9 years of descent

 I've thought about this a lot lately

 - and I'm sure many of you have too -

 but, for me, ever since DJT 

descended the golden escalator at T-rump Tower,

(in 2015)

he has taken the country on a downward trajectory 

filled with

chaos,

lies,

dissembling,

obfuscation,

division,

corruption,

projection,

hatred,

distortion,

and an unrelenting assault on all our senses

about everything I thought I knew and held dear about this country. 

I am NOT some Pollyanna with a dewy eyed vision

of what our country is, or has been;

I am NOT blind to our history of the genocide of indigenous people,

 nor of the enslavement of people stolen from their homelands to labor 

for the accumulation of wealth for others.

 

 I came of age during the 60's and 70's,

with plenty of reminders of how badly or misguided our government can behave

toward not only other countries but our own citizens.

But, for all the ways I believe our country

has room from improvement,

I believe the ideals upon which this country was founded,

are still worth fighting for -

and I believe we can't do that if we're divided and fighting each other.

All that being said, 

the change in atmosphere in the past 3 weeks has been extraordinary.

I feel a renewed sense of hope

and of possibility.

 

When was the last time we heard a candidate say 

they believed in the promise of this country?

 

For that matter, 

when was the last time you saw a candidate laugh and appear joyful?

 

Has DJT ever laughed -

not AT someone else -

but from a sense of gratitude or happiness?

 

I can't even picture it.

It's not in his DNA.

 

I'm choosing in this moment to be hopeful;

to believe that the hellscape DJT created and sustained 

may actually be diminishing;

that my fellow citizens might actually be choosing lightness and a way forward, together.

It's still not entirely clear if that will happen

but, for today, I'm choosing to believe it might.

 

 

 

 

IYKYK

 How it started:How it's going:

Can you feel it?

But it's getting closer every day!

And I will admit,

I stand corrected.

Changing horses in midstream WAS risky

but it was exactly what was needed - 

and it seems to be working out.

Thanks, Joe!

What a difference 3 weeks makes...

I swear there was a palpable difference on my latest trip "Up North".

 

Wisconsin has always had a split of red/blue voters

but I know I saw more Harris signs on farm lawns than I ever saw Biden signs

and there was definitely a lightness in many of the conversations among friends/family.

Overall, it was a wonderful trip -

and not merely because it was 20 degrees cooler than home -

although that was a definite plus.

Exploring rural areas is a favorite past time,

 as is taking in art galleries to see local artists.

I was excited to see an exhibit of native artists at a local library -

wonderfully original and colorful work.

There was a gallery that combined art with gardening - 

and it was glorious.

I'll leave a few more pictures of the week,

even though it will make me miss the area even more.

 Re-entry is always hard; but I'll see my grands tonight,

and I can't do that if I'm in Wisconsin.

 

I certainly hope your summer is full of things that makes your heart sing.