I swear, my time away was by accident.

I’m back now, after forever — although I’m not sure I’m ready.  My hiatus from my tiny blog was more a product of overwhelm than any quieting of the soul, nurturing of the spirit. Kind of like hiding.

This past January, we quickly made the decision to move back to a small house we’ve been renting out for years and that I would retire from teaching come June.  Suddenly, we were in the throws of packing what we didn’t throw out, remodeling the rental and keeping a tight rein on the contractor to “get it done.” I didn’t bargain for how emotional it would be to move out of the house where we’d raised our children or how much doubt would seep into every box I packed.  I also was emotionally trying to wrap up over 20 years of teaching, made harder by the middle school students who this year had taken a grip on my heart.

Amidst all that, my father-in-law passed away at the age of 95 and our family was swimming in a bit of grief again.

We have had a time of it.

And, of course, none of that even begins to deal with the toll our public discourse and politics have taken on all of us.  Is PTSD for our country a thing?  How do we solve the humanitarian crisis at our southern border, the climate crisis which will impact everyone (no matter one’s political leanings), and the constitutional crisis we have boiling out of the White House?  I cannot stay apolitical on this site anymore.  I don’t know how I ever thought I could — but then, I never imagined this country that I love would be so deep in a swamp of lies and manipulations at the hands of a despot-wannabe.  I am heartened by the field of 2020 candidates, particularly Warren and Harris (although there are others I also love).  I continue to stand up, use my voice, and resist whenever/wherever possible.  (For what it’s worth, it’s always possible.)

Beyond that, I am enjoying some lazy summer days.  A sampling:

I’m refinishing various pieces of furniture because why not? (I will post pictures as I go.)

I’m reading BIASED by Jennifer L. Eberhardt, Ph.D.  Amazing book.  I’m sure I will want to discuss it with you.  Stay tuned.

I’ve been binging on Netflix.  Have you seen “Schitt’s Creek”?  If not, hurry.  It’s THAT good.  And don’t forget “Ask Dr. Ruth” and “Pick of the Litter” — both on HULU.  You’ll laugh.  You’ll cry.  You won’t be sorry.

I’m going to head up to Seattle and Vancouver for a week to visit my daughter who is interning up there this summer.  (Taking my “big” camera and hoping it doesn’t rain.)

We are still unpacking boxes.  They keep appearing, as if by some dark magic.

My younger daughter and I are going to plan a trip to Austin.  We’ve never been to Texas.

Then, my husband and I are planning on taking the trailer up to Glacier National Park before the snows make it impossible — or the US starts drilling up there and makes the park inaccessible to ordinary people — whichever comes first.

I hope you’re enjoying your summer days.  And that you, too, are part of the resistance and the uprising.  If you’re not, no worries.  We are all in this together.