Thanks for this, Greg. It brought tears, but that’s not saying much in my case in these days. This miserable, hellacious four years is grinding toward its supposed end but with the promise of yet more frustration and nastiness still to come. While we may expect great relief in having a competent leadership again, it appears that the opposition will seek to maintain, even enlarge on its assaults on the truth, justice, and the American way. I weep frequently these days and have been now for a while, usually out of the blue (so to speak) and without a known trigger, because life is difficult enough under regular conditions even when we’re not being constantly assaulted and threatened by a madman and his minions. It’s been the most terrible two years for my family, having lost my 15 y.o. grandson, and now so many in grief for the hundreds of thousands of family and countrymen to this hideous disease, actually promoted by the hellbeast in our W.H. The end of a terrible era is just ahead, but another is coming when resistance may give way to relief and we may find ourselves finally able to process and name these feelings and accept the pain all about us.
I'm so sorry for your loss, Mark. My condolences to you and your family. We have all been traumatized, in the literal sense of the word, by this man and his actions these last four years. I look forward to national healing. We all need it. Thanks for sharing.
In less than a year my beloved dog Scout, and then beyond horror, my g’son succumbs to cyber bullying and inept support from his school and takes his own life...one year to the day later, the isolation of the pandemic began. It all serves to remind that one has only two choices when faced with real adversity: either lie down, give up and die or proceed forward as best one may. I refuse to allow his manner of passing to cause my downfall and define my demise as his legacy, as I also refuse to allow the misguided actions of trumpists to create despair. Thank you so much for your perspective that has helped greatly with the latter.
Mark, if Substack had a "caring" emoji of some sort, that is what I would have chosen for both your comments. I am also very sorry and sad for your loss(es), and commend you for your bravery in sharing. May you continue to find strength in the coming days to proceed forward, one foot in front of the other, as best you can. Goddess bless.
Thanks for this, Greg. It brought tears, but that’s not saying much in my case in these days. This miserable, hellacious four years is grinding toward its supposed end but with the promise of yet more frustration and nastiness still to come. While we may expect great relief in having a competent leadership again, it appears that the opposition will seek to maintain, even enlarge on its assaults on the truth, justice, and the American way. I weep frequently these days and have been now for a while, usually out of the blue (so to speak) and without a known trigger, because life is difficult enough under regular conditions even when we’re not being constantly assaulted and threatened by a madman and his minions. It’s been the most terrible two years for my family, having lost my 15 y.o. grandson, and now so many in grief for the hundreds of thousands of family and countrymen to this hideous disease, actually promoted by the hellbeast in our W.H. The end of a terrible era is just ahead, but another is coming when resistance may give way to relief and we may find ourselves finally able to process and name these feelings and accept the pain all about us.
I'm so sorry for your loss, Mark. My condolences to you and your family. We have all been traumatized, in the literal sense of the word, by this man and his actions these last four years. I look forward to national healing. We all need it. Thanks for sharing.
In less than a year my beloved dog Scout, and then beyond horror, my g’son succumbs to cyber bullying and inept support from his school and takes his own life...one year to the day later, the isolation of the pandemic began. It all serves to remind that one has only two choices when faced with real adversity: either lie down, give up and die or proceed forward as best one may. I refuse to allow his manner of passing to cause my downfall and define my demise as his legacy, as I also refuse to allow the misguided actions of trumpists to create despair. Thank you so much for your perspective that has helped greatly with the latter.
Mark, if Substack had a "caring" emoji of some sort, that is what I would have chosen for both your comments. I am also very sorry and sad for your loss(es), and commend you for your bravery in sharing. May you continue to find strength in the coming days to proceed forward, one foot in front of the other, as best you can. Goddess bless.
Seventeen more days . . .
. . . and counting
I went down to the river,
I set down on the bank.
I tried to think but couldn't,
So I jumped in and sank.
I came up once and hollered!
I came up twice and cried!
If that water hadn't a-been so cold
I might've sunk and died.
But it was Cold in that water! It was cold!
I took the elevator
Sixteen floors above the ground.
I thought about my baby
And thought I would jump down.
I stood there and I hollered!
I stood there and I cried!
If it hadn't a-been so high
I might've jumped and died.
But it was High up there! It was high!
So since I'm still here livin',
I guess I will live on.
I could've died for love—
But for livin' I was born
Though you may hear me holler,
And you may see me cry—
I'll be dogged, sweet baby,
If you gonna see me die.
Life is fine! Fine as wine! Life is fine!
—Langston Hughes
1949
Great choice. Thank you, Greg.