For one week in 1986, Dan Rather concluded his newscasts by looking at the camera and saying a single word: Courage. He abruptly ended the practice, likely due in part to the ridicule rained down upon him. Though that was nearly forty years ago and I don’t recall having witnessed it firsthand, at some point I came across the story and tossed it upon the Mountain of Trivia that exists in my head.
Thank you for this. I have vowed not to listen or watch anything today as I await whatever wrath awaits. I did my part, it is out of my hands but I have decided to send love to all today, regardless. My word for today is TRUTH. Hoping eyes open before it is too late. I feel your feels and I love you Spike!
Yes, out of our hands now. I confess I am taking in the news still—bad habit. But I also worked in the garden and the greenhouse. Helps to get my hands in the dirt. I love you!
Gardening is good. I can't help reliving/revisiting the horror I felt after Hillary. Not in a space to live that again. Sure hope we don't have to. Happy cleaning :)
ALL my writing time lately has been going to postcards, and ballot-curing calls, and (for the love of all that is doggy) trying to understand HOW certain members of my extended family wound up drinking the now undeniably fascist kool-aide. We've been living in different worlds for a long time now. I've little hope that even a landslide defeat of Recently Convicted Sociopathic Felon would result in any particular metanoia. Best case, even if this version of the Party of Trump is rendered powerless over the next few months, my dearly beloveds will all STILL be here, stewing in their manufactured grievances and their insane visions for the good ol' days of White Americans In Charge. This level of democratic gangrene isn't cured quickly.
I spent some time in Central America in the 80s, and so it is my personal nightmare to think of well-armed men meting out extra-judicial "justice" along political lines. It can happen here (hell, it HAS happened here) and the slope down to that wider undérworld is like black ice. Sometimes, that future violence feels almost inevitable. There are people who *want* that. You can see their *hunger* for it. I don't fear it tonight as much as I dread it.
Thank you for all the hard work! I’m sorry some family members have bought into the BS. I’m in the same boat. On a brighter note, I have noticed a shift to the left for some of my usually conservative Catholic sisters. I don’t talk about it and say—FINALLY YOU’RE COMING TO YOUR SENSES. But I think it in my head. Maybe it’s wishful thinking but I swear yesterday I had this moment of just feeling and KNOWING it will be a landslide. I hope my psychic powers are on target.
@SPIKEGILLESPIE I had a vivid dream last night that Virginia was called for Harris/Walz at 8:18PM. (8/18 happens to be my wedding anniversary, thanks Jon's Unconscious!)
If that were to happen, it would be a bellwether for sure...maybe of an electoral wipeout (because it's being polled as close).
Reliable source says turnout in (very blue) Fairfax County was over 70% before noon! That augurs well. Though I'm not much into augury. :)
If you see sparks emanating from northwest central TX, they are probably coming from me polishing every crevice in my house. Yesterday I was on my knees cleaning the fireplace surround. I'll take the small wins.
I sometimes wonder why, how MAGA people can rally around such an abusive mess, and so transparent a bully, as Trump. Reading this brave, amazing piece reminds me, hateful as they can be, to send them compassion and hope, like you, they can turn themselves around. Great post. Beautiful work.
Thank you for this. I have vowed not to listen or watch anything today as I await whatever wrath awaits. I did my part, it is out of my hands but I have decided to send love to all today, regardless. My word for today is TRUTH. Hoping eyes open before it is too late. I feel your feels and I love you Spike!
Yes, out of our hands now. I confess I am taking in the news still—bad habit. But I also worked in the garden and the greenhouse. Helps to get my hands in the dirt. I love you!
Gardening is good. I can't help reliving/revisiting the horror I felt after Hillary. Not in a space to live that again. Sure hope we don't have to. Happy cleaning :)
ALL my writing time lately has been going to postcards, and ballot-curing calls, and (for the love of all that is doggy) trying to understand HOW certain members of my extended family wound up drinking the now undeniably fascist kool-aide. We've been living in different worlds for a long time now. I've little hope that even a landslide defeat of Recently Convicted Sociopathic Felon would result in any particular metanoia. Best case, even if this version of the Party of Trump is rendered powerless over the next few months, my dearly beloveds will all STILL be here, stewing in their manufactured grievances and their insane visions for the good ol' days of White Americans In Charge. This level of democratic gangrene isn't cured quickly.
I spent some time in Central America in the 80s, and so it is my personal nightmare to think of well-armed men meting out extra-judicial "justice" along political lines. It can happen here (hell, it HAS happened here) and the slope down to that wider undérworld is like black ice. Sometimes, that future violence feels almost inevitable. There are people who *want* that. You can see their *hunger* for it. I don't fear it tonight as much as I dread it.
So, yeah, MY kitchen is also very, very tidy.
Thank you for all the hard work! I’m sorry some family members have bought into the BS. I’m in the same boat. On a brighter note, I have noticed a shift to the left for some of my usually conservative Catholic sisters. I don’t talk about it and say—FINALLY YOU’RE COMING TO YOUR SENSES. But I think it in my head. Maybe it’s wishful thinking but I swear yesterday I had this moment of just feeling and KNOWING it will be a landslide. I hope my psychic powers are on target.
@SPIKEGILLESPIE I had a vivid dream last night that Virginia was called for Harris/Walz at 8:18PM. (8/18 happens to be my wedding anniversary, thanks Jon's Unconscious!)
If that were to happen, it would be a bellwether for sure...maybe of an electoral wipeout (because it's being polled as close).
Reliable source says turnout in (very blue) Fairfax County was over 70% before noon! That augurs well. Though I'm not much into augury. :)
Scary times, for sure. Cats and ice cream help calm me.
Doom Nesting is a term I will most likely borrow, thank you. xoxo
Voted. And, courage _always_ happens when there is _fear_.
If you see sparks emanating from northwest central TX, they are probably coming from me polishing every crevice in my house. Yesterday I was on my knees cleaning the fireplace surround. I'll take the small wins.
I sometimes wonder why, how MAGA people can rally around such an abusive mess, and so transparent a bully, as Trump. Reading this brave, amazing piece reminds me, hateful as they can be, to send them compassion and hope, like you, they can turn themselves around. Great post. Beautiful work.
Thank you so much Bonnie. It really is a challenge for me to remember to look for and acknowledge common ground. But I’m trying.