Numbed in November
“To survive what’s headed our way — global climate disruption, a new pandemic, additional authoritarian governments — and to endure, we will have to stretch our imaginations. We will need to trust each other, because today, it’s as if every safe place has melted into the sameness of water. We are searching for the boats we forgot to build.”
Barry Lopez, Embrace Fearlessly the Burning World
I am sorry. I cannot write my newsletter this week. I am appalled, numbed, worried, and sad.
That being written, please know that I value the community of people who read my newsletter, the thoughts you share with me and the rest of the community, and that I truly believe in the importance of community in helping each of us to persevere and persist in troubling times.
I plan to return next week with a story about Great Blue Herons but for now I am taking stock of what I am doing with this newsletter, how I want to proceed with it for the future, and how I can make a positive difference.
We will move forward and ahead.
Sincerely,
David
I too sat in numbed silence yesterday. I have faith in our democracy. I believe that there can be recovery even after four more years of disruptive, dangerous governance. Short of a nuclear armageddon , we can come out of this. I am hopeful that midterms will turn the tide after two years. Part of my sadness comes from an identity crisis. I have always believed as an American we are open, kind and generous. We have enough resources for everyone if everyone pays their fair share. It shakes my self identity that as a nation we have chosen a mean spirited, self serving grasping and vulgar tyrant to represent us. I am grateful to be in a blue state with local government that can insulate us for a while. I am preparing to be generous and kind to climate and political refugees alike
David I hope you get some healing time with the trees in your backyard and more. This is a week to give our hearts some space and care. I hope you keep writing - your essays always bring me some joy and a smile and a reminder to take a good look around. We will need those moments going forward.