It’s an absolutely beautiful morning here in the Bay Area. After something like five years when we suffered through temperatures of over 100 degrees in May, and fires so large and close they turned our skies an apocalyptic yellow, so far this spring and summer have been perfect.
I am appreciating. Consciously appreciating. Breathing in thanks and then breathing thanks out. My decade from hell taught me a late lesson in conscious gratitude; celebrate when you can.
I’d like to give a particular thank you to our mourning doves. One minute it’s 8:22am on July 5th, the dryer rumbling in the background, but a single, “Coo, coo, cooroo” later and a pinprick hole between eras opens. Whether the summer of 1970 comes rushing into now, or I’m sucked back I couldn’t say. But I’m always reminded how astonishing it is to have lived nearly 7 decades. Which is more amazing, the myriad leaves on my alder or that I can still see that bush with lavender rose buds outside the Scottish castle where my family stayed in the summer of 1968? Hills rose behind, covered in gray-green heather.
It can be particularly hard, in this moment, to locate my sense of astonishment. Probably we knew our current president would jam his ego-ridden, corruption-sodden legislation down the country’s throat and yet we may despair. I don’t tolerate despair well. Birdsong helps. Analyzing my options and doing what I can helps too.
Midterms may be coming sooner than you think. Raised in the era of the Cultural Revolution and the Soviet Archipelago, I can worry we might not actually get them. But why? Why waste imagination? I would rather have my hopes dashed than sink into some kind of protective pre-misery. Could be just me.
If action helps you, what to do? I’m trying to look this all in the face without having to squeeze under my bed and never come out.
- Donate if you can. Given all the ridiculous fundraising texts I get, and block, I prefer to work through Charles Gaba’s fund here. Every penny goes to campaigns that have a good shot at winning. I am also now investigating organizations that work for voter’s rights, for example, the ACLU or the Brennan Center. Finally, inasmuch as a battalion of Soviet soldiers marched past me on the sidewalk, in Budapest in 1979, I can imagine ICE playing a suppression role . (Don’t follow that link if you’re prone to catastrophizing. It’s tough to read.) So, maybe a way to discourage people from joining that force, or block their fund, will emerge, and I’ll support the effort.
- Volunteer if you can. As in the past, I’m working for Swing Left. The campaign I did ballot-curing for in 2024 told me that the Swing Left canvassers and other volunteers are awesome. Let’s be awesome together.
- Protest if you can. Join your local Indivisible group and get on their email list, or in their Facebook group, and you’ll be notified of actions near you. You don’t have to go to everything. But you might like to try one and see how it feels. I’m thinking of making a sign that has an image of the Declaration of Independence on one side, captioned, “My Great-Grandfather Several Times Over Signed This And He Thinks Trump Is A Disgrace.” On the other side, an image of the Constitution captioned, “My Half-Uncle Several Times Over Wrote This Preamble And He Tells Me We Have To Get Rid Of Trump Or We The People Will Lose It All.” The medicine of dark humor..
- Find people who need care. If no kind of fight feels possible, maybe care is an option. Doesn’t matter who, or where, just help them. If you can. And ask for help when you yourself need it. The more we act in community the better.
I hope that come July 2029 we can celebrate the Fourth, the dream of America we believe in and our capacity to remember. Remember, there are an awful lot of us if we rally.
Round the flag, or a sign of protest. Have a wonderful weekend.
20 Responses
I love your idea for a sign! Do it!
There are two baby doves, a baby woodpecker, a baby mockingbird and a baby meadowlark that I’m seeing and hearing in my yard. Birdsong calms the nervous system and new life can’t help but bring a little cheer. Plus, they’re adorable.
Have a beautiful weekend. xoxo
Baby birds must be that double dose of joy <3
Also try the Merlin Bird ID app from Cornell
Fabulous and id’s birds by their songs
Yes to nature and protecting it!
Yes to a new set of congressmen|women soon.
Yes to all of the above! I just can’t decide if I want to know which birds are singing or keep nature’s secret…
I didn’t see your reply before adding mine, Lisa… nature’s secrets are beautiful when kept secret, as well. xo
Thank you for the tip about the app — I’m going to try it! And yes on both counts!
Bless you. Let’s keep the faith.
Bless you too. Let us keep the faith. What a beautiful way to put it.
I’m Canadian, so I’m a bystander in your upcoming Congressional midterms, but applaud all the great suggestions you put forth. I love the idea of your signs!
If you, or your readers want a small dose of sanity, not to mention cooler weather, come on up to the so-called 51st state, you’ll have a great welcome up here.
We look forward to when the political climate changes in the US and we can greet our American friends once again. It’s nothing personal against Americans, it’s the political climate which is making many people (Europeans as well as North Americans) boycott travel to the U.S.
We are rooting for you and the pro-democracy movements!
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I visited Montreal in January, the weekend of the inauguration. The kindness and generosity your fellow Canadians extended was so touching and meaningful. Looking forward to a healthier climate for all of us.
I wholly understand why people would feel reluctant to visit the USA. Even California has been afflicted. Very kind of you to extend a welcome to your great nation, not a state at all. Thank you for the encouragement too.
Love the ancestral shout-outs in your sign ideas! Between the four of them, my parents and in-laws lived under Hitler, Stalin, and Peron. They didn’t come here to the States for more of the same.
Working on a voter information flyer here. Rage (or hope) donating when we’re able. Treasuring joy and beauty wherever we’re lucky enough to find it.
Have a lovely weekend.
Hitler, Stalin AND Peron? Your family surely deserves no more of this. A voter information flyer sounds like a great idea, as does donating in both rage and hope. I wish you so much joy and beauty.
I like the classic “Elect a clown; expect a circus”. My current sign says “Resist! Elbows Up”. Yes, my mother was Canadian, and proudly retained her citizenship when she married an American. Guess that means my citizenship may be in question because my mother was not a citizen when I was born in the US in 1957? Ridiculous.
Glad to see a political posting! I recently started working in the local food pantry as well as attending protests. Building community can’t hurt! And neither can birdsong in the morning.
I’m glad a political posting felt right. And birdsong:). I too like the clown aphorism, and let’s get those elbows up indeed.
Thank you for this — my hope is quickly fading, so I have to remember to cling to the glimmers of it out there.
My hope may be misguided. But I’d rather surrender when I have to than give up without trying my best.
In which the lady shows the High Wasp fortitude in her bloodline!
“Find someone who needs care” is so right. I am finding lots of solace in caring for others, both by volunteering and just by caring for friends and family. It is very comforting in this otherwise comfortless moment. Thanks for hanging in there everyone! I will turn out to be important that we did.
The best comfort for so many kinds of grief is caring for others. And thank you for hanging in there and taking good care.