As good as it gets

As good as it gets. An interesting phrase whose meaning ranges from acceptable to perfection. We’ve all had experiences, from meals to vacations to studying for an exam and used that phrase. We look at the arts and can stand in awe and wonder if Van Gogh is as good as it gets in brushstrokes and color or Melville with the opening of a novel? Luckily artists learn to emulate, experiment, and do their own as good as it gets in whatever medium they choose. In this musings, mine is words, and I think of one sentence Louis Penny wrote in The Long Way Home. In describing an artist she said, ‘he turned his pain into paint.’ That’s as good a description as it gets. Six words; the addition of one letter. 

Over the weekend there was the royal wedding, with its picturesque setting, picture perfect weather, and a wonderful blend of cultures, sentiment and sentimentality. That may be as good as it gets for true romance. We also had Pentecost and are in the midst of Ramadan, two important markers of major faiths, potentially representing some as good as it gets moments to some believers. Other people got married, there were baptisms, anniversaries and birthdays, and for some, those may be as good as it gets moments with family.

Unfortunately, some people in Texas experienced as bad as it gets moments and are now planning funerals. When it comes to too many critical issues in our world today, we have allowed leaders to settle for less than the acceptable aspect of as good as it gets in order to push deals through congress and with other governments. From gun control to opioids to education to the environment, we need sane voices from all sides of the issues to come together and broker more acceptable solutions. I wish we could hold out for perfection, but I’ll settle for better as good as it gets sensible answers than what we have now.

Marilyn