I liked how you switched narrators there, Nan. And I adored you from inside yourself and outside, so bonus round, haha. And I guess we all remember that horrific night. I ordered pizza and sat with my kids thinking we were about to watch the first woman become president. At 8:30 when I couldn’t see a path forward for her and I felt nauseous I had to break it to my kids. My son was 9, my daughter was 6. It was awful, they both started sobbing. But you know what? We did all the things to get Joe in office, they volunteered with me and passed out stickers and we wrote 400 postcards to swing states and knocked on doors and I donated everything I could. And we’re doing it again and I feel like this is it. I think we’re gonna get there this time and in my mind I can almost see Hillary there with her the night it’s announced and I think we will all have a collective sob-fest and a lot of healing. And a new president named Kamala Harris. I’m just holding that vision in my head. And maybe we can all have mint chip ice cream for the win. It’s not my favorite, but I’ll be so elated and relieved, who cares?! Hugs. LFG!!
I’m with you! I’m with her! I’m with your hopeful kids. I love the way you’re holding all of it. And when we win, I’ll buy you any damn flavor ice cream you want, because we’ll have CHOICES again! Sending love your way! xoxo
Beautiful, Nan! I will never forget that sinking feeling in my stomach on election night 2016, shock and despair making themselves known in my body while my mind still caught up. Whatever happens this year, I remind myself that joy, courage, and living well are acts of defiance in themselves.
I loved hearing this in your voice! I always do, but this was extra powerful and special. I am with you, awaiting the rainstorm of broken glass, filled with hope, ready for change at last. Thank you for this - thank you for your work in 2016, since then, and now. I’m ready to cry happy tears this election. At last. 🤍
ME TOO! I want those kind of tears because the tears of frustration are not what I need anymore. Women can change the world, if we really want to. xoxo
A story in 4 parts.... wonderful, Nan. I am moved, not only by the tireless work you did back in 2016 (and I think many of us can relate to that night), but by the "epilogue".... the resilience this speaks to.... the change you made for Kate.... and the fact that we are all here, again, ready.
Thanks, Amy. It really was quite a season. I was flying high for months, and every time I saw the predictions, I'd fly higher. I'm still holding a grudge against Nate Silver the dude from FiveThirtyEight, who predicted a landslide win for Hillary. I know he's not really to blame, but... The election was a collision of colossal proportions. The electoral college must be dissolved. It's such a mess. We deserve so much better, the whole country. And maybe, in a way, a bunch of the MAGA folks do even more than the rest of us. Because they're clearly missing something in their lives that would spur them to hitching their wagons to the Orange Monster. I still don't understand how they can't see how conned they are. EEK. xo
I have to say that despite the renewed optimism over the last week, the analysis/speculation I've seen (Rachel Maddow, etc.) about the electoral college this year is.... terrifying.
Yeah. It's really scary. I haven't been taking in to much of it, because my need to stay sane and somewhat balanced outweighs my need to soak up every tidbit of information and opinion that's out there. I've done obsessive news reading and it can really take a toll. I'm under no illusion that this is going to be a really hard 96 days.
It was quite a day. A terrible, horrible day. But I never gave up hoping that we'll have something better, and definitely more sane than what we're witnessing now. What a shit-show. So grateful to JB for stepping down. I just wish he'd done it sooner. I'm ready for some new leadership. xo
Me too = we all are! Kamala has vision, enthusiasm and she's tough! And she has a big heart. It shines through in the way she speaks. Considering the state of the world right now, the more women we can empower, the more hope there is for peace.
Completely agree. Men have fucked around with this country and the planet for way too long. Time to let women have a go, we'll do a much better job. Maybe that's why they're so afraid of us?
Nan, so powerful. I felt every word of it. You are a hero every day. (My favorite Bowie song, BTW). I’m sitting here with my cat, Mini Cooper. Synchronicity, do you think? She’s 22 years old. Declining. I don’t think she’s going to make it to November. But she’s also a hero every day. We all can be heroes. Thank you for reminding us.
So here's what I know about me. I try to show up for life every day, and sometimes that's really hard. There were years where I couldn't show up for much, I struggled with so many things. But the one thing I did do is not give up. And if I had to self-assess, I'd say that was pretty heroic. With my recovery work, it's getting easier to be in the world, and do whatever I can to make a difference. I don't see much point in being here if I don't do that. Today marks the day I posted my 30th essay (in a row!). When I started my stack, I really doubted that I'd be able to write something every week. But I made a commitment to myself to keep my word. And the more I write, the more I write! I love that your cat is named Mini Cooper. Yes, synchronicity all around us. 22 is amazing. I'm sure she doesn't want to leave you, that much-loved kitty. Have you ever had a non-feline Mini Cooper? xo
That’s amazing, Nan! Truly heroic. Mimi’s a gem. Will be hard when she’s gone. But who knows, she may just come through this. She’s done it before. Have never had another Mini Cooper in my life. I think there’s only room for one. I do love “Yolkel”; it’s perfect. 🫶
It’s Mini, like the car. Very cool that you can drive a stick shift. I’ve tried. I don’t know if it was the Gremlin that defeated me, or the Pinto. It’s really sweet that you called your grandmother Mimi. I had a neighbor - a friend’s dad - who called me that. It was my favorite nickname. Wish it had stuck.
How I learned to drive a stick is a story for another day, here's a synopsis: It involved a very used 1974(?) bright yellow (an ugly yellow) Datsun Liftback. The first car I ever bought. $150. The guy selling it taught me how to drive it. The first few months of ownership were not very pretty!
Is her name Mimi? Or Mini? Because Mimi is what I called my beloved grandmother. But I spelled her name "Meme." Talk about synchronicity! I'm sure it will be hard to lose her when she leaves you. But you know, she'll always be there. My grandmother left in 1997. She's with me every single day! Mini Coopers are amazing to drive, if you ever decide you want a new, fun, car that's really expensive to maintain. I don't have one now, I miss her every day, and often think of getting a new one! But they're not making stickshifts anymore, and that's the whole point of having a Mini in the first place, at least for me. Okay, back to work! xo
Love this story and how you used that beloved phrase in your slam. Reading this and remembering the horror of that election night brings back all the feelings of fear, disbelief, shock, depression, hopelessness. I remember someone saying, "Well, maybe it won't be as bad as we fear." It was a hope we could have then, because though we suspected, we didn't know. Now we know. We know it was worse than we feared. Thank you for this rallying cry. The world needs this message!
Thank you, Paulla. Yes, to all that you say. I remember talking to my brother the next day. I was a wreck, scared and a little out of my mind. He said to me, "Don't worry, it won't be that bad. We'll get through it." A couple of years later he revisited that conversation and acknowledged that it was that bad, and he was mistaken. We know what we're dealing with now, and we have to give it everything we've got. He's a dangerous, dangerous person.
I have no influence, being in the UK, but was glad we got a Labour government here after years of Conservatism; and that France stepped back from a hard veer to the right. I am hopeful for you.
I gathered with friends after the 2016 election to celebrate. I can still feel that crushing in my chest, the “end of the world” feeling. And I am so re-energized with Kamala. I sometimes return to the night of Obama’s election victory. His speech in Chicago. Tears rolling down my cheeks. Perhaps America - especially young America - can see past the labels that the old white men use to deem someone “incompetent.” Go Kamala!
Go, Kamala! I'm so finished with the old guard. I have been for years. Something's got to give, because where we've been headed is wholly unacceptable and pretty terrifying. Thank for reading and commenting. xo
I agree. We did do what we could. It was the craziest result. No more electoral college, no more inequality from state to state when it comes to population and representation in the Senate. We have to stay grounded too, in all of the excitement about this wonderful new development. No fascists welcome in the US government, thank you very much!
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I'm with you!!! Let the glass rain down!!! I was not as active in 2016, but in 2020 I was for Bernie 💙 This time around I too am full of hope and energy!! Reminds me of 2008- the energy and enthusiasm is tangible!! I can't wait to cast my vote!!
(Funny story- I wrote a piece back in March titled We Could Be Heroes 🙃 an homage to what it means to be an everyday hero and nod to Bowie of course 💛)
That's so cool about the Bowie post. I'll look for it if it's posted on Substack. All of this is very exciting. Thanks for reading and commenting, Mesa!
And you can have sprinkles, too!
I liked how you switched narrators there, Nan. And I adored you from inside yourself and outside, so bonus round, haha. And I guess we all remember that horrific night. I ordered pizza and sat with my kids thinking we were about to watch the first woman become president. At 8:30 when I couldn’t see a path forward for her and I felt nauseous I had to break it to my kids. My son was 9, my daughter was 6. It was awful, they both started sobbing. But you know what? We did all the things to get Joe in office, they volunteered with me and passed out stickers and we wrote 400 postcards to swing states and knocked on doors and I donated everything I could. And we’re doing it again and I feel like this is it. I think we’re gonna get there this time and in my mind I can almost see Hillary there with her the night it’s announced and I think we will all have a collective sob-fest and a lot of healing. And a new president named Kamala Harris. I’m just holding that vision in my head. And maybe we can all have mint chip ice cream for the win. It’s not my favorite, but I’ll be so elated and relieved, who cares?! Hugs. LFG!!
I’m with you! I’m with her! I’m with your hopeful kids. I love the way you’re holding all of it. And when we win, I’ll buy you any damn flavor ice cream you want, because we’ll have CHOICES again! Sending love your way! xoxo
Ahahahaha! It’s a DEAL!!
Beautiful, Nan! I will never forget that sinking feeling in my stomach on election night 2016, shock and despair making themselves known in my body while my mind still caught up. Whatever happens this year, I remind myself that joy, courage, and living well are acts of defiance in themselves.
I hear that, Robin. Nevertheless, we will always persist, right? xo
I loved hearing this in your voice! I always do, but this was extra powerful and special. I am with you, awaiting the rainstorm of broken glass, filled with hope, ready for change at last. Thank you for this - thank you for your work in 2016, since then, and now. I’m ready to cry happy tears this election. At last. 🤍
ME TOO! I want those kind of tears because the tears of frustration are not what I need anymore. Women can change the world, if we really want to. xoxo
We will. We are!
Yes, indeed!
A story in 4 parts.... wonderful, Nan. I am moved, not only by the tireless work you did back in 2016 (and I think many of us can relate to that night), but by the "epilogue".... the resilience this speaks to.... the change you made for Kate.... and the fact that we are all here, again, ready.
Thanks, Amy. It really was quite a season. I was flying high for months, and every time I saw the predictions, I'd fly higher. I'm still holding a grudge against Nate Silver the dude from FiveThirtyEight, who predicted a landslide win for Hillary. I know he's not really to blame, but... The election was a collision of colossal proportions. The electoral college must be dissolved. It's such a mess. We deserve so much better, the whole country. And maybe, in a way, a bunch of the MAGA folks do even more than the rest of us. Because they're clearly missing something in their lives that would spur them to hitching their wagons to the Orange Monster. I still don't understand how they can't see how conned they are. EEK. xo
I have to say that despite the renewed optimism over the last week, the analysis/speculation I've seen (Rachel Maddow, etc.) about the electoral college this year is.... terrifying.
Yeah. It's really scary. I haven't been taking in to much of it, because my need to stay sane and somewhat balanced outweighs my need to soak up every tidbit of information and opinion that's out there. I've done obsessive news reading and it can really take a toll. I'm under no illusion that this is going to be a really hard 96 days.
Yay, Nan! I sure wish I had a vote in this one! Go, girl! Xx
I wish you did, too. Triple-citizenship? That would be awesome! Love to you, Ann! xo
I cried my eyes out that day too. YES we all have hope again - and this time we really know the consequences.
It was quite a day. A terrible, horrible day. But I never gave up hoping that we'll have something better, and definitely more sane than what we're witnessing now. What a shit-show. So grateful to JB for stepping down. I just wish he'd done it sooner. I'm ready for some new leadership. xo
Me too = we all are! Kamala has vision, enthusiasm and she's tough! And she has a big heart. It shines through in the way she speaks. Considering the state of the world right now, the more women we can empower, the more hope there is for peace.
Completely agree. Men have fucked around with this country and the planet for way too long. Time to let women have a go, we'll do a much better job. Maybe that's why they're so afraid of us?
yesyesyesyes. This is great!
Thanks, Nancy! xoxo
We fucking can! 😎
At least for one day! I think we can do even better than that!
Nan, so powerful. I felt every word of it. You are a hero every day. (My favorite Bowie song, BTW). I’m sitting here with my cat, Mini Cooper. Synchronicity, do you think? She’s 22 years old. Declining. I don’t think she’s going to make it to November. But she’s also a hero every day. We all can be heroes. Thank you for reminding us.
So here's what I know about me. I try to show up for life every day, and sometimes that's really hard. There were years where I couldn't show up for much, I struggled with so many things. But the one thing I did do is not give up. And if I had to self-assess, I'd say that was pretty heroic. With my recovery work, it's getting easier to be in the world, and do whatever I can to make a difference. I don't see much point in being here if I don't do that. Today marks the day I posted my 30th essay (in a row!). When I started my stack, I really doubted that I'd be able to write something every week. But I made a commitment to myself to keep my word. And the more I write, the more I write! I love that your cat is named Mini Cooper. Yes, synchronicity all around us. 22 is amazing. I'm sure she doesn't want to leave you, that much-loved kitty. Have you ever had a non-feline Mini Cooper? xo
That’s amazing, Nan! Truly heroic. Mimi’s a gem. Will be hard when she’s gone. But who knows, she may just come through this. She’s done it before. Have never had another Mini Cooper in my life. I think there’s only room for one. I do love “Yolkel”; it’s perfect. 🫶
It’s Mini, like the car. Very cool that you can drive a stick shift. I’ve tried. I don’t know if it was the Gremlin that defeated me, or the Pinto. It’s really sweet that you called your grandmother Mimi. I had a neighbor - a friend’s dad - who called me that. It was my favorite nickname. Wish it had stuck.
How I learned to drive a stick is a story for another day, here's a synopsis: It involved a very used 1974(?) bright yellow (an ugly yellow) Datsun Liftback. The first car I ever bought. $150. The guy selling it taught me how to drive it. The first few months of ownership were not very pretty!
Sounds like a Story Slam.😊
Is her name Mimi? Or Mini? Because Mimi is what I called my beloved grandmother. But I spelled her name "Meme." Talk about synchronicity! I'm sure it will be hard to lose her when she leaves you. But you know, she'll always be there. My grandmother left in 1997. She's with me every single day! Mini Coopers are amazing to drive, if you ever decide you want a new, fun, car that's really expensive to maintain. I don't have one now, I miss her every day, and often think of getting a new one! But they're not making stickshifts anymore, and that's the whole point of having a Mini in the first place, at least for me. Okay, back to work! xo
Love this story and how you used that beloved phrase in your slam. Reading this and remembering the horror of that election night brings back all the feelings of fear, disbelief, shock, depression, hopelessness. I remember someone saying, "Well, maybe it won't be as bad as we fear." It was a hope we could have then, because though we suspected, we didn't know. Now we know. We know it was worse than we feared. Thank you for this rallying cry. The world needs this message!
Thank you, Paulla. Yes, to all that you say. I remember talking to my brother the next day. I was a wreck, scared and a little out of my mind. He said to me, "Don't worry, it won't be that bad. We'll get through it." A couple of years later he revisited that conversation and acknowledged that it was that bad, and he was mistaken. We know what we're dealing with now, and we have to give it everything we've got. He's a dangerous, dangerous person.
Fantastic all in and live the title!
All the parts!
👏👏👏
Thank you, Prajna! xoxo
I have no influence, being in the UK, but was glad we got a Labour government here after years of Conservatism; and that France stepped back from a hard veer to the right. I am hopeful for you.
I was so happy to read about the new government in the UK and the surprise result in France. I'm hopeful for all of us who inhabit this one world. xo
I gathered with friends after the 2016 election to celebrate. I can still feel that crushing in my chest, the “end of the world” feeling. And I am so re-energized with Kamala. I sometimes return to the night of Obama’s election victory. His speech in Chicago. Tears rolling down my cheeks. Perhaps America - especially young America - can see past the labels that the old white men use to deem someone “incompetent.” Go Kamala!
Go, Kamala! I'm so finished with the old guard. I have been for years. Something's got to give, because where we've been headed is wholly unacceptable and pretty terrifying. Thank for reading and commenting. xo
Melissa and I are all in for this campaign! We have to know we did what we could.
I agree. We did do what we could. It was the craziest result. No more electoral college, no more inequality from state to state when it comes to population and representation in the Senate. We have to stay grounded too, in all of the excitement about this wonderful new development. No fascists welcome in the US government, thank you very much!
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I'm with you!!! Let the glass rain down!!! I was not as active in 2016, but in 2020 I was for Bernie 💙 This time around I too am full of hope and energy!! Reminds me of 2008- the energy and enthusiasm is tangible!! I can't wait to cast my vote!!
(Funny story- I wrote a piece back in March titled We Could Be Heroes 🙃 an homage to what it means to be an everyday hero and nod to Bowie of course 💛)
That's so cool about the Bowie post. I'll look for it if it's posted on Substack. All of this is very exciting. Thanks for reading and commenting, Mesa!
Happy to support you!! And yup, the hero piece is on the Stack!! 😍
I'm going to go find it!