Blood Relations

When I heard about the death of Tatian Schlossberg, many times referenced was the article she recently wrote for The New Yorker so I went in search of it. Titled "the battle with my blood" online and "the further shore" in print - it is incredibly heart wrenching and moving and reflective, and in light of her passing this week, incredibly sad. But what really stood out to me is the very near, direct and clear observation she has about her cousin, Robert Kennedy, who holds the position of "secretary of health and human services", a title that belies his ignorance, inexperience and now ruinous nature for this country. What an incredibly distinct agony the Kennedy Family must be experiencing by being a family-related victim to this man's very cruel whims. And for the rest of the world, though likely not related to this ignoramus, victims nonetheless.

I am tired of trying to be balanced about this heartless administration and the fools that are in charge of our future (whether it be health, culture, community, or natural spaces - and they are, in charge of every one of these categories). I have no patience for those that support them, quietly, or the flag-waving types, who try to explain away their ridiculous choices of hurting people with the word "policy."

If you are a fan of any part of this administration and are willing to sit by and watch what happens, or even worse, support what is happening, I am speechless. Literally. I have nothing to say to you. I can offer no mindfulness, or creativity, or spirit or humanity that would penetrate what you have committed to. Do not look at what I put into the world as something you can relate to or want to be a part of, because if you stand with this administration and the people that, not only uphold these cruel and crazy 'policies' but invent them, and raise a hand to join in and enact their vapid language and 'laws', if today's particular date doesn't raise the hackles on your neck for what our very recent history has wrought, then we have little to nothing in common anymore... I suggest you try and draw what you need from the sinking ship that is drowning this country in cruelty.

Book. Mark.

I read a lot of books and I get them almost exclusively from the library.  Now that there's no late fines, I'm usually late in returning the books (that fine kept me in line!).  Not super late, sometimes just a day.  But mostly, I go online beforehand and renew, renew, renew until I can renew no more!

Then, I pile up the books by the door, getting them all ready to go.  I check for tabs I've marked- write down the bits I wanted to remember, or copy pages I want to send to friends.

I got a message from the library the last time I dropped off the books.  It was someone describing a bookmark they'd found inside one of my returned books.  They described it to me on the voicemail like this:  "a picture of someone" (it's my friend, Mr. Fox) and the year is 2007, it's black and grey..." ( at this point, for me, no more description is necessary- i mean, how many bookmarks look like this?) and (they continue) if it's mine and i want it back, please let them know.  They could pop it in the mail (omg, how generous!) or I could pick it up.  I called right back:  Yes!  It's mine!  Yes!  I want it!  Yes!  I'll come pick it up!

When I logged onto the library's website, and then into my account in particular, there was a note I'd never seen before: "Bookmark, wrapped in paper, in the lost and found drawer.  She knows."

I don't know why, but it was the 'she knows' bit that really did it for me and brought me great joy!