my favorite things about you are your kind heart and your ability to detect kindness in others. That Angelina story is priceless (like children’s drawings, which are the best drawings in the known universe).
We are currently living through the cruelest of shit shows. As a descendent of German Nazis, I know whereof I speak. But as the mother of a revolutionary, raised to question the status quo, I beg you to keep an open mind when it comes to third party voters. My wife, a civil rights attorney currently struggling to keep her trans clients safe, will not soon forgive my daughter for ‘throwing her vote away’ (not choosing was choosing/ same as voting for the monster itself).
But my Laura has spent much of her almost thirty years on this earth advocating for the wrongly imprisoned and marginalized who didn’t have a voice in the Biden/Harris administration, either. She could not, in good conscience, vote for a ticket funding genocide and making a sharp right turn to recruit voters (we, too, are tough on crime and immigration, and we carry guns to prove it). I have to believe that our children deserve radical (rather the in.. cre…men.. tal) change and that they will built something better out of the ashes. I have to believe that our children are smarter than we are.
I shall always keep an open mind, Helia, or do my best, I promise you. I know that people who stayed home did it because they were following their hearts and their own consciences, their moral convictions, and because they felt completely disenfranchised everywhere they looked. I do not doubt that for a second. We’re all doing our best in a world that has become far too harsh for most of us. And I have no doubt at all your Laura is magnificent. How could she not be with you as her mom?
I am simply so scared for so many people. I suppose I am now more afraid for people in every part of the world - Gaza - and everywhere else people are suffering, Ukraine, Syria, Uganda, Liberia, Sudan, Yemen…I mean, there are no shortage of places where people are in dire need of compassion. All the global aid the U.S. was instrumental in providing with our allies and partners - all the chaos and confusion now wrought by people with no empathy. And all the pain and suffering here. I can’t see how this will end up making things better, but maybe we’d gone beyond the point where that was going to happen without suffering just, everywhere. I am worried for us all. But if we had a cul-de-sac, I’d want your Laura there, and I’d greet her with open arms if she’s a hugger. If that makes any difference. Sending you so much love, Helia. As always ❤️
don't make me cry, now, Ally. I knew you get my bearcub-mom energy, and I think I had to write this to convince myself. we've had so many conversation about the lesser evil preserving her right to protest etc, and it has strained our relationship (which is the most important relationship in my life). I agree, the suffering all over this planet is much too much, and for what? greed and selfishness, it always comes down to. I'm so grateful to you and Eileen for providing spaces to restore our belief in (at least some of) humanity. Much, much love back to you and Laura is definitely a hugger. xoxo
The wisdom of Angelina is the best medicine I can imagine right now. I needed something pure and simple and perfect to get my mind right.
I’ve been watching the benefit concert for FireAid tonight and I am loving the stories of people rescuing other people’s pets and all the love for the fire fighters and first responders. It’s good to fill up on the beauty of the world before your cup gets empty. I will keep Angelina in my pocket for moments when I flirt with losing faith.
You’re the best, Ally. Shine on, you crazy diamond 💎
Isn’t the concert amazing? I’ve been 😭🥹 all night. And I need it sweet and simple right now, too. We all need to fill our cups with the good stuff, and let them overflow with it. Cheers to you, Eileen. YOU are the best. I hope I get to see you soon ❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹 Love you xx
You reminded me of my friend Declan, back in Dublin, Ireland, who I saw a few times running out of the shop we worked in when ambulance passed by and he crossed himself and wished that person good luck.
The funny thing was that he was smoking weed and drinking a lot, yet his decency and humour were wonderful. I really enjoyed his custom to spend a few seconds simply thinking about the ambulance and who it goes to. I believe he said that he hopes when he will be transported in ambulance someone will say a prayer for him.
I can't really comment on what is happening in the US, it's really scary and I can only imagine the horrors. I appreciate you writing about it, because it gives me some sense, to be part of the "resistance". I'm happy that you can still find words to remind us to hope and be there one for another.
Thank you for being here.
Much love and strength and hope for you, your family and every good soul doing their best in these surreal times.
I feel like we’re all part of the resistance at this point. One of these days we’ll figure out that we’re all connected, and if some of us are suffering, all of us should care and try to help. I think some people feel that way naturally - my honest opinion is it’s natural for us to care about each other, but sometimes the impulse is beaten out of us one way or another. The world can be cruel or people can be, or a million other things can happen that start to make a person harden. We have too many hardened people in the world. But then there are always Angelinas and Declans and all of us, here in the comments section. All the writers and artists and poets and musicians and hippies and dreamers and people who run out of bars when an ambulance goes by. So cheers to us. We’ll just have to keep fighting the good fight and rooting each other on. Thank you for being here, Peter, and for caring from the other side of the globe. Sending you a lot of love.
Hell yes! We’re still here and still have each other! It’s been a horrifying few weeks but it’s just just the beginning so we need to keep reminding ourselves to stay and hold on to our humanity and to each other the best we can. I’m so thankful that you and your community are here 🧡
I mean, what a slog, Sonbol. I knew it was going to be bad, but this was really something. I was heartened to see how many people fought back hard, though. I think the key is staying focused, pacing ourselves, and holding on tightly to each other, and our sanity (somehow). Thank god for y’all. Keeping me somewhat sane, and inspiring me to not lose my sense of humor or my hope. They don’t get to have that. Love you. Thank you for being here, truly 🙏🏼❤️🩹
Love this so much. Little Angelina. I would have had a hard time with that question in kinder, too. I have been thinking of you all in LA... my husband is rocking out to "FireAid" right now as I type. A lovely artist sang Long December which I used to sing to my bestie far away and "if you think you might come to California, I wish you would, na na na na, na na na na na na na na na...." It got me in the feels. Anyway I get you, and I get Angelina, and I totally pray/chant/whatever when I hear sirens.
So strange, I responded to your comment last night, but my response has disappeared into the ether apparently, or I dreamt it, lol. I watched some of concert(s) and was really moved. It’s been exhausting and amazing and heartbreaking and heartening and all the things out here. So reassuring to see people showing up for each other, and it isn’t slowing down which is also good to see. The volunteer schedule for baby2baby came out for February at 6pm last night and all slots were filled by 9pm. Good stuff. My trunk is packed full of clothing donations.
I remind myself of these things when I start to feel hopeless. People are showing up and fighting back and trying to help each other, and it seems like we (those of us who are in agreement the world is not served by cruelty and chaos) are all praying for each other when we hear the sirens. And calling our senators and writing emails. Whatever it takes. Which is good because I think it’s going to take everything we’ve got. But also joy and laughter and at the very least, gallows humor and sarcasm. And great friends and books and all the other things that fill the tank. Anyway. I’m so glad you’re here, Mary Beth. And I’m sending you a lot of love ❤️
Dearest Ally,
my favorite things about you are your kind heart and your ability to detect kindness in others. That Angelina story is priceless (like children’s drawings, which are the best drawings in the known universe).
We are currently living through the cruelest of shit shows. As a descendent of German Nazis, I know whereof I speak. But as the mother of a revolutionary, raised to question the status quo, I beg you to keep an open mind when it comes to third party voters. My wife, a civil rights attorney currently struggling to keep her trans clients safe, will not soon forgive my daughter for ‘throwing her vote away’ (not choosing was choosing/ same as voting for the monster itself).
But my Laura has spent much of her almost thirty years on this earth advocating for the wrongly imprisoned and marginalized who didn’t have a voice in the Biden/Harris administration, either. She could not, in good conscience, vote for a ticket funding genocide and making a sharp right turn to recruit voters (we, too, are tough on crime and immigration, and we carry guns to prove it). I have to believe that our children deserve radical (rather the in.. cre…men.. tal) change and that they will built something better out of the ashes. I have to believe that our children are smarter than we are.
I shall always keep an open mind, Helia, or do my best, I promise you. I know that people who stayed home did it because they were following their hearts and their own consciences, their moral convictions, and because they felt completely disenfranchised everywhere they looked. I do not doubt that for a second. We’re all doing our best in a world that has become far too harsh for most of us. And I have no doubt at all your Laura is magnificent. How could she not be with you as her mom?
I am simply so scared for so many people. I suppose I am now more afraid for people in every part of the world - Gaza - and everywhere else people are suffering, Ukraine, Syria, Uganda, Liberia, Sudan, Yemen…I mean, there are no shortage of places where people are in dire need of compassion. All the global aid the U.S. was instrumental in providing with our allies and partners - all the chaos and confusion now wrought by people with no empathy. And all the pain and suffering here. I can’t see how this will end up making things better, but maybe we’d gone beyond the point where that was going to happen without suffering just, everywhere. I am worried for us all. But if we had a cul-de-sac, I’d want your Laura there, and I’d greet her with open arms if she’s a hugger. If that makes any difference. Sending you so much love, Helia. As always ❤️
don't make me cry, now, Ally. I knew you get my bearcub-mom energy, and I think I had to write this to convince myself. we've had so many conversation about the lesser evil preserving her right to protest etc, and it has strained our relationship (which is the most important relationship in my life). I agree, the suffering all over this planet is much too much, and for what? greed and selfishness, it always comes down to. I'm so grateful to you and Eileen for providing spaces to restore our belief in (at least some of) humanity. Much, much love back to you and Laura is definitely a hugger. xoxo
The wisdom of Angelina is the best medicine I can imagine right now. I needed something pure and simple and perfect to get my mind right.
I’ve been watching the benefit concert for FireAid tonight and I am loving the stories of people rescuing other people’s pets and all the love for the fire fighters and first responders. It’s good to fill up on the beauty of the world before your cup gets empty. I will keep Angelina in my pocket for moments when I flirt with losing faith.
You’re the best, Ally. Shine on, you crazy diamond 💎
Isn’t the concert amazing? I’ve been 😭🥹 all night. And I need it sweet and simple right now, too. We all need to fill our cups with the good stuff, and let them overflow with it. Cheers to you, Eileen. YOU are the best. I hope I get to see you soon ❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹 Love you xx
Hi Ally, thanks for a brilliant read.
You reminded me of my friend Declan, back in Dublin, Ireland, who I saw a few times running out of the shop we worked in when ambulance passed by and he crossed himself and wished that person good luck.
The funny thing was that he was smoking weed and drinking a lot, yet his decency and humour were wonderful. I really enjoyed his custom to spend a few seconds simply thinking about the ambulance and who it goes to. I believe he said that he hopes when he will be transported in ambulance someone will say a prayer for him.
I can't really comment on what is happening in the US, it's really scary and I can only imagine the horrors. I appreciate you writing about it, because it gives me some sense, to be part of the "resistance". I'm happy that you can still find words to remind us to hope and be there one for another.
Thank you for being here.
Much love and strength and hope for you, your family and every good soul doing their best in these surreal times.
Namaste 🙏❤️
I feel like we’re all part of the resistance at this point. One of these days we’ll figure out that we’re all connected, and if some of us are suffering, all of us should care and try to help. I think some people feel that way naturally - my honest opinion is it’s natural for us to care about each other, but sometimes the impulse is beaten out of us one way or another. The world can be cruel or people can be, or a million other things can happen that start to make a person harden. We have too many hardened people in the world. But then there are always Angelinas and Declans and all of us, here in the comments section. All the writers and artists and poets and musicians and hippies and dreamers and people who run out of bars when an ambulance goes by. So cheers to us. We’ll just have to keep fighting the good fight and rooting each other on. Thank you for being here, Peter, and for caring from the other side of the globe. Sending you a lot of love.
Hell yes! We’re still here and still have each other! It’s been a horrifying few weeks but it’s just just the beginning so we need to keep reminding ourselves to stay and hold on to our humanity and to each other the best we can. I’m so thankful that you and your community are here 🧡
I mean, what a slog, Sonbol. I knew it was going to be bad, but this was really something. I was heartened to see how many people fought back hard, though. I think the key is staying focused, pacing ourselves, and holding on tightly to each other, and our sanity (somehow). Thank god for y’all. Keeping me somewhat sane, and inspiring me to not lose my sense of humor or my hope. They don’t get to have that. Love you. Thank you for being here, truly 🙏🏼❤️🩹
Love this so much. Little Angelina. I would have had a hard time with that question in kinder, too. I have been thinking of you all in LA... my husband is rocking out to "FireAid" right now as I type. A lovely artist sang Long December which I used to sing to my bestie far away and "if you think you might come to California, I wish you would, na na na na, na na na na na na na na na...." It got me in the feels. Anyway I get you, and I get Angelina, and I totally pray/chant/whatever when I hear sirens.
So strange, I responded to your comment last night, but my response has disappeared into the ether apparently, or I dreamt it, lol. I watched some of concert(s) and was really moved. It’s been exhausting and amazing and heartbreaking and heartening and all the things out here. So reassuring to see people showing up for each other, and it isn’t slowing down which is also good to see. The volunteer schedule for baby2baby came out for February at 6pm last night and all slots were filled by 9pm. Good stuff. My trunk is packed full of clothing donations.
I remind myself of these things when I start to feel hopeless. People are showing up and fighting back and trying to help each other, and it seems like we (those of us who are in agreement the world is not served by cruelty and chaos) are all praying for each other when we hear the sirens. And calling our senators and writing emails. Whatever it takes. Which is good because I think it’s going to take everything we’ve got. But also joy and laughter and at the very least, gallows humor and sarcasm. And great friends and books and all the other things that fill the tank. Anyway. I’m so glad you’re here, Mary Beth. And I’m sending you a lot of love ❤️