You guys I just don’t know. Everything that’s happened this week has surpassed my capacity to build reasoned conceptual frameworks. We can keep calling our elected officials and donating to those who appear to be pursuing our cause. We can keep volunteering to help people in the worst straits, and donating to organizations that do the same. We surely will take care of ourselves and those we love. But if one sentence sums up how I feel this morning, on my usual sofa in my usual house, looking out the window at a rainy January garden, at the pale pink

From what I see and hear this week, if you’re reeling from our national political experience you’re not alone. Almost everyone I’ve talked to is wondering first and foremost how not to spiral into despair. There, I’ve said it. So if that’s you, take heart. Like-minded people sit with you by the fire. We’re all going to have our different ways of facing what we hope will be only four years of this. I am not one to shame for temperament, so if you’re under the covers I hope your blankets are warm. If you can’t bear to talk about