Dear President Trump, When I woke up this morning I decided today’s letter needs to warrant a “positive” tag when it gets posted in my blog. It can have other, less upbeat, tags too, but “positive” needs to be in the mix. The first positive is how when my colleague gave me a pep talk … Continue reading Three positives
Veterans
A very pricey impromptu federal holiday
Dear President Trump, I don’t have the day off today since I’m considered an “essential” federal employee. Basically, the message at the VA has been that if employees are scheduled to see veterans today or are in direct clinical support roles they are expected to show up and do their jobs. No arbitrary cancellations will … Continue reading A very pricey impromptu federal holiday
Standing in the gap (1)
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)
Surely they know you love them….
Dear President Trump, Who were you so busy calling on Monday that you couldn’t make it to Arlington National Cemetery? Amazing. You sure are piling on the ignoble firsts, aren’t you? It seems especially stupid for you to disrespect veterans. I’m seeing reports that they voted for you 2:1 over Clinton, but the veterans I … Continue reading Surely they know you love them….
Hear her, hear her
Dear President Trump, Happy Veteran’s Day. You’ve had a rough go of it the last few days in terms of showing up to honor military people’s contributions but maybe you pulled something out of somewhere today to atone for your weekend lameness. I didn’t bother checking because I’m sick of reading about you (and honestly, … Continue reading Hear her, hear her
Let’s shine light in those dark crooked corners of yours
Dear President Trump, Are you on your way back to D.C. all snug and dry in your warm, cozy Air Force 1 recliner? You’ve made it clear that you love your creature comforts, but it’s incredible that they are more important than showing up to honor the US and Allied Forces’ war dead. Can you … Continue reading Let’s shine light in those dark crooked corners of yours
Tayari Jones and the myth of the moral middle
Dear President Trump, Happy Transgender Awareness Month! All VA employees got an email about it last week, which to me signals that you can try to erase transgender people, but it’s not going to work. It’s not going to work at the VA and it’s not going to work at the coffee shop down the … Continue reading Tayari Jones and the myth of the moral middle
Hell to pay
Dear President Trump, Yesterday our VA facility’s Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Coordinator emailed out a really nice self-care handout for us to share with veterans who are feeling stressed and triggered by what is going on in the national news. The handout was created at the national level to make sure that our veterans with … Continue reading Hell to pay
VA’s strategy for MST adjudication
Dear President Trump, A well-traveled friend suggested this morning that we consider swapping out “hit on” with the British expression “chat up” when we want to talk about flirting. I like it! It’s much more in keeping with what is (hopefully) actually happening and is leagues friendlier and not edgy at all. How about it? … Continue reading VA’s strategy for MST adjudication
A vote of confidence
Dear President Trump, I’m sitting at Regan National with a 3+ hour wait before my flight since it didn’t seem worth slogging around town with my suitcase. I am bummed, though, that it didn’t feel safe to wait to leave tomorrow as I really wanted to go to the National Portrait Gallery to see the … Continue reading A vote of confidence
