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The Wild Honey Buzz: Keeping Hope Alive in 2025, February Edition: Sending Valentines, Sending Love

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Heart Shaped Donut Cake made from scratch by my son who is a pretty good cook like his dad!
Heart Shaped Donut Cake made from scratch by my son who is a pretty good cook like his dad!

"Tyranny is eroded by a sea of small acts." ~ US Congresswoman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC)


In the midst of the chaos, uncertainty and suffering in the world now, there is also a great deal of loving action helping alleviate some of that suffering. There are many good, decent and caring people who are performing small acts of kindness, resistance and opposition, and I applaud and celebrate them all. I am especially grateful for the love of my immediate family and those nearest and dearest to me. Happy Valentine's Day to all!


In addition to sending lots of love to my top sweethearts (you know who you are and my love for you is immeasurable!), I'd like to acknowledge the following people:


A Valentine to The Right Reverent Mariann Budde, the Episcopal Bishop who gave the powerful sermon at Washington National Cathedral.....Bravo...this was a tremendous blessing to so many people! Thank you, Bishop Budde, for preaching truth to power! For anyone wishing to mail her a valentine or thank you card of support, here is her address:


The Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde

Episcopal Church House

Mount St. Aban

Washington, DC 20016-5094

USA


A Valentine to those who refused to attend the inauguration of the elected felon: Michelle Obama (always a class act, even though I disagree with your strategy of "when they go low, we go high...I say we stick it to them!), Congresswoman AOC (love you and how you mince no words and speak with such courage, conviction and honesty) and Mrs. Pence (I'm not fan of your husband, but I do like how you refused to shake the felon's hand at Jimmy Carter's funeral).


Congressman Jamie Raskin, you are a "rascal" of the best kind and I love how you give em' hell on the floor, so I'm sending you a Valentine.....and drum roll here.....for the QUEEN of Congress....I have a Valentine for Jasmine Crockett, the preacher's daughter who delivers the best sermons on the hill....thank you! Sending you a huge Valentine! Keep preaching the truth, Sister!!


A Valentine to the firefighters who battled the fires in Los Angeles and to everyone who lent assistance to those impacted, especially World Central Kitchen, to whom I sent a donation.


Valentines to U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan and other judges who are serving as a guardrail against the illegal actions taken by the felon in the White House. Thank you to former President Joe Biden for nominating a large number of federal judges who are now helping fight the fascist regime.


A Valentine to the incomparable Heather Cox Richardson who is my number one source for news. I adore her daily "Letters to an American." I also love the ladies from Oklahoma who share their opinions on Ihip News. They are a bright blue spot in a deep red state, like salmon swimming upstream against the tide. I'm sending a valentine to former trial lawyer, Elizabeth Cronise McLaughlin of Resistance Live...love your direct no-nonsense New York style! And I have a crush on Ben Meiselas of Meidas Touch Network so I'm sending him a Valentine, and to all of the voices of dissent on this fabulous alternative news outlet.


Valentines to the presidents of Canada and Mexico for fighting back in the aftermath of the tariffs proposed by the felon, and to all of you Canadians who booed the Divided (we are certainly not united!) States National anthem at the hockey games - Bravo!! Good for you!


Valentines to the people who were lucky enough to get out of the 13 states with abortion bans ("Economists at Georgia Tech reported in a paper published this month that by mid-2023, these states had a net loss of an estimated 144,000 residents per year" ....thanks to Jessica Craven for sharing this info...I'm sending a Valentine to you! Also, prayers to anyone living in these states who'd like to leave but cannot. (If you live in a state with an abortion ban and need to travel to get care or know someone who does, you can get in touch with Elevated Access, an organization that works with private volunteer pilots to coordinate free flights out of those states). Elevated Access is one of my favorite charities. They also transport people who need gender affirming care. Another writer who does a great job of reporting on abortion rights is Jessica Valenti....love how closely your last name resembles Valentine.....sending you a Valentine as well! A big beautiful Valentine also goes to staunch supporter of reproductive freedom, New York Governor Kathy Hochul who signed an additional law to further protect doctors in her state who ship abortion medication to anti-choice states. This was in response to an attempt by Louisiana to charge a New York doctor with a crime. Governor Hochul said in her press conference after signing the bill, "there is no way in hell I will extradite our doctor to be prosecuted in another state...never!" Thank you Governor Hochul!!


A Valentine to author Michael Harriot for writing your book, "Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America." This should be required reading in every high school history class in the country and I highly recommend it for any of us who were taught a whitewashed version of American history. Blessings to you, Michael, during this Black History Month.


Valentines to the Girl Scouts of America who have always promoted diversity, equity and inclusion and best wishes to you on this year's cookie sales....you can order from Trans Girls here. Sending a Valentine to another favorite business --- COSTCO!! I'm so thankful we don't have to boycott you!!


A Valentine to General Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who warned us of the dangers the dictator posed and as a result had his portrait removed from the White House, along with his security protection, actions of retribution taken by FFOTUS (first felon of the United States). In honor of my parents who were both veterans of the US Army, I'm posting General Milley's portrait here since it was taken down in the White House. Thank you, General Milley for speaking the truth and former President Biden for issuing him a pardon as a means of protection against additional retribution.



"Trump is a total fascist."  ~Gen. Milley
"Trump is a total fascist." ~Gen. Milley

A Valentine to Open Books: A Poem Emporium, for adding my book, "In the Grip of Grace" to your website! Here is the link for ordering. Open Books is a very special bookstore located in Seattle that is devoted to the promotion of poetry and carries primarily poetry books in addition to hosting poetry readings.


My list of Valentine recipients above is not an exhaustive one. There are many many small acts of love and resistance and opposition taking place and many awesome voices being raised in defense of our rights and in defense of those Jesus called "the least of these" in his sermon in the Gospel of Matthew (25:31-46) which is the basis of true Christianity. To everyone in the fight for freedom and justice, I send my love!


I will end this blog with some exciting writing news: I will be attending the National Conference of the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) in Los Angeles March 26 - 29, and will be signing books at the Finishing Line Press Booth! If you happen to be at the conference, please come by and say hello, and I look forward to sharing about the conference on this blog in April and to sharing some live updates on instagram! Valentines to all of the writers, poets and teachers!!


Keep hope alive!


All my love,

Marianne (aka Wild Honey)

















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