Dear President Trump, The other day I wrote in reference to you: “We’ve got to focus on damage control, removal, and renewal and we can’t do all this incredibly hard work if we exhaust ourselves worrying about dumb shit.” I still think this is correct, but after further consideration I’ve come to the conclusion that … Continue reading Time is critical here
Divisiveness
Prejudice and Pride
Dear President Trump, The other day Laura texted our daughter to check in with her on the last day of their respective quarters to congratulate her on being almost finished with her first year of college and to see how she was feeling about finals. She texted back saying she’s feeling ok about how things … Continue reading Prejudice and Pride
“Don’t knock at my door, little child”
Dear President Trump, Remember how the other day I told you that Nichole Phillips’s next project is a book on black motherhood and mourning? Probably not. Ok, definitely not. I’m certain you don’t track what I tell you at all, which, if you were another sort of president I would think is fine because if … Continue reading “Don’t knock at my door, little child”
Damage control, removal, and renewal
Dear President Trump, While Laura appreciated me sending you the suggestion that you resign for her birthday, she would have been much happier had you actually done it. In fact, there would be rejoicing the world round if you and your illegitimate lackeys were to slink off with your tails tucked. So how about it? … Continue reading Damage control, removal, and renewal
A boatload of racist crap
Dear President Trump, Today is Laura’s birthday. Last night after work I purchased a lovely bouquet of flowers for her that I hid until this morning. She was so sleepy first thing that she missed seeing them on the dining room table, but her smile when she did see them was wonderful. It’s not easy … Continue reading A boatload of racist crap
“No one breathes”
Dear President Trump, I wasn’t going to stay for service at all yesterday. The plan was to go to choir practice at 9 and leave right afterwards because there was a choir potluck later in the afternoon and I didn’t want the whole day given over to churchy stuff. The plan was going just fine … Continue reading “No one breathes”
Ping pong and real reality TV
Dear President Trump, Did you ever play ping pong as a kid? One of the quirky things about my family is that after our house fire and the rebuild, my parents thought it would be fun to have a pool table with a ping pong cover in the dining room. They didn’t really appreciate what … Continue reading Ping pong and real reality TV
Our increasingly fraught relationship with reality
Dear President Trump, I found it! The badge button I was telling you about yesterday was in my pocket the whole time and I found it this morning when I put on that jacket again to take the dogs out. My hands were cold standing there waiting for them and so they (my hands) went … Continue reading Our increasingly fraught relationship with reality
“Peace is Patriotic”
Dear President Trump, I generally like to set a walk or a run route in my head before I leave in the morning and usually I try to make sure it includes at least one pleasant thing to see, like a favorite tree or a Buddha statue. Well, today the plan was to go by … Continue reading “Peace is Patriotic”
Memorial Day, surrender, and “The Flag We Should Know”
Dear President Trump, Yesterday I saw the following below-the-fold-headline in the WP: “The contested Confederate roots of Memorial Day” and although I didn’t make time to read the article then, the title lodged in my brain and wiggled loose the memory of another Confederate story of a very different sort. That story appeared this past … Continue reading Memorial Day, surrender, and “The Flag We Should Know”