Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends!
My sister is down visiting me this lovely Thanksgiving weekend, so this post will be short and hopefully mostly sweet.
I haven’t made any further progress on my mermaid painting, in case you were wondering. The weather has been good again and I’ve been going out on many a fall walk, to enjoy it. I hope to post some progress made by next weekend.
I occasionally dream about my late husband. They are not nice dreams. In the dreams I am anxious that he will find out I threw out (almost) all his stuff and completely overhauled his building since he died. A couple of nights ago when he appeared in a dream is the first time that I actually spoke up and told him that I knew he cheated on me. Which left me wondering what this means, when I awoke. I usually wake up and wonder why I didn’t confront him with this in the dream, so I guess this is improvement and healthy on the part of my psyche? Any dream interpreters out there with thoughts on this?
Like every other sane woman on the planet with internet access, I am disgusted by what is happening in the US right now. Looks like the patriarchy is not going away anytime soon. I had thought we were making (infinitesimally) slow but steady progress towards a more just world (for anybody, everybody…not just white cis males) since I was a child, but looks like any progress that was being made can be wiped out in an instant. Since Trump, the bigots, racists and misogynists feel free to come parading out of their closets and fly their freak flags openly. And this has spilled over to Canada too. WTF?
I could be (and maybe should be) losing my shit over this but I am just so tired of it all. Just. So. Tired.
I was a fierce crusader against injustice when I was a preteen/young teen and I got burnt out at a young age. My mother told me once that she and Dad were happy I was born too late to be a “hippy” because they were sure I would have run away to join Greenpeace to save the whales, the planet, whatever they were saving at that time (I forget). I probably would have too.
(Back then, one of my teachers at junior high told my mother that I carry the weight of the world on my shoulders. No wonder I need regular massage therapy for that area…hehehe.)
But not any more. I just want to be left alone to enjoy what’s left of my time here in peace. And Trump et al are fucking that up for me. Bringing back all the memories and the feels of what I have endured as a woman in a patriarchal society, and yes, #MeToo.
Anywho, since I can’t pretend I can save the world anymore, at least I can put on a kickass Thanksgiving dinner and enjoy the simple, satisfying pleasure of feeding, and spending time with, my family. Those that can make it to dinner, that is. Which is my plan for this October Sunday.
I wish the same for all of you. Give thanks today for what you can control, and – just for a moment, at least – forget about what you can’t.
Rock on,
The WB
I’ve never been politically involved until now. I’m so upset by all this …so disappointed in those three people who voted yes.
I worry now that many of us will feel so bummed out, that people will lose their fire to keep up the fight.
Contacting our Congress people seems to do no good. They don’t listen.
The most we can do is vote and we must..all of us.
Yes Mary – please vote and convince others in the US to do so as well. There is a municipal election coming up this month in my province, and I will be voting for every female candidate in my area. So fucking sick of the patriarchy right now and always.But especially right now.
Just. So. Tired. I totally understand! And, let’s give thanks for what we can control. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you Janet!
So much to think about in your blog today! On dreams, I do think it shows progress in recovery from all that you’ve been through. My “ex husband dreams” evolved over time, starting with nightmares, followed by confrontation, and eventually reaching peace of mind. My wish for you – one night soon, you’ll have a dream and ask him what the f@#% he is doing there in it!!
On losing one’s shit over today’s politics, I could go on and on. It’s so disappointing. Yesterday, a friend of mine shared this essay with me https://progressive.org/op-eds/howard-zinn-despair-supreme-court/. I was so angry with how the supreme court nominee, misconduct accusations aside, would be considered a serious candidate after his “shit show” of a testimony (if a woman had behaved like that sniveling and being rude to others she would have been OUT!) The Zinn essay, 13 years old, was relevant and calming for me now. This morning, my niece pointed out a site on Facebook called “Man who has it all,” a satirical look at reverse discrimination. I highly recommend it for a laugh.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving Sunday!
Thank you Tracey! I guess I’m now at the confrontation stage, which means progress – woohoo! I will check out those sites, thanks!
You still have a lot of kickassery left in you and you gave a good chunk of it today. Great post – well said.
I too am so very disgusted and tired of it all.
Happy Thanksgiving. Shrug off the cares of the world and enjoy your family time ❤️
Same to you pal!
I was disgusted. Now I’m filled with more energy than ever. I have added 2 more candidates to my rotation of volunteering. I will be volunteering these 4 days, off on vacation for 2 weeks and when I come back will hit the ground running – volunteering all day, every day.
Fuck the Patriarchy. It’s a dinosaur. It will die. and Fuck Nazis and White Supremacists too.
#1 VOLUNTEER. We are in the crucial last month before the Nov. 6 election. Candidates need you. Pick those who have a good chance to FLIP IT BLUE. I have one sure fire win for a Democrat and 4 flip it blues I’m working on. There’s a lot you can do that doesn’t involve canvassing – stuffing envelopes, #postcardstovoters, delivering yard signs.
#2 DONATE. The hottest seats right now is Beto ORourke in TX, Andrew Janz in CA, Jason Crow in CO, and Harley Rouda. If we flipped these seats it would be PHENOMENAL and send a BIG MESSAGE.
#3 CUT BACK ON THE MEDIA. They are all doom and gloom and are very pro-Trump – putting him as invincible. He isn’t. They want you to lose hope. There’s a good chance if we flip it blue that Kavanaugh will be impeached – yes he can be indicted on the SCOTUS and he can also be disbarred. Flip it Blue and it happens.
Well Widow as you know I’m still thinking of leaving the US but first, I’m going to fight and see what November brings. Blue Showers is what I’m hoping.
Showers? How about a blue flood? Thanks Becky. Remember to breathe! I’ll be walking the streets of my village and placing flyers in mailboxes for a local female candidate, running for Regional Chair. I wish I still had your energy and fervour. You go, girl!
Oh it’s going to be a flood if Becky has ANYTHING TO DO ABOUT IT.
Not sure what to make of your dreams, but it does sound like progress. As for the shit show in the US – I am so outraged and feeling so helpless. Good news for Bill Cosby if he appeals to the Supreme Court, he’ll now have at least 2 partners in crime to set him free. With the Abuser in Chief (that less than half the country voted for) setting the tone, we are so screwed as women. The next big women’s march is November 6th when we step into the polling booths. There are a lot of decent men in America, I hope they step up and vote too. Meanwhile, we breathe, we fight, and we turn off the news. Carry on my friend!
Amen to that!
You too my friend!
Hey Deb, this is a dream thing I got a few years ago that has been helpful to me in interpreting dreams I have had. Maybe it will shed some light on yours. Actually it’s a PDF and I don’t think I can post it here because it isn’t a link to anything online. I’ll try sending it to the email your posts come from.
Thanks Susan, I look forward to that!
Hi, Deb – When I started blogging, I made a commitment to myself not to post about politics. I am now no longer sure that I can keep this commitment forever. Your post, and the comments that it generated, are just what I needed to read right now. Breathe. Fight. Volunteer, Donate. Turn Off the News. Vote Out Old White Men Who are Resistant to Change. That is all excellent advice — and strongly beat the alternatives!
Thanks Donna! Yeah, I don’t like talking about politics either BUT…I don’t think we have a choice anymore…it’s getting so egregious out there.
Happy Thanksgiving, my friend. I hope you enjoyed the day.
Thank you my dear Reticula! It was lovely.
Happy Thanksgiving Deb, I am glad you had a great time with friends and family. Hubby and I didn’t have any big dinner or anything this year but we had a pleasant time none the less. As far as the patriarchy I am sick to death of it too. It is amazing how what happens and is tolerated in the U.S. makes it’s way across our border too – I guess we are a very connected society after all. Anyway, I feel your lethargy as I cannot muster the passion I used to possess fighting injustice, either. Trump makes me sick as does the fact that he got enough votes to gain power. That means there are a lot of people that agree with him.Ugh, I too am Just. So. Tired of it all too.
Thank you Susan. Glad you had a nice day. The colours must be amazing for you right now! I think we’re all so tired and in disbelief that this shit is still going on. I remember seeing a picture of an elderly woman at The Women’s March holding a placard that said “I can’t believe I still have to protest this shit.” Yep, that’s how we all feel 😒
You are right there, Deb, the colours up here in the north are exceptional this year. The world is going the &*#@ in a hand basket that is for sure.
I vacillate between consuming the media that fuels my outrage and trying to avoid it so I can live a happy life. One thing that I don’t waiver about is voting every chance I get. I don’t normally post about politics either but I appreciate that others do… although so much of it is preaching to the choir (I love our choir). Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you Janis! I love our choir too.
I am disgusted by what’s happening here, too….And what disgusts me even more is the amount of support these bigots in office still receive from WOMEN. I can’t keep up with the news. I wish I had more of an advocate’s spirit, but I don’t. I do all I can, and I get angry like everyone else I know. But I would lose my mind if I didn’t look away often. And I need what’s left of my mind, dammit!
Kim
I hear you Kim!
I agree. With all that you said. It is tiring to re-live all this patriarchal crap that we all thought was behind us. I try to remember that for younger women this is their first real exposure to how things used to be, so it might be a wake-up call for them. I hope.
I hope so too Ally! Thanks!
I am younger than you but also very tired. So very tired. I hope your dinner was as kick ass as planned :D.
Thank you Akilah! Yes, it was mighty tasty 🍗🥧🥂🍽
I’ve just had a couple of weeks without internet and just occasional television. It meant no news. What I realised was I was much happier without it.
Ain’t it the truth! We are much happier when we unplug and choose to live in our real, everyday worlds.
The serenity prayer goes a long way toward giving us peace, Deb. Working within our circle of influence makes for more happiness. I’m glad you are having a happy time with family celebrating Thanksgiving. I’m getting ready to retire in 3 short weeks! So excited! There is no bitter news story that will diminish my excitement!
Congratulations Molly! Serenity prayer – good advice, thanks!!
The current president.. I no longer will type his name, I cannot look at it. It went from bad to really bad to horrific. Each day gets worse than the one before. But in reality, it is all the Republicans in office who are really to blame as they day in and day out, just root for their team and have lost all sense of morality, common decency and any ethical behavior. And the things is, that their behavior, his behavior is all being watched by children, by society. Which means it gives a green light to racism, being rude, mocking people, making fun of them and so on….
Speaking of dreams I keep hoping its a nightmare that will end soon. But it’s not, it’s reality!! If people don’t get out and vote and if there is no change, then things are going to get way way worse before they improve.
Dreams I believe are a way of resolving what is unresolved, or whats on our minds, or on our subconscious. Yes its disconcerting yet normal to dream of your ex……
Peta
Thank you Peta, for your thoughts. I hate what is happening. You’re right – good or bad, people take cues from their leaders. A responsibility these folks seem not to care about or acknowledge their responsibility for. We as a society are regressing and I hate it.