I'll start with the tough stuff first.....what I am feeling post election:
*dismay
*disgust
*rage
*grief
*sadness
*fear
*loss
*disappointment
*anger
*heartbreak
*hopelessness
AND.....
Gratitude ....for everyone who voted for decency and democracy, everyone who campaigned for Kamala (especially proud of my great nephew, a Gen Z member of the Virginia Young Democrats who door knocked throughout the state!) Congrats to him and everyone in my beautiful blue birthstate for garnering a win for her in that state. I'm also profoundly grateful to live on the blue West Coast....love the safe space that is Washington State and our beloved blue getaway, Hawaii. Hate may have been the winner nation wide, but Aloha love reigns in these places of refuge and others.
Gratitude also to Kamala and Coach Tim for running a flawless campaign. I especially appreciate how outspoken they were about women's rights, their respect for veterans and those currently serving in the military, and their specific economic plans such as expansion of the child tax credit, a federal ban on price gouging, lowering the cost of prescription drugs, tax cuts for builders of affordable homes for first time homebuyers, up to $25,000 for down payment assistance for first time homebuyers, $50,000 deduction for small business startups, $6,000 for new parents, opening up thousands of government jobs to people without college degrees, protecting Social Security, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act, blocking hedge funds from buying up residential property to drive up rental prices and much more.....sounds better than tarrifs and tax cuts for billionaires, the only plan offered up by Kamala's opponent.
Action Items/to do list for moving forward - the Resistance and Disturbance Movement:
Sit with my sadness as long as it takes ....be still and know that I don't belong in the mainstream and accept my position as an outsider and a resister
Take care of myself and those nearest and dearest to me and those in my community who are most vulnerable and in need.
Distance myself from harborers of hate - religious institutions and churches who are against a woman's right to abortion care, and hateful toward immigrants, the LGBTQIA+ community and other marginalized people
Distance myself from so-called "decent, nice" people who act in ways that reveal their misogyny and racism and whose values don't align with my own (I've already done this with two former "friends".....I've "cleaned house" and probably am not done).
Continue to contribute to abortion funds
Face all the horrible facts and learn how to live in this darkness....like somehow turn on a little light and participate in one little act of resistance each day, which sometimes will simply be doing something that brings me joy or helps someone in need
Be in real life community with like-minded people (a community can be as little as three people).....engage with my tribe, know who my real friends are and fight the good fight ....Kamala said when we fight, we win, but sometimes when we fight we lose, but win or lose, I'm not going down without a fight and millions of us are not going back!
Support progressive communities of faith like my own
Carefully monitor my intake of all media, especially Social Media and main stream media which has failed us so miserably by sane washing insanity
I confess that I have a fantasy/prayer/wish/dream and sliver of hope that we will wake up from this nightmare and evidence will show that it has all been a big mistake. I confess that I pretend that I live in a separate country that consists of Washington, Oregon, California and Hawaii with an ally in the Northeast. I call it the Big Blue Bubble.
I totally understand how many young women are becoming part of the 4BMovement in response to the unbelievable misogyny in the Divided States.
So this list is a work in progress and i will be adding to it as time goes on.
And then there's Veteran's Day and I think the photo above says all I need to say about it as a daughter of two veterans who are right now "turning over in their graves" as the saying goes. Also, I don't know how anyone having read the quote below could have then voted for a convicted felon who has shown such disrespect for our veterans and military service members. Actually, I do know, but that's another entire blog post.
"He (Trump) is the most dangerous person ever....I realize he's a total fascist. He is now the most dangerous person to this country."
~Former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair in the Trump Admin., Retired General Mark Milley
Thank You, General Milley, for speaking your truth - prayers for you and all veterans on this dark day in history.
And Thank You, Governor Newsom, for these fighting words on behalf of the great FREE state of California. I know that Governor Bob Ferguson (WA) and others are right there with you:
Also in regards to Veteran's Day and my father, a Purple Heart Veteran and survivor of the WWII battles of Saipan and Okinawa, I'm thankful to Colin James Sturdevant, editor of table/FEAST Literary Magazine and his editorial staff for including my poem, "Orchids on Okinawa" in the latest online issue of the magazine (my poem is on page 16). A print edition will be available in the spring of 2025. This poem was selected as the winner in the poetry category of the magazine's contest for writers over 50 and included a cash prize! Many thanks to poetry judge Lee Anne Beckham Carlson for selecting my poem, a tribute to my father.. Kudos to table/FEAST for donating a portion of the proceeds from their sales to non-profits or charities tied to food or nourishment.
And in more happy news ...this from my beautiful blue birth state of Virginia...I had a lovely reading and launch party for "In the Grip of Grace" at The Clapboard House in my college town of Wise, VA. Many thanks to owner Travis Kennedy and his staff for hosting me, to his beautiful gracious mother, Bonnie Aker, for the refreshments and to everyone who attended, purchased books, brought their books for me to sign and shared kind comments. It was such a memorable event!
Many thanks to Tori Villiard, staff member at my alma mater, The University of Virginia at Wise, for interviewing me and writing this wonderful article. In addition to writing articles for the alumni newsletter and school website, Tori is also a poet herself and a photographer! Her photos from the reading are included in the article, and below are a few that my husband took at the reading.
Happy Native American Heritage Month! I am writing this blog and posting it from the traditional lands of the Hawaiian People on the beautiful island of Maui.
Yours in the fight, in the resistance, in the love and hope,
Aloha,
Marianne (aka Wild Honey)
At the beginning of the reading, Travis introduces the store manager and his boss, Keller the Kitty and Wild Honey presents him with a special souvenir from Seattle - a tasty salmon treat! Keller is a blind kitty who lives full time at the store.
I loved reading my poems on this beautifully decorated stage!
Such a welcoming sign, and such a glorious fall day - perfect for a poetry reading!
The poet relaxing after the reading in Virgnia's beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains where she was born and raised. "Country Roads, Take Me Home, To the Place I Belong...."
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