Dear President Trump, Since Thursday I’ve witnessed three different, very intense animal interactions that looked to me to be fights, and today was almost in the middle of one of them. The first was Thursday morning on my run when two squirrels furiously chased one another up and down a pine tree. Maybe they were … Continue reading Another too close bird encounter
Environment
Whether the Democrats step up is now the most pressing question
Dear President Trump, All day I’ve been asking myself if I can really stand by my position that the biggest, most consequential question of our lifetimes is whether the Democrats will step up and stop waffling on impeachment. It’s a bold claim since it spans the lifetimes of the youngest newborn baby and that of … Continue reading Whether the Democrats step up is now the most pressing question
The wonder of feeling small
Dear President Trump, I hope Melania The Missing (from public view) has had a nice Mother’s Day. Have we? Why yes, thank you for (not) asking, we have. There’s been lots of well-wishing going back and forth among friends and family, including an especially nice “I miss you both lots!” note from our daughter this … Continue reading The wonder of feeling small
A long letter on a hard topic
Dear President Trump, Warning – this is a long letter on a hard topic. Last night on the way home I heard a piece on NPR about flood forecasting and how poorly people understand the phrase “100-year flood.” Most of us think if we live in a 100-year flood zone and we were flooded last … Continue reading A long letter on a hard topic
His royal Majority Leader-ness is a bad actor
Dear President Trump, I asked you six days ago where Mitch M was keeping himself since there’d been nary a peep from him for so long. Then, on Tuesday he burst back onto the scene with a well-rehearsed “case closed” proclamation regarding the Russia investigation. Who helped him come up with the clever quip about … Continue reading His royal Majority Leader-ness is a bad actor
Speck-hood
Dear President Trump, I’m torn between elaborating on what seems to me to be the word of the day, which is “sordid,” and wrestling with the reality of being a speck. I think I’ll just list three of the sordid bits that are floating on top of the oil slick this morning and then move … Continue reading Speck-hood
Forging a path between all and nothing
Dear President Trump, I’ve started this letter over four times now. It hardly ever happens to me that I can’t get a toehold with a letter, but today I’m really struggling. I’m quite certain it’s because I keep thinking about how white Northeast Seattle is and the fact that I live here and am not … Continue reading Forging a path between all and nothing
Finding sanctuary in birds
Dear President Trump, I’ve got to take a break today from you, Barr, Graham (hmm, where’s McConnell been lately?), and the Fox crew. You all are toxic and I’ve had it with you, so I’m going to write to you about birds. Bird vignette 1. On my walk into work two mornings ago I spotted … Continue reading Finding sanctuary in birds
1 weird rainbow and 2 cloud unicorns
Dear President Trump, Last night Laura and I had our evening chores (including my letter to you) done early enough that we could take a walk while it was still light out. We piled the dogs into the car and drove up to the odd gated-yet-open community at the top of the ridge that overlooks … Continue reading 1 weird rainbow and 2 cloud unicorns
Piling on in the worst ways
Dear President Trump, Over the last couple of days I’ve started seeing media folks (David Leonhardt, NYT; Joe Scarborough, WP) calling out your tepid response to the white nationalist terrorist attacks in Christchurch. They are pointedly saying that your failure to condemn such attacks encourages violence towards non-Christians and people of color. It’s a huge … Continue reading Piling on in the worst ways
