Blog a la Cart

11/17/2016

My mom's dead and Donald Trump is the President-elect. 2016 is some s**t, huh? But then there's this guy. Thank the sweet baby Cheez-its for this guy. **t

11/16/2016

I know I've been feeling at a loss as to how best to channel my energy and outrage following the election. Here is an extensive and productive overview of actionable steps you can take right now: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1h1TAErnqRmad04_stKyw0W_qGYB_G1d6iYLzeB4Knqo/htmlview

I know this has helped me feel more in control and productive during a time that feels so out of my control. Keep that spark aflame and stand up!

11/14/2016

For all of us wearing a safety pin, please read this: https://isobeldebrujah.wordpress.com/2016/11/12/so-you-want-to-wear-a-safety-pin/

"Don’t get me wrong, the safety pin is a good idea but if you are going to wear it, you need to know that it is more than an idea. It is a visible, tangible announcement of your commitment to defend the rights and dignity of your fellow human. If you are not willing to follow that announcement up with action, rethink making the announcement."

Friends in Williamstown, we are fortunate that a friend and colleague is offering a bystander training this week that speaks to this very post. Please join me in attending. Wednesday, 7:30-9:30pm. Details here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/816638218438538/

Great. This is a necessary behavior in the face of the election of the most overtly racist, sexist, xenophobic, anti- gender and sexual minority candidate in the history of the modern United States…

11/12/2016

"May the election of Trump bring forth the fiercest, smartest, toughest generation of ass-kicking women this country could possibly imagine."

Quoting an Amherst alum here (on the day of the Williams/Amherst football match up no less), so you know I must really be feeling this quote. Yes, Jeffrey Wright. Yes!

11/10/2016

The world feels upside down.

Grateful to this practice that got me out of my head. Grateful to the friend who showed up at my doorstep when I refused to answer my phone and got me out of my pillowfort of sadness. Grateful to Sunny for hearing my sobs and coming to my side and holding on tight. Grateful to Courtland for singing me a song she made up about all the beauty in the world ("Your face and the way it feels that you love me"). Grateful to Sanderling and that dimpled, unabashed smile. Grateful to my sister for calling and being present in our shared outrage and disbelief. Grateful to James for permitting the grief without judgement. To holding a place for our communal sorrow. Grateful to the friend who got me out of the house and surrounded by those who mourn with me. For holding my hand. For the chorus of 'Amazing Grace.' For the light. For the words of hope. For a spark of faith that I almost felt extinguished as last night unfolded. Grateful to all those who are choosing love. Who are waking up today with a new resolve to fight harder, dig deeper, listen better. I hear you. I'm with you. While I've never known despair such as this year, I have also never known such tenderness and humanity.

11/09/2016

Spending the day surrounded by my children. Trying to find moments of peace in their childhood innocence. I'm so fu***ng tired. Today, I mourn. I continue to mourn in new and heartbreaking ways. Sunny and I held each other as we watched Hillary's concession speech and we allowed ourselves to cry and openly feel the surges of disappoint and regret and fear and disgust and hurt.

"To all the little girls watching... never doubt that you are valuable and powerful & deserving of every chance & opportunity in the world."

"But why does she need to say that to me, Mama? Why wouldn't I be valued? Why wouldn't I have every opportunity? Why do you and daddy keep saying the sentence, "We'll keep you safe."? Why wouldn't I be safe?"

And the answers are crushing. But I show her the map of how young people voted and I tell her that her generation gives me faith and hope. And that our family will never stop fighting for the voices that need championing. And that love always trumps hate.

Today I grieve, but this year has taught me more profoundly than ever about the resilience and bravery of the human spirit.

11/09/2016

2016 is this unending nightmare. I'm so sorry, Mom. I wish I could wake up to a world with you in it and a woman as the next President. I don't know how to explain this continued devastation to your granddaughters. The bigotry and hate and racism and misogyny driving this country. I need you so much today. My heart continues to shatter.

11/08/2016

Voting for my daughters (and son) and my mother and my grandmothers and all the women before me and the girls of our nation. So proud to stand with on this momentous day as we elect the first female president of the United States of America!

11/06/2016

Homecoming 2006. Missing these two particularly intensely this evening after such a spirited day.

Social interaction used to energize me, but now I'm just laid bare and drained. It's all such a reminder of the world plowing ahead, and I'm left forcing a smile, pretending it's all okay. It's hard to imagine I'll ever really be okay because a world without her is never going to be. I am so damn sick of being brave. I'm so damn sick of grief. I just want her back now so I don't have to be so fu***ng sad all the damn time.

11/03/2016

Confirmation that Disney Pixar's Piper is indeed a baby Sanderling. I cried and cried when I first watched the short film this summer: http://www.audubon.org/news/a-behind-scenes-look-pixars-new-short-film-piper

11/01/2016

Happy Halloween from Dory and friends!

10/23/2016

I'm going to go ahead and toot my own horn (classic Allison phrasing) and say that I am damn proud with how this sweater turned out for Sanderling. I made up the pattern as I went along and was so anxious it wouldn't fit when I finished last night. Thank the sweet baby Cheez-its, it was a success!