Yesterday, I was sorely tempted to simply hit “publish” and let the title of this post speak for itself. I am glad that I didn’t.
For while I woke up today with that feeling of being lost again, my eyes aching from last nights tears of disappointment, I remembered another series of mornings, not long ago. When I was staying with my friends in Menton, I would start each day by pulling back the curtains and standing before an open window to face the sea. My gaze would soften as I tried to focus on what was beyond fixation, out to the line and beyond, into unkowing. And how strong that felt to me then, the possibility present, thumping, alive.
My Mother and my Sister are attending their local version of the Women’s March in Ann Arbor, Michigan. My American friend C is training up to Paris from this tiny village to participate. How proud I am and what hope this instills.
For while there is leisure lulling on the beaches (a constant echo back to other times, memories that seem all the richer for their distance), out on the waves, we can make our voices heard. After having lived in France for fifteen years, where the people are not afraid of contestation, I know the power that we yield, still.
There are many facets to Peace.
We can resist, we can write our future in action and response. To find and be found, again and again; awake, as a sea of possibility. With a societal shift that I am quite certain reaches beyond politics, this is our tide now.
I don’t feel at all qualified to be writing this post; I feel awkward and am not sure of what I am doing. The “Who do you think you are?”‘s are rolling through my throat, wishing to stifle thoughts, even half-formed but well-intentioned, into silence…but of course not. We are all qualified just by the nature of our being human and our innate connection with each other…so let’s wade into the waters, even if we are just learning to swim.
Are any of you joining the Women’s March? If you are curious about taking part in this international movement, you can find more information about it here and a listing of locations in the United States and around the globe, here.
So far, it is estimated that there are over two million marches that will occur, including one that is happening in the Vieux Port of Marseille as I type.
This has always been a very respectful community and I don’t wish to make anyone ill at ease but I would love to hear how you are feeling in response to yesterday’s inauguration in the comments below, no matter where you are reading from on our beautiful planet. This concerns us all, as you are already well aware.
Stephen's words resonated with me the most. I didn't vote for Trump and he personally offends me. I am hopeful that our country's checks and balances will keep him somewhat under control. It helps knowing that many in his party have serious reservations. I have always felt that our presidents wanted most of all to bring their vision of how to make this country better to fruition. Even when I disagreed with the person, I never questioned their motives. I try to believe that of Trump but he does make it difficult. What concerns me the most is that people I consider friends suddenly are saying the most racist, insensitive things and thinking its okay. It is straining friendships and I find that incredibly sad. It is suddenly okay (in rural California) to be a bigot.
Apparently you are not bothered by someone who feels free to grab you by your genitals being president. You are pathetic.
Let's remember a simple but very powerful notion:
To my mind, one thing we need to do is constantly reaffirm, by whatever means we can, a basic but extremely powerful notion that we probably all know very well already: what makes this country "great" is its astonishingly immense cultural diversity, and everything that is created and has been created by this diversity, from the very beginning of our turbulent history. MUSIC is what reminds me of this notion, more than anything else. Growing up in Europe in the seventies I knew, like every other European kid, that this country’s natural affinity for music was unique and infinitely rich and transcendent (except I couldn’t use those words). And now I come to my specific “point”: Music has sometimes played a striking role in this blog, for me at least — though I am only a very sporadic user of the internet, and therefore I'm not sure how often you have posted music, Heather. But I want you to know that, over the years, together with your words and images, your choice of music has greatly inspired me more than once (sometimes it was an absolute revelation). From your postings I have sensed that you have a very interesting intuition for music (whether you’ve played an instrument or not). And so, this is just my very small vote of encouragement for you to continue to use and share music in your work, when the spirit strikes you — and at the same time to encourage everyone else to use music in whatever way you can to celebrate what brings us together so profoundly as a nation and what connects us so naturally to the rest of the world.
Your qualification is your courage. I thank you for it, always.
DID YOU HEAR THE LACK OF APPLAUSE during his speech?THERE WAS NEVER A ROAR of AGREEMENT!
AND what is with THAT CHILD BARON????There is something seriously WRONG WITH HIM.NEVER HAPPY NEVER CRACKS A SMILE……………NO coat either so he must have been FREEZING!
I cried as OBAMA and GORGEOUS WIFE flew away……………in the helicopter.Woke up this AM thinking they are in CALIFORNIA having coffee shaking their heads.
ALL WE CAN DO NOW IS WATCH AND SEE…………………MY NEIGHBORS ARE IN DC MARCHING with PUSSY HATS!!!!!!I AM Preparing a FEAST for the NEW neighbors who are ITALIAN!!!!!!!
I voted for HRC and was very distraught after the election. I burst into tears the next morning when I interacted with an Indian immigrant and wondered how she must have felt that morning in Ohio. What kind of message had her country sent her?
I've made peace with the thought of Trump a few times and then become very very upset all over again. I thought his speech yesterday was gloomy and more about upheaval than what it means to be American. I wept again as I watched our past presidents and the fact that not a single one of them trusted this man enough to vote for him.
I thought Melania looked breathtakingly beautiful.
I'm going to be patriotic and trust that our constitution and checks and balances will ensure that we have elected a president and not an emperor. So I'm feeling a bit more optimistic.
Or at least I'm determined to. It seems a lot of people don't know Trump voters. Here in Ohio, I know many. Friends, family, clients, and acquaintances. People I love and respect saw something I didn't see. So I guess I'm choosing to trust their vision.
The fact is that he has five children with three mothers.
The judgment is your being appalled.
Thrilled with the election and I'm American!
Loretta, I admit I am baffled by your confusion over why good, kind, loving people would reject Trump. He has shown us who he is. We gave him the chance to show he has all Americans' interests at heat. He has repeatedly failed to do so.
Heather, dear. Those photos. The beauty and the thoughtfulness of your writing could not stand in starker juxtaposition to Trump's vicious, hateful demagoguery. Thank you, as always, for describing thoughtfulness and love.
Both of my daughters are on the Boston march. I wanted to go to Paris or Toulouse, but was working. I have been heartbroken since the election, and am truly in mourning over what our country has allowed to happen.
But I know there is love, and hope. You gave given both to us here.
Kxxxx
Thank you Heather for the beautiful pictures. They are soothing…#notmypresident