As someone who works for an LGBTQ+ org bag dealt with Trump 1, I am already exhausted for the fight ahead. Trying to put a brave face on for my team, while acknowledging the hardship, but oh it's going to be such a struggle and a mind-f%$k
I had to teach my women's writing circle this morning, and I thought, how am I going to do that? What am I going to say? It turns out Brian Doyle and Jane Goodall stepped in with words to help, and I was so grateful to spend two hours in a safe space with amazing women writers. I also walked with dear friends, ate a chocolate caramel brownie and latte for breakfast and, after teaching, went to a local bookstore and bought books, then headed for dinner fixings and wine. The only things I think will help me today are spending time with brilliant women, reading brilliant words, and maybe a jigsaw puzzle. And then, tomorrow, maybe, I'll figure out what to do next.
Would love to know what Brian Doyle words brought you some comfort today. He’s one of my favorite writers. I like your ending here - I didn’t know what to do today besides find comfort somehow either.
KTA, I love that you love Doyle too. The passage that helped me yesterday was from The Wet Engine:
"Look, I don't know much, but I know these things uncontrovertibly and inarguably:
One: stories matter waaaaay more than we know.
Two: all stories are, in some form, prayers.
Three: love is the story and the prayer that matters the most.
So: here are some stories and prayers, and they are all about love, and I hope they matter to you too. " ~ Brian Doyle
As a writer and a writing teacher, I know the power of stories and I've seen how writing one's truth (in any genre) can be transformative to both the writer and the reader/listener. So as I've been pondering what to do, I realized I need to keep doing what I do, but do it bigger. (More to come on that! Just typing that made me feel a glimmer of hope!)
I too, adore the writings of Brian Doyle, my fav though is the essay about the humingbird and it's heart compared with the human heart and it ends with a father making pancakes for his kids for breakfast, something my dad used to do. I may break out the Doyle books and read to compensate for this loss......the best thing to do is do what makes you happiest. I did not turn on any tv or radio on the 6th but instead spent the entire day in the art 'studio' doing collage/watercolour/clean-up some corners as well as make some comfort food (I had a bad feeling about this partiular election--think it was 'stolen' by a jerk who seemed too self-assured about this particular election in which he was already a winner) WTF?
Do you realize how much money the republicans spent on this election--you gotta want it so bad to waste so much $$$$$$$$$$$!!!
Would it surprise me to learn in 6 months time that he paid those young latino male voters to vote for him? Not in the least! Elon Musk was giving out million dollar checks to people in Pa. to register, I believe and when it was challenged, it was oked by the courts? Again, WTF?
In actual fact, after I was done with the grieving, thought to myself this is what may gve some of these people who think so highly of Trump, a reality check as to what he really is like! The deluded Christians, the Women who still vote for him or the Latino males who like his mysoginistic ways. I was getting rather tired of the republicans blaming the other party for the woes of the USA!! Same 0 same 0. I will be laughing at it all meanwhile trying my best to steer clear of that infernal blame game----now it's biden who is to blame for kamala's loss. OH please!
My kid picked Down Bad for pre school drop off music and I literally cried in the gym parking lot and in the weight room today. Wore my Support Public Education shirt and got lots of compliments at school drop off.
I’m currently reading ALL ADULTS HERE, loving it so much, and wishing I could say I feel that way about my country today. But I do not. Maybe tomorrow or next week. 🥲
Thank you for this playlist-you had me at Elliot Smith but it’s chock full of good stuff. I’ll be needing this to get through the week. I deleted instagram and Twitter so my feelings can be just mine for now. Appreciate the validation.
It s a sad, and infuriating, day. I have spent it reading, drinking tea, checking in with my 92 year old mom and commiserating with her. One day at a time. One battle at a time. Stay strong and write another book, Emma. 🥰
You are like one more sister, Emma.. thank you for your sad songs and kind words. We reach across miles and generations to look towards a far better future. Love to you.. love love love.
Thank you for this 🙏🏾. As an Indian-American woman, an immigrant and the granddaughter of someone who was also named Kamala (she was a formidable woman in her own right, by the way), I never thought that a candidacy like hers would be possible in my lifetime. America has this way of surprising you sometimes. And then it breaks your heart. Living with this constant duality is exhausting. Like you, I’m choosing to lean in to the joys of my everyday and focus on just putting one foot in front of the other. That’s honestly all I can manage right now.
I had to break out my book of meditations for difficult times this morning.
Emma, after I read this, I looked down and realized you had blurbed the book I started in the middle of the night in my despair. The Old Place by Bobby Finger.
As someone who works for an LGBTQ+ org bag dealt with Trump 1, I am already exhausted for the fight ahead. Trying to put a brave face on for my team, while acknowledging the hardship, but oh it's going to be such a struggle and a mind-f%$k
Thank you for your words, as always.
I had to teach my women's writing circle this morning, and I thought, how am I going to do that? What am I going to say? It turns out Brian Doyle and Jane Goodall stepped in with words to help, and I was so grateful to spend two hours in a safe space with amazing women writers. I also walked with dear friends, ate a chocolate caramel brownie and latte for breakfast and, after teaching, went to a local bookstore and bought books, then headed for dinner fixings and wine. The only things I think will help me today are spending time with brilliant women, reading brilliant words, and maybe a jigsaw puzzle. And then, tomorrow, maybe, I'll figure out what to do next.
Would love to know what Brian Doyle words brought you some comfort today. He’s one of my favorite writers. I like your ending here - I didn’t know what to do today besides find comfort somehow either.
KTA, I love that you love Doyle too. The passage that helped me yesterday was from The Wet Engine:
"Look, I don't know much, but I know these things uncontrovertibly and inarguably:
One: stories matter waaaaay more than we know.
Two: all stories are, in some form, prayers.
Three: love is the story and the prayer that matters the most.
So: here are some stories and prayers, and they are all about love, and I hope they matter to you too. " ~ Brian Doyle
As a writer and a writing teacher, I know the power of stories and I've seen how writing one's truth (in any genre) can be transformative to both the writer and the reader/listener. So as I've been pondering what to do, I realized I need to keep doing what I do, but do it bigger. (More to come on that! Just typing that made me feel a glimmer of hope!)
I too, adore the writings of Brian Doyle, my fav though is the essay about the humingbird and it's heart compared with the human heart and it ends with a father making pancakes for his kids for breakfast, something my dad used to do. I may break out the Doyle books and read to compensate for this loss......the best thing to do is do what makes you happiest. I did not turn on any tv or radio on the 6th but instead spent the entire day in the art 'studio' doing collage/watercolour/clean-up some corners as well as make some comfort food (I had a bad feeling about this partiular election--think it was 'stolen' by a jerk who seemed too self-assured about this particular election in which he was already a winner) WTF?
Do you realize how much money the republicans spent on this election--you gotta want it so bad to waste so much $$$$$$$$$$$!!!
Would it surprise me to learn in 6 months time that he paid those young latino male voters to vote for him? Not in the least! Elon Musk was giving out million dollar checks to people in Pa. to register, I believe and when it was challenged, it was oked by the courts? Again, WTF?
In actual fact, after I was done with the grieving, thought to myself this is what may gve some of these people who think so highly of Trump, a reality check as to what he really is like! The deluded Christians, the Women who still vote for him or the Latino males who like his mysoginistic ways. I was getting rather tired of the republicans blaming the other party for the woes of the USA!! Same 0 same 0. I will be laughing at it all meanwhile trying my best to steer clear of that infernal blame game----now it's biden who is to blame for kamala's loss. OH please!
I can’t understand how he won.
My kid picked Down Bad for pre school drop off music and I literally cried in the gym parking lot and in the weight room today. Wore my Support Public Education shirt and got lots of compliments at school drop off.
Where can I get a Miss Piggy t-shirt? It might make me feel better.
It’s from out of print!
I’m currently reading ALL ADULTS HERE, loving it so much, and wishing I could say I feel that way about my country today. But I do not. Maybe tomorrow or next week. 🥲
Thank you for this playlist-you had me at Elliot Smith but it’s chock full of good stuff. I’ll be needing this to get through the week. I deleted instagram and Twitter so my feelings can be just mine for now. Appreciate the validation.
It s a sad, and infuriating, day. I have spent it reading, drinking tea, checking in with my 92 year old mom and commiserating with her. One day at a time. One battle at a time. Stay strong and write another book, Emma. 🥰
I need your shirt...it would make me feel better for sure!
please don't do the wordle! NYT tech workers are on strike and asking people not to cross their picket line by playing NYT games.
Oops! Didn’t know that!
🩷 I’m so disappointed but sorry to say I’m not surprised anymore. 💔
Thanks for the words and the playlist. It's a rough rough day.
You are like one more sister, Emma.. thank you for your sad songs and kind words. We reach across miles and generations to look towards a far better future. Love to you.. love love love.
Thank you for this 🙏🏾. As an Indian-American woman, an immigrant and the granddaughter of someone who was also named Kamala (she was a formidable woman in her own right, by the way), I never thought that a candidacy like hers would be possible in my lifetime. America has this way of surprising you sometimes. And then it breaks your heart. Living with this constant duality is exhausting. Like you, I’m choosing to lean in to the joys of my everyday and focus on just putting one foot in front of the other. That’s honestly all I can manage right now.
I had to break out my book of meditations for difficult times this morning.
Emma, after I read this, I looked down and realized you had blurbed the book I started in the middle of the night in my despair. The Old Place by Bobby Finger.
Always love a sad songs playlist--thank you <3