Defeat, Despair, Unity

My Dear Silly Bloggies,

Rather than ignore the obvious, I'm sharing what I shared on my facebook page in the early morn hours of 11/6.

Those of you who are on the other side of politics have been quiet here, and I appreciate it. I'd have dropped you if I believed you to be a hateful soul. You're not. Nor are the 66 MILLION who voted for the frumpy grumpy felon who's the color of a melon. MAGA aligns so tightly with White supremacy, though; there's absolutely a racist, misogynistic, xenophobic, etc. element that is NOW at the helm. But I won't have that here. (Sometimes the most and least we can do is set limits to protect our little spaces of earth and/or the internet.)

Oy, I'm just typing. I couldn't sleep. Nor could I stop crying. Not sure what to say. Well, I do know. You're not, we're not, alone. Far from that. 63 MILLION of us voted for the side of reason, compassion, joy, justice. What an incredibly powerful, inspiring, brilliant and witty duo Kamala and Tim made/make. The new regime can't erase this. We'd serve ourselves and the world best to absorb and lead by their example. That hope we felt and tasted as soon as Kamala zipped out the starting gate, that's as real as it gets. Unifying. Energizing and beautiful. We'll need to keep hold of that energy, to fuel the fights (for justice) that await.

I'm naive, I know, yet I still believe in a sort of universal balance. Love is the glue. Karma is real. And sometimes when the bigger picture looks disparaging, it's helpful to either broaden or narrow it.

The pendulum will swing back, as it does. Meanwhile, our city has added some phenomenal progressive voices, and there are some silver linings in the national scene as well - like Kari Lake's big loss. A fair number of states, I believe, have now legalized a female's rights to bodily autonomy. Many other positives too, but I was too anxious to retain that info. From a grander perspective too, much of the world is with us. As Kamala pointed out, they believe he’s a disgrace. Reason does pervade.

I’ve written too much, still not knowing what to say. But hey, we’ll see a new day tomorrow. We’ll survive by keeping each other close in reality and/or spirit. Together.

I love you.

Celibacy Reason #297: My Date with Butte County Assessor Wannabe's Campaign Manager

That pimple’s the size of Mt. Whitney, I thought, as I tried not to stare at my date’s forehead. How did things go so wrong? His ad boasts a “heart of gold,” and our discourse was fun.

We’d only been sitting there for a minute or two, when the waitress brought my chocolate chip pancakes and chocolate chai tea. He’d paid. Thankfully.

“I’m managing his campaign,” my date said, chowing down on french toast. “I always give them great deals. I collect my salary after they win,” he continued. “I got 90,000 after one campaign and now she won’t even talk to me. Local politicians are calling me all morning to find out my secrets. They want me to work for them...”

He spoke in a tone of fast paced, matter of fact arrogance. I sipped my tea and poured more syrup on my pancakes. “So you don’t care if their politics are opposite yours?” I interrupted.

He reiterated that he earned 90,000 from one campaign. My date then picked up his phone. He tapped on its face with his fingertips, studied it endearingly, lovingly, almost lustfully even. He very gently placed it face down on the table in front of him.

“You have somewhere to be?” I asked, devouring my pancakes.

He informed that his boss, who’s running for ASSessor (of BUTTe county), dropped him off. The guy’s six minutes away and will be picking him up. He handled his phone again, eyed it, and then carefully turned it over on the coffee table face down once more. I watched him pat it affectionately, as I gulped down some tea. 

“He’s a good guy,” he spewed. “But I told him he’s going to change. They always do. He said, ‘No I’m not going to change.’ I know how it goes. I’ve been doing this for years.”

Then, my date grabbed his phone from the table and looked at it, saying to me, “Well, it was great seeing you again.”

What the hell? You never saw me before. In fact, you studied your phone more than me. That’s three times now in the last 20 minutes! You’re kicking me out? I haven’t finished my chocolate chai tea, and there’s some lick-worthy syrup left on my plate, rudeASSessor guy!

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Kicked out by a pimple faced haughty campaign manager [for a Butte County Assessor candidate], who’s having a love affair with his phone, I now urge all locals to get out and vote for anyone running against the politician he represents. And try the chocolate chip pancakes at Beatniks on 32^nd. They’re delicious.