8 June 2020: Daily + a silent, yet energizing protest

Last Friday, the boys’ school announced a silent protest in support of the equity, justice, and peace needed to end the systemic racism plaguing our country. Of course I jumped at this and immediately offered to be a block captain (my mother made me promise NOT to go downtown last weekend which really brought me down, even though I understood, so tonight’s event, school sanctioned!, was just what I needed to sate my activist hunger).

Ultimately, 1,000 of us joined tonight at socially distant intervals spanning a more than 1.5-mile distance from school south: students, siblings, parents, teachers, alums, the head of school, and board members brought masks, signs, water, love, and determination to our 90-minute event. It was profoundly energizing and inspiring, and although it was hot as heck, the kids kept their masks on, delighted in all the honks and cheers we received from drivers, raised their fists, and were even flipped off a couple times. They took that beautifully in stride. Jack said, “I don’t care that someone flipped me off, but if you’re flipping off this message, that Black Lives Matter, then you are really pathetic.” Indeed, honey.

#SidwellFriendsStand #SFSforjustice

in front of school after the protest; signs will be turned into an installation.

Dare we feel hope, friends?

1 June 2020: A vigil

Just before lunch today, some neighbors and I met in a traffic circle median in our neighborhood. Masked and distant, we sat in disbelief, worry, anger, and heartbreak, and then we planned.

Tonight, just before 8, T, J, O, and I, plus my dearest K, joined so very many others streaming into our neighborhood park. Candles and flashlights in hand, masks donned, hearts heavy, we gathered. The news today has been so terribly chilling. After a brief introduction, we knelt in silence for nine minutes in memory of George Floyd and in solidarity with Black Lives Matter. I felt some hope in this communion of neighbors, friends, and strangers.

We are deeply thankful to all who came. And I thank you, my dear Jack, for helping distribute flyers today.

31 May 2020: The country burns

I am in my backyard getting spectacularly drunk. I have worked my ass off today, largely to process the burning, quaking fire I feel inside every time I look at the news. America is burning, and our “president” and his people are useless, loathsome, abhorrent, vile, deplorable specks of toxic mold gleefully, ignorantly throwing fuel on the pyre of our country.

I am so thankful to all the people marching for justice, despite enormous threats to their own safety. The NY and Minneapolis police departments are OUT OF CONTROL. Protect and serve, my ass. If you haven’t watched footage from MN and NY from the weekend, gird yourselves, sit down, and tune in.

I implore you to listen. LISTEN. Don’t make it about you. Don’t make equivalencies. Just listen. And then figure out how you can do something to make change.

If you need a lighter moment, I offer you this two-legged cat who is a despair antidote.