President* Trump, I thought we were supposed to get some rain starting sometime today, but my weather app is now saying it won’t be until Friday and that thunder and lightening are forecast for Thursday. In this weird gray space we’re in – the air quality is still “very unhealthy” – none of this is … Continue reading Meta-aikido counter distraction
Anger
What’s the plan?
President* Trump, You didn’t want us to panic. How thoughtful of you. What a mensch, always looking out for the country – that’s you! No doubt about it. It didn’t take any sort of genius to know that you’d use the notion that you didn’t want to frighten or panic us as the out when … Continue reading What’s the plan?
The scary convergence of armed vigilantes and sympathetic police
President* Trump, I don’t know, maybe it’s not going exactly how your evil schemers planned or hoped, but it sure seems like you all are getting the signs and signals you need to feel confident that a critical segment of your base is going to be there for you in the clutch down the stretch. … Continue reading The scary convergence of armed vigilantes and sympathetic police
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
Change, hope, and santolina
President* Trump, So many of us are yearning for change, deep systemic change that both meets us where we really are and that will pull us forward into possibilities for thriving that we haven’t yet been able to imagine. I know I can’t actually speak for others, but it seems clear that many of us … Continue reading Change, hope, and santolina
Benefits of doubts
President* Trump, Laura and I just spent the last hour working out how to respond to a neighborhood email chain about something that happened two nights ago at the corner house across the street from us. Actually, we aren’t finished yet. Here’s a sketch of what happened the other night and of the email chain…. … Continue reading Benefits of doubts
Litter, hate, Styrofoam, and non-negotiables
President* Trump, One of the many activities that COVID has curtailed for me is picking up litter. It’s just felt too risky and fraught, so for the most part, I’ve re-learned how to tune it out and keep walking even though I know it diminishes me a tiny bit each time. Frankly, this is one … Continue reading Litter, hate, Styrofoam, and non-negotiables
The COVID dress rehearsal is an unmitigated disaster
President* Trump, This morning on my walk as I enjoyed some more of my favorite things (cool air, the walking itself, quiet laced with occasional bird cheeps, time alone) I was reflecting on how hard it feels to navigate that thin space between being real and being whiny, especially when one’s circumstances are objectively stable … Continue reading The COVID dress rehearsal is an unmitigated disaster
The antidote of favorite things
President* Trump, Today I’m feeling even more sad, more tired, more pissed off, and my skin is starting to tell me I’m anxious too. At least anxiety is usually the culprit when my hands start getting eczema spots. I have a good one starting on my right thumb (right where it hits the space bar … Continue reading The antidote of favorite things
Scarcity thinking: the poison pearl of privilege
President* Trump, I know this isn’t a new insight or take on things, but lately I find myself wondering whether mean spiritedness of the scarcity sort isn’t really, truly the poison pearl of privilege at the heart of most all of our collective and individual problems. Maybe as I write I’ll come up with a … Continue reading Scarcity thinking: the poison pearl of privilege