President* Trump, Yesterday evening a wren flew into our front window, probably disoriented by the smoggy, smoky air. I’m not sure if it bounced off the window the eight or so feet to the tree in the front yard or somehow scuttled over to it, but the little thing sat almost motionless under the tree … Continue reading It’s a heretical thought, but what if we’re exactly where we’re supposed to be?
Acceptance
Welcoming flags
President* Trump, I wonder how many people have noticed the flags outside of the Fab Fives’ (Queer Eye) Philadelphia home base – there’s a gay pride flag and an American flag. There might be a Pennsylvania state flag too; I can’t remember now and I’ve not been able to pull up a picture of their … Continue reading Welcoming flags
Bring on the cold and the rain ~ and November 3rd!
President* Trump, I know it’s silly to worry about time and shifting seasons since they’re impossible to control, but as we march through August and the days get shorter and shorter, I’m increasingly worried about how we (me, my little family, all of us) are going to do as our options for safe social distancing … Continue reading Bring on the cold and the rain ~ and November 3rd!
Let’s flip us some tables!
President* Trump, You know the idea that if you don’t have a seat at the table, you can’t participate in decision making and so chances are, your issues won’t be considered if they’re even a smidge outside of the mainstream (let alone inconceivable to the mainstream)? Of course you do – you’ve perfected that strategy, … Continue reading Let’s flip us some tables!
Aspiring to “always make new mistakes”
President* Trump, I don’t know whether what I’m going to try and articulate today will end up being coherent enough to send you (which, really is sort of silly given how low the bar is to match your coherence when you’re at your absolute best, but I do have standards for myself and I’m not … Continue reading Aspiring to “always make new mistakes”
Good hard conversations
President* Trump, Have you seen pictures of the gorgeous BLM street mural that’s on East Pine in Capitol Hill here in Seattle? It’s in the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (the CHAZ) and stretches an entire city block. The one in your almost-front yard is really striking – I like the bold yellow and the fact … Continue reading Good hard conversations
Piecing together connection and being
Dear President Trump, For about the last year I’ve closed my walking lovingkindness meditation with the following: May we all have the courage and the resolve to be peace and kindness. May we all have the resolve and courage to accept kindness and peace. Maybe I’ve told you about this before – I’m not sure … Continue reading Piecing together connection and being
We have to spread some love because if we don’t, who will?
Dear President Trump, The new sign for this morning is a small one that just fits the rectangular dimensions of a multi-pane front window. It was done in crayon and it says “Spread Love.” A house a few houses before this one sported three small signs that say: “Thank,” “You,” and “Resist,” all of which … Continue reading We have to spread some love because if we don’t, who will?
This virus is a wake-up call that we can’t afford to sleep through
Dear President Trump, There’s a beautiful (very long) poem by Kristen Flyntz titled An Imagined Letter From Covid-19 to Humans that I got from a friend at church. I looked it up online and found that it appeared a little over a week ago and has been circulating on various social media sites. I’m including … Continue reading This virus is a wake-up call that we can’t afford to sleep through
Compassionate calm and calm compassion
Dear President Trump, Last week a friend of ours asked if we’d be up for doing a Zoom book club and Laura and I both signed on. We have only one copy of the book and it’s about mindfulness so I’m probably going to be the lone reader in our household. The book is by … Continue reading Compassionate calm and calm compassion
