Meditations in an Emergency
Plus a cool tracker for birds!
One of my favorite writers, Charlie Sykes1, authored a piece this morning that helped clarify some of the feelings that have been stirring in my heart all week:
This is the comment I left:
I feel what you're saying about what MAGA has done to the American heart. As I struggled with my emotions about the ugliness ascendent this week, I realized that I've given up on the goodness of the American people. 2021 broke a lot of things inside me -- both the coup and seeing how people acted during COVID. I started thinking things like "how on earth can we get people to care about wildlife and the environment when they won't even wear a fucking mask to go shopping for a giant screen tv?" And then Trump got reelected. I don't know how to move forward without cynicism in believing in the goodness of people anymore.
So that’s where I’ve been this week. That realization made me sad. I want to believe in the inherent goodness of others. It’s hard to focus on the positive these days.
Housework, cooking, and birdsong helped. As do you, kind readers.
Side note — the comments section at Charlie’s place is what I’m looking to cultivate here — a hangout spot with familiar “faces” where we have fun and civil discussions.
Let’s support each other through these trying times.
Speaking of birdsong — I learned about this cool thing this morning:
Apparently Richmond had 116,400 birds crossing our skies last night!
How many birds were in your neck of the woods?
Since it’s National Parks Week — an update on our parks:
More Than Just Parks also just launched this interactive map where you can explore the public lands currently under threat.
One thing that this week hit me over the head with is the power of nature and animals to cure what ails your spirit.
So I’ve been working on making our balcony more of an urban oasis — video coming tomorrow in a Very Special Virginia Snapshot 😂
This guy always makes me feel better when he’s not driving me crazy:
Let’s all support each other and find purpose in these trying times.
Thanks for being here, readers.
You should all be subscribing for the vocabulary words and dog pics alone.
I saw your comment on Charlie's post, and I quite agree. It's hard to know how to view my fellow Americans anymore. I don't know quite how to process that so many still support him. Have they accepted the propaganda or do they actually agree with his actions. It's mind-blowing.
I hope you get to feeling good enough about things to write about cheese again! 🧀🧀😋
Hang in there. "This, too, shall pass."
As of 11:03 PM, 11,300 birds crossed over Los Angeles County. I had no idea. I have heard some geese fly over our home a few times, though. I like to run to the window to see them fly in formation.