We the People Did It!

Happy November! I am still reveling in the awesome results of the November 3 election. It feels as if a new era has begun and a decade-long nightmare is coming to an end. I know that things won't improve overnight, but I feel this is the fresh hopeful start that our country desperately needed. We are rejoicing with Hungary, Serbia and Brazil who also voted against authoritarianism in their recent elections. Thank you to everyone who voted and those who protested, organized, canvassed, mobilized and campaigned for change. I especially appreciate the Millennial and Generation Z voters. I am the proud mother of two beautiful souls from these two generations, All of our work is meant to build a brighter future for the younger generation.

October was an exciting month with the big party and celebration of Halloween. We live on "Halloween Street" where many homes (one in particular) put up elaborate decorations which draws hundreds of trick-or-treaters to our doors. We gave out 700 pieces of candy to about 625 kids! We were charmed by their costumes and impressed by their good manners and polite interactions (there were no tricks!)

Another delight of this fall season has been enjoying the beautiful foliage on the trees.. As readers know, I am a tree hugger and tree nerd. I have a special fondness for the large tulip trees with their lovely yellow tulip-shaped leaves. We took advantage of unusual sunny dry weather in October to visit numerous parks, gardens and farms.

At times I wonder why I continue to write blog posts as my readership is very low but at other times, I think it is worth continuing. I will have more to write about next month as I'm traveling again to an exciting and new location, and I'll be ready to wite an end-of-the-year report as we wrap up 2026. I plan to share how many books I've read this year, and how many poetry rejections I received. Between travel and working on voter turnout projects for the election, I haven't written as much as I would have liked in recent months. I did receive feedback on several poems and look foward to using it to revise and submit them.

Sending many thanks to all of the veterans as we observe Veteran's Day on November 11 (Remembrance Day in Canada). I'm a daughter of two veterans, so this day holds special significance for me.

November is also Native American Heritage Month and the month when we welcome the salmon home to the bodies of water where they were hatched following their long journeys out to sea here in the Pacific Northwest. "I acknowledge that I am writing this blog while on the land of the Snohomish and Coast Salish people. The Snohomish and Coast Salish People have lived on and stewarded these lands since the beginning of time and continue to do so today. I recognize that this Land Acknowledgement is but one small step toward true allyship and I commit to uplifting the voices, experiences, and histories of the indigenous people of this land and beyond." (statement adapted from the Land Acknowledgement read every Sunday as part of the liturgy in my community of faith - Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church in Seattle which is on the lands of the Duwamish people).

Speaking of "lifting up the voices and experiences of the indigenous people" - huge congratulations to New Mexico's Deb Haaland on making history as the first Native American woman elected governor! And in Minnesota, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan became the first Native American woman senator!

During this month of Thanksgiving, I am thankful for a gazillion blessings too numerous to list, thankful for the opportunity to write and share this blog and thankful for all who have read and continue to read it.

Blessings and gratitude,

Wild Honey - aka Marianne