First 'Birthday'

 

August 28, 2024 was a pleasant day.  I got ready to leave for an appointment, appreciated a 'clear' sky - no wildfire smoke.

I had plans for my day, but the world changed and my life with it.

The past year has been a bit of a train wreck.  I could watch it happening.  I could *feel* it happening.  Could not seem to do anything much to make it stop, prevent it happening, make it better.  

In the end I had to come to grips with the new 'reality'.  My old reality bubble had burst and in order to move forward, I had to find a path through the brambles.  

Doug was steadfast.  Several friends helped in small (not so small, in reality) ways, others were steadfast with support and encouragement.

My body struggled.  *I* struggled.  I all but gave up more times than I can count.  

In the end, what 'saved' me - and continues to pick me up and keep me going - is...weaving.

And by weaving I mean writing about it, not just doing it.  Because I can sit in my office and think (sort of) and try to convey what I've learned about taking threads and interleaving them into a textile and explain what I've done, or want to do, to others.  Who will take my rambling thoughts further, into greener pastures.

As I read through the 'news' each day, I am appalled by the curves in the road that humans are taking.  I do believe that the arc will strive towards justice, but there are times when there seem to be many hands trying to bend it 'back' and away from fairness, justice.  We are watching this happen in real time, and it's pretty appalling, given that I truly thought that the progress we had made in the late 1900s and early 2000s (sort of) would generally continue.  We had come too far to be yanked backwards now.  I thought.

Silly me.

Just this morning I read about an ICE 'raid' on a crew of wildfire fighters, in the midst of trying to put out an active fire.  The firefighters were made to *stop* their essential work, show their papers, and then two of the firefighters were dragged away.

Given the right bleating about immigrants needing to be 'productive' and 'work', what the hell is happening that they would do...this?  Mind truly boggled.  

It is now completely clear that the right is not the least bit concerned about 'immigrants' (because they take citizens, too), or that they are 'stealing' jobs from 'real' Americans, or that they are not 'contributing' to US as a country.  

Honestly, I see these shenanigans and wonder why I didn't just quietly slip away 365 days ago.  Frankly it would be so much easier than continuing.

Since I didn't quietly slip away, I had to figure out what I am meant to be doing on this 'bonus' time here on this mortal coil.

Yesterday there was a meme about finding your voice.

I have decided that I have stifled myself far too long.  I will speak out now, for as long as I am able.  I may not be able to march, or lay my body down to be tear gassed or beaten, but I can speak out.  I can register my resistance to the steady creeping forward of the alt right.  

So, I boycott the US.  My government did not tell me to do this.  I am a student of history, and I know where this goose-stepping march leads.  My father and many family friends served in WWII.  I cannot sit by, sit back, and say nothing when I see the alt right marchers try to destroy my country and take it back to 1939.

In an interview with Tina Turner, the interviewer asked if she (Tina) ever got angry.  She looked thoughtful and said (I paraphrase) "I decide if my anger will help me make changes.  And then I use that energy to try and fix what is wrong."

Wise words, Ms. Turner.

Mr. Roger talked about his mother who advised him to look for the helpers in the middle of a crisis.  Always look for the helpers.

I don't know if my views, my life, is helpful or not.  But another meme talked about speaking out, to let others who think the way I do so they know they are not alone.

Given this new lease on life, I have decided that I need to speak out, even if some don't want to hear it.

I need to resist, with all my ability, the creeping sickness of the alt right.  

I need to let people know that they are not the only one who objects.  And that if we focus on helping each other, we may discover that the alt right is still (for now) in the minority.  We need to drown their whining and complaining out and focus on helping each other up, not punch others down.

And every day, encourage people to remember that as humans, we can be kind.  We can light a candle to help others.  Let us build a circle of support and, yes, love, as and when we can.