Dear President Trump, Another hot sunny Sunday means that once again we took our dog stroll at the University of Washington. It’s one of the few places with mid-day shade where our little dog won’t pick up too many burrs or too much pitch in his hairy feet. These factors and the free parking after … Continue reading Place names matter
Reality
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
“Atmospheric discrimination”
Dear President Trump, For a few days now, I’ve been chewing on something to tell you about, trying to figure out how to frame it, what to include, what to let stay shadowy. This morning while I was getting some exercise I finally decided I was ready to tackle it (I’ll tell you what “it” … Continue reading “Atmospheric discrimination”
Marginalized voices
Dear President Trump, I told you yesterday that Laura and I took the dogs on a walking tour of the University campus to see the heron rookery. We tagged on visiting a couple of the newer buildings on campus that Laura wanted to show me with the idea that I could go in and check … Continue reading Marginalized voices
What’s real and needs attention
Dear President Trump, I’m well past the years when hormones regularly amped up my emotional tenderness. And before pressing on, no, such cycling is not a sign of female weakness or irrationality. Rather, it’s a built-in course-corrector or truth serum that puts us back in touch with what’s real and needs attention. I would go … Continue reading What’s real and needs attention
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
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
White by design
Dear President Trump, It’s only 1pm and already it’s been another banner bird day. We took the dogs to the Union Bay Natural Area this morning and saw or heard the following birds: redwing blackbirds, seagulls, mallards, song sparrows, wrens, two osprey (plus noisy chicks), and a heron. We also saw turtles sunning themselves on … Continue reading White by design
Sick of feeling stupid
Dear President Trump, I’m quite certain I’m not alone in my strong dislike of feeling stupid – most everyone, including those of you in the news, seem to try to avoid looking stupid at all costs (whether we are successful is another matter entirely). For me, feeling stupid is one of the top three most … Continue reading Sick of feeling stupid
Daily Trump Letters 