Giving Thanks

I spent a delightfully low-key Turkey Day. Andrew and I were two of three lucky guests at a sumptuous feast provided by the manifestly multi-talented Bernie Sylvester.

I am grateful for the many blessings of my life. I don't kid myself: whatever my difficulties, self-inflicted or otherwise, I lead a charmed life by the standards of humanity at large. I have wonderful friends. I am healthy (if a bit gimpy at the moment), have a reasonably firm grip on my wits, and am entrusted with the continuing opportunity to make my life what I want it to be. For these, and for all the other gifts to which I am blind or of which I remain ignorant, I give thanks.

"We Had to Destroy the Village to Save It"

I remember when our government said that about hamlets we destroyed in Vietnam (we weren't welcomed as liberators there, either). Now we're applying the doctrine to whole cities. Imagine how the Fallujans will feel when they are finally allowed to return home...

I've used a picture from Kevin Site's Blog, the personal site of the freelance photographer who took the video of the Marine shooting the prone Iraqi in that mosque. I apologize in advance for posting it without permission, and will remove it immediately upon request from Mr. Sites, the copyright holder.

When I fall down, do I laugh?

I happened on this tonight, from a writer I admire who had fallen silent for awhile.

For some reason, the question struck a big chord with me.

Crutches

Being a cripple is miserable.

It's unbelievably inconvenient. Doing anything takes at least twice as long as it should. You can't carry much. Getting in and out of cars, going up and down stairs, walking on uneven pavement, socks on the carpet ~ all highly hazardous.

My shoulders are sore. My forearms are sore. My ribs are sore.

The toes on the "good" foot cramp up at night.

My condition is temporary (I trust). How my heart goes out to those for whom it's permanent, especially if they're not also young and otherwise healthy!

A few people I've encountered when I've been out and about have been really helpful and gracious. I appreciate it a lot. May I always remember to do the same.

Note to Self

Remember that whole thing about NOT WALKING ON THE FOOT WITH THE SORE ANKLE WHILE IT WAS STILL SORE?

Yeah, well, it was good advice. So now I'm going to spend a couple of weeks on crutches, giving the poor thing some actual rest so maybe it will actually heal. (*big sigh*)

Of course it was for a good cause. (And it's not too late to donate.)

See pictures here.

Shelter Island Trip

It was too many hours uncomfortable travel to get there and back, but our visit with Annika and Aaron to the Shelter Island home of Kim and Aimo (?spelled how?) featured absolutely beautiful weather on Sunday. The place is gorgeous.

See some pictures from the trip here.

A Tale of Two Cities

Why is it that the two cities that actually suffered terrorist attacks on September 11 voted overwhelmingly for John Kerry?

All the rest of those places in red on the map... they didn't get struck by planes or dusted with anthrax (OK, Florida did) and yet, quivering with terror, they voted out of fear. In that sense, you might say the terrorists won, by causing one issue to dominate over so many other important ones.

Three thousand people died on September 11, and it was a horrible evil thing. But our response to that evil has distorted out worldview and warped our internal sense of priorities all out of proportion to the actual damage done. As a result we have eroded civil liberties, a war quagmire in a country unrelated to the attacks, a huge and growing deficit, and a distrusted and disrespected place in the world polity. And Osama bin Laden is still out there patting himself on the back.

Once again I find myself living in a place that surrounds me with the like-minded. DC went 91% for Kerry. That's why I make a point of reading the blogs of people with whom I disagree vehemently about politics. It's too easy to live in an echo-chamber.

I'm disappointed, though I know the world won't come to end. But probably it means that things will have to get a lot worse before they get better.

With Tears in My Eyes

I've never seen my polling place so crowded. I went at about 10:30 am, figuring all the good productive citizens would long since be at work, and it would be quiet.

Well, I was one of about a dozen people under fifty in line, but the line was loooong. Everyone was very patient and good-natured about the process, waiting cheerfully to pick up their ballots and cast their votes.

On the way to work afterwards, I brushed away tears of patriotic joy ~ happy to have been able to participate, happy that so many of my fellow citizens had too, and moved by the mechanics of democracy, however flawed.

While I really, really want John Kerry to emerge as the winner tonight, if he doesn't I will nevertheless take some solace in the appearance of a re-energized electorate. (Although I will wonder how it's possible that so many of them have INCREDIBLY BAD JUDGMENT.)

Andrew and I are going to Lynn & David's tonight for a birds-of-a-feather election night party. Wouldn't it be nice if this time we truly had something to celebrate?

Vote

If you live in the United States, and you're registered to vote, vote!

If you don't vote, you don't get to complain about our government. Period. If you can't be bothered to register your opinion when it matters, I don't want to hear you flapping your gums about it when it's just hot air.

So, get out and get to the polls tomorrow and ensure yourself another four years' license to bitch and moan. Cheap at half the price (which, by the way, you didn't have to pay).

Limping for the Mentally Ill

Oh you lucky, lucky people... you've known me for HOW long, and I've never pestered you once to donate or contribute to any worth cause?! Exactly as long as you've ever known me, that's how long. (Except maybe that once when I did the AIDS walk, but I can't even remember that far back.)

Nonetheless, I am hereby hitting you up for money, and here's why:

1. Being mentally ill totally sucks. You know this if you've ever been sick yourself, or if anyone in your family has or has had a mental illness, or if a friend has ever been stricken with a brain disorder. You also know this if you've ever seen someone on the street, homeless, who was clearly not in his or her right mind. In other words, EVERYONE knows this.

2. Serious mental illness is especially pernicious because people are either afraid of or very uncomfortable around the mentally ill. Even though we know intellectually that it's not "catching," we still shy away from the very people who most need support, compassion, and concrete help. The stigma associated with mental illness is pervasive and persistent.

3. It's mostly hard or impossible to work when you're mentally ill and symptomatic. If you don't have good health insurance, or are already poor, you're basically screwed. You are going to be on disability (if you can figure out how to get it), and good luck making ends meet. Advocating for good, culturally competent, and free or truly inexpensive mental health care is the socially responsible thing to do.

4. All of us could stand to be better educated on this subject. We can be better friends and family members, better employers and colleagues, better citizens and better advocates for those who cannot advocate for themselves or could use broader support in their struggles.

NAMI is the Nation's Voice on Mental Illness. The organization educates, advocates, fights stigma, and provides avenues to self-help and peer support for the mentally ill. I've been working there a couple of days a week, and I can testify that they are fighting the good fight. A recent financial crisis has left them understaffed and overextended. Every little bit of financial contribution will be put to good use.

Hey, Lynn Borton, one of the world's most compassionate and competent human beings, is their COO.

Okay, so, I'm participating in NAMIWalks this coming Saturday here in DC. It's 5K, and I'm walking with Lynn's team, "NAMI Rocks!"

Even though my ankle still hurts and I'm cranky because I couldn't run the Marine Corps Marathon.

Feeling generous? Feeling humane and kind? Feeling like clicking and donating? YES!!! YOU KNOW YOU ARE!!!!! DON'T HOLD BACK!!!!!

This is it. Click here and make me proud.

I promise I won't do this again for a long time. Really.

And thank you. Thank you very, very much.