Where I am right now, #4

After the aftermath.

The days right after the election were pretty horrible. I felt sad, betrayed, inadequate. The worst President in American history was elected a second time, because a crucial number of voters just couldn’t pull that lever for a woman. Yes, she’s Black, and America is a racist country. But a Black man got elected to that job, twice. I despaired, and I know a lot of you did, too. All the energy, all the excitement of the fall… and then the lies, and the big money, and Elon, and RFK Jr. — and Sauron wins again. At that point I was ready to just give up.

But I knew I wouldn’t, even when I sort of curled up into a ball. I knew I’d be back. In a different way. Letting other, more energetic people strategize. Following their lead. Intervening where I can. Waiting for something big to offer the opportunity for serious change. And if it doesn’t in my lifetime, it will eventually. These will be hard times, but as AR Moxon of The Reframe says, what we need to do right now is find each other, and hold on.

So as the new year approaches, I want to offer you all a handhold, and show you what I did to seal the deal with the future. Many of you knew, even if only electronically, my cat Bella, who died two years ago. I’ve been a catless Childless Cat Lady ever since. Well, the same vet practice who found me Bella has found me these two. Petra and Mo. Ten years old, together since they were kittens, living at the vet as allergy refugees until they found a new home.

They found one.

We can do this. We have to do this. Find each other, hold on, and let’s do this.

Here’s to 2025.