Did You Vote Yet?

 I dropped my ballot off at the Office of Elections last week. This week I have the usual writing class, physical therapy appointments and a probable dinner date with my brother and his wife.

I love my brother but politics has done a huge number on our relationship. It isn't the absolute horror of his supporting racist, misogynist policies but the lack of moral character he's shown himself to have. 

My very, most basic belief is that children should not go hungry and children should not get shot in the schools. That's my bottom of bottom lines. I don't believe anyone should go hungry, be homeless or get get shot. But the most bottom of my beliefs is children should be protected. And to say that to another human being and have that other person argue with you on those two issues: it ended something inside me. If your right to own a gun supersedes a child's right to stay alive during the school day, there's just something fundamentally wrong with you. If you can argue that some kids deserve hunger (no free school lunches, no free assistance) then there's something inhumane in you.

At this point, in this election, people are getting down to basics. It's no longer policies or budgets (although they matter), it's the basic moral fiber of America and how we see ourselves.

I don't want Kamala Harris to win because she's a democrat. I want her to win because she is what America stands for. She is born from immigrants, she was primarily raised by her mother post divorce (when she was 5) and she fought for every step she took. She was never a DEI candidate, she was simply the best candidate. 

Anyway, I have an assignment due for class tomorrow that I haven't finished and I want to take a nap. Vote. Vote. Vote.

Life Changing or Changing Lives?

 I've finished my postcards to Ohio and mailed them out. I've filled in my own ballot and will drop it off at the Office of Elections on Monday. I have donated. I wear my Cat Ladies for Kamala shirt when I'm going out where people will be.

I am, essentially, now done with the election. I have no more to give emotionally or financially. I'll repost from KamalaHQ on TikTok and Threads and of course, I'm speaking out. But it's only 2 weeks basically and I'm just going to plan my Nov 5 election watch party. I have physical therapy in the morning and I think a fruit tray and Cheetos is what I'll need. 

I've been going to a writing class on Mondays. It's at the senior center so it's focused on memoirs and I'm focused on fiction but I'm appreciating the experience. I'm the youngest in the class (huh) and it's all women. Some of these women have amazing life experiences: one was married to a diplomat, one was an AP journalist, one lived in Paris for years. I appreciate just hearing their stories.

I also appreciate the understanding that certain experiences have a lot to give, some a little and some none at all. The class has been a contrast: one day I walked out with my mind blown, the amount of knowledge that had been passed on was life changing. The very next week was dull, nothing to spark my interest, nothing to learn. Yet even realizing that some days you just show up is fine. 

One nugget of wisdom I received from the class: Write from the scar, not from the wound. (I'll let you take what you will from that. It blew my mind.)

Still and all, right now I'm completing obligations so that I can concentrate on what I want my life to feel like. I've spent so long trying to fit into structures where I didn't belong, now I get to rewrite these years to be my most happy, creative self and I'm starting to open the door to the possibilities of what that means.

I'm revisiting things that have worked for me in the past, trying to drop those things that don't fit. Press-on nails, caramel protein shakes and K-Dramas work. Cooking extravagantly, fast food and appointments don't work. Spending money is not good. Planning a vacation with my daughter is very good.

I'm learning my bliss. Life is seriously good.