Dear President Trump, In the last two weeks or so the HP has published several long pieces that all focus on different rips in collective care taking and ways that people are trying to stand in these gaps. The one I’m going to focus on today is about an old way of addressing suicidality that’s … Continue reading Standing in the gap (1)
Coping and Self-care
The imperative of doing things we love
Dear President Trump, This morning Laura and I went to a nearby coffee shop to meet an old friend of hers. They get together to catch up a couple of times a year and since I took the day off, I tagged along. It was lovely meeting her friend and getting to hear about their … Continue reading The imperative of doing things we love
No matter what, there’ll still be trash to pick-up
Dear President Trump, I woke up with my jaw especially sore this morning from grinding my teeth extra hard all night. I was able to sleep, though, and I think having read in the HP about Michelle Obama’s reprise and elaboration of her encouragement to stay the course with integrity and to safeguard our dignity … Continue reading No matter what, there’ll still be trash to pick-up
Surreal disconnect
Dear President Trump, It’s been two months today since our brother-in-law (BIL) died but it feels like we were just in the ICU with him a few days ago, hoping he could go quickly because he was in so much pain. I still feel unsettled and generally exhausted, though I’m not sure how much causal … Continue reading Surreal disconnect
Reality is a hard place to live
Dear President Trump, On the way home from church today there was huge cloud formation that looked just like a person lying on their back. The head was to the South, the arms angled out to the sides, and the legs pointed North. I was on the freeway so I could only take quick little … Continue reading Reality is a hard place to live
May we make peace to honor those we love
Dear President Trump, This morning we did some de-cluttering. Laura says she just wants to do it now and again because it needs to be done (which is true), but I think she really enjoys it (which is fine). The stacks of books and papers on the dining room table are now smaller and more … Continue reading May we make peace to honor those we love
“…. I don’t see any up sides to this situation”
Dear President Trump, Our brother-in-law’s (BIL) niece suggested we read Joan Didion’s memoir “The Year of Magical Thinking.” It’s Didion’s account of her life during the year following her husband, John Dunne’s sudden death from cardiac arrest. Her ability to capture the sense of loss and of being lost following a close loved one’s death … Continue reading “…. I don’t see any up sides to this situation”
More on stories
Dear President Trump, The days are blurring together. When we picked up our brother-in-law’s (BIL) cremated remains earlier and Laura’s brother signed and dated the release form, it was awfully disconcerting to realize BIL died just four days ago. It seems like infinitely more time has passed and it feels like it was just yesterday. … Continue reading More on stories
Mortality
Dear President Trump, I’ve not said anything about our brother-in-law (BIL) in over a week because he seemed to be progressing through the different phases of treatment as well as could be expected. It’s been hard for him to stay hydrated but they were managing until Monday night when BIL couldn’t retain any liquids and … Continue reading Mortality
“What keeps you awake at night?”
Dear President Trump, This morning I went by the Christian Cavalry Church near us. They have a huge sign at the edge of their parking lot; it’s black with bold pastel rainbow letters that say “Sweet Dreams” and smaller white letters that ask “What keeps you awake at night?” I immediately started generating my list; … Continue reading “What keeps you awake at night?”
Daily Trump Letters 