Sometimes, even the most comforting of meals cannot sate a core human desire to feel safe & nurtured. Still, a girls gotta eat. And so, I pour the box of elbow noodles into the boiling water & wonder if Grama Mabel’s dish can take me there. Stewed Tomatoes are warmed & stirred. Beyond Crumbles are sautéed with fresh chopped garlic & misshapen lumps of icey corn kernels sizzle as they hit the pan. The clock ticks closer & the polls close. Election results pour in early and the sense of an ending (to swipe a phrase from Julian Barnes) looms. I’ve known this despair before and I’m feeling it again tonight. We had a chance for progress & moving toward a better world for all. Instead, America elected an entirely m—-ally ban—pt & un—ft Dan—-ous cl—n. Worse, this time, America knew exactly what it was voting for. Now, media pundits & pontificators are dissecting & reflecting upon why we lost. What we did wrong. While I agree reflection & being open to learning is a necessary & integral part of growth & a good life, I wonder why we haven’t heard any deep conversation & self reflection from the “winners.” Actually, I think we’ve all lost. & we’ve lost something profound. #reviewedNovember2024
