redwood City, CA.