DadJack.com Blog

Sunday it was announced that the Maconda Well in the Gulf of Mexico has been officially killed.  But we all know that this is not the end.  Damage from the 5 month spill will be felt for generations to come.   The environment, the wildlife and people of the Gulf will not be spared the effects of this disaster for years… And yet the news will taper off and the vast majority of people will move on to tea parties, fires, celebrity drug busts and whatever else is making news that week.

An oil spill is not much different than a divorce.  There is an initial rupture, explosion and all hell breaks loose, then it seems to everyone that it is over… But that too has lasting effects that lie just below the surface.

My well was fully killed  June 24th, 2009 (Easy to remember because it was the day before Michael Jackson died), a cement plug placed by the signature of a judge, holding back the flow of lies and deceit.  Setting forth the ability to rebuild my shattered Jack-o-System.

The only problem is that much like in the Gulf there are still residual problems. (But luckily for the Gulf, their well will most likely stay sealed… My well opens at will, sending a new set of oil soaked drama to my coast.)   My spill will continue to haunt me for a life time, as I fear will the Gulfs.

So as I read the news story detailing the final kill of the spill my heart goes out to the people of the Gulf, knowing that their problems have just begun and we will most likely hear little of the drama that continues just under the surface.

We joined Angela channel at today’s offshore drilling protest, Hands Across The Sand.  We were by the pier in Malibu.

The Surfrider tent, they organized the Malibu group

Wendy, Bing, Grandma, Angela and Lucy in the line

Hands Across The Sand - Malibu 6/26/2010

Angela Channel even had her protest shirt on!

The surfers came out of the water to join in

I lived in it’s shadow most my life and I never even knew it’s name.  That huge hill that separates Burbank from Hollywood, one side rests The Hollywood sign, the other Forest Lawn.  You can see it from almost anywhere in Burbank, and I remember it always being in the background of my life.

Today I walked to the laundry room of my building, which is on the opposite side of the building from my apartment… There it was visible between two buildings.  We live some places for short times and others for much longer, but it is amazing how quickly everything becomes normal, how you don’t notice those things that are all around you.

As I approached that staircase, an obstructed Mount Lee in my gaze I decided to try and not take things for granted… Especially those everyday things that just start to blend into your life.

Lucy had her spring singing concert this afternoon, she did great… She’s actually bummed that the school year is coming to end, she told me she’ll miss her teacher.

Did you watch the presidents address from the oval office?  There were no surprises… oil is leaking, it may leak for a long time, BP will pay and the government will help those affected.

Some weeks are easier than others, I’ve been pretty tired this week… Most likely because I missed my nap today.  I keep waiting to get used to this waking up at last call thing.

I’m very excited for our Farrell’s podcast on the 23rd… we haven’t been out in a long time and it’s always a blast.

Rock On, Jack