A woman became Vice President this week. Not only a woman, but a woman of color. And the world went wild over a youth poet’s inspiring poem and performance. Finally— not a return to normalcy but movement forward. We can “let out that breath we didn’t know we were holding,” as so many YA authors have jokingly tweeted. Because pettiness has retired to Florida and it appears truth, transparency, and humanity will have their day again.
Will I hold the new administration accountable for the promises they made during their campaign? Hell yes, I will. Because when I vote for someone, they don’t have my unconditional support; they have to step up and do shit. But these two do have my confidence. And this week, they have my gratitude because turning on the news didn’t send me into a heightened state of anxiety, it made me— dare I say it— hopeful.
Sunday
This was a good week. For lots of reasons… And I think I deserved a good week.
I mulled over the feedback I received from the editor and put up my brainstorming wall, which kind of makes me giddy. I set goals and got excited about my writing again… SO EXCITED… I got a second chapter critiqued in the Wednesday night group, was able to join Kath for a woman’s writing event via Zoom, and had great conversations with my morning writing group (which I like to refer to as the Black Cat Crew because four of us have black kitties— Sammy is still with me in spirit).
I’m starting to feel like a real writer. Writing is so much of my life now, and that makes me unbelievably happy.
Monday
MLK day gave me an extra day of rest and let me settle into living totally alone without Sammy (though the new stray kitty has been hanging around more). I miss him terribly at times— so terribly it constricts my throat and makes it hard to get air to my lungs— but I also feel him here with me strongly still. In my heart he cuddles with me every night and keeps my insides warm. It try not to think about the last beat of his heart when I felt it go, but when I do, I let myself ugly cry and take comfort in knowing that the pain is there because love was here. And even in those moments of loneliness, I find beauty in how much that grief makes me feel that love again.
Tuesday
And when I stop crying, I go back to living my life knowing that it is precious. This week I took the time to watch the pretty snowfalls, and I enjoyed shoveling— feeling the crisp air clean my lungs and the physical labor awaken my muscles.
Time froze a little Tuesday night when the mantra “one more day, one more day” started feeling a bit like trying to convince ourselves of that, and the news shows were still focused on tRump and the will-he-won’t-he speculation around whether there’d truly be a peaceful transfer of power, but—
Wait. Think about that. There was speculation and real fear that the transfer of power wouldn’t be peaceful. That was the state of things under tRump.
Wednesday
But then came Wednesday. And Amanda Gormon telling us:
When day comes we step out of the shade, aflame and unafraid, the new dawn blooms as we free it. For there is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it.
Yaaaas, queen!!!
Thursday
So many good things came out of Wednesday. A reversal of the Muslim ban, a federal mask mandate, re-entrance into the Paris climate accords, an executive order strengthening protection of LGBTQ+ rights…
And some fan-fucking-tastic Bernie memes.
Some college kids created a “Put Bernie Anywhere” site. The picture I made and sent to my parents shows Bernie angry that the town wanted to cut down my favorite childhood tree. It also freaked my dad out because he forgot it was winter and thought someone was actually sitting outside their house.
Friday
The rest of the week went by quickly. My mom visited a few times because apparently my ceilings need to be painted (she just does these things sometimes), and we finally, mercifully, wrapped up our argumentative essays in English class. I’m looking forward to starting a novel study with the kids.
Saturday
Saturday was a writing day… and a missing Sammy day. And a playing piano day (I may have also binge-watched a little Nailed It).
All in all, not a bad week.