I love these early morning trips to the gym. Lovely skies that fill my head with ideas.
The other day it was this idea of writing a letter to the editor for the county newspaper. Then doing a follow up by repeating it on Facebook. The response I received was as follows:
three private messages from local women. all positive and one I knew.
several, well, maybe five from around the country, all positive and saying they share my view.
and many, many from other parts of the world, all sympathetic, all thinking we have lost our minds, and some sharing my post.
I suppose that I shouldn’t be surprised by the low number of local support. After all, the votes to change America came from some place. And staying silent will send a message. And I got it. So here is the letter.
On November 6th this year I woke to the realization that the America I’ve known and loved for over eighty years will no longer exist. As of January, 2025, this country will not only be controlled by the whims of a sex-offending, convicted felon with the mind of a petulant child, but the low-integrity sycophants he has groveling for power.
This is what enough Americans wanted for their future and the future of those of us who could see and hear what would happen and fought for the better option. Worst of all, those who voted for this were also willing to sacrifice the futures of their grandchildren – granddaughters.
The new president of the United States will take this country into autocracy, into fewer and fewer rights and away from the freedoms we mistakenly took for granted.
There is no chance for me to move to the countries I would want to – Australia and Canada. I am too old and have lived beyond my value to them.
So, I stay here. In this foreign country where I will be a guest. Where I will be polite and try to make eye contact with those who gave my country away.
The tears have ended as well as the anger and frustration. The sadness never will.
All news has been turned off as I retreat into my art and writing while I stay in touch with those who understand. Here I can take comfort in the fact that the past eighty-some years have been the best America could be.
They did remove the words “sex-offending”. I don’t know why.
So, I baked peanut butter cookies, did laundry, vacuumed, talked to family, went to the liquor store, and am getting ready for company at Thanksgiving. I will be thankful for the friends who give not only support but a bit of sadness for where America has landed. And because they are from many countries, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Uruguay, England and more, there is a clearer perspective on the future of the world. And more surprise and anger at so many women supporting this new misogynistic system about to take hold.
I have been staying in my studio listening to audio books while I draw. Now I am out of books and waiting for more to become available through the library system of borrowing them. The cats are napping this cooler weather away.
And here are the last bunch of butterflies and moths.
I only have six more double pages to go and the section is finished and ready to turn over to start birds and nests.
There is an urge to start writing again. Only so much I can be done to calm the fears of older friends, Jewish friends, LGBTQ friends. Seems we are all trembling in a boat too small for this rocky sea. God, there are days when it is so easy to just hate people.
Any suggestions for audio books I might get through Libby, the sharing library system?
Now it is time for an Aussie red and toast to the men and women who offer support. Thank you!
Til later….