Old Posters

New Resolve

We had other plans for yesterday, but when I saw the new email regarding the local protests for later in the day, we adjusted to show up.

There was no time to make new posters related to our dismay regarding the recent events in Venezuela, lack of full unredacted release of the Epstein files, the attack on the Endangered Species Act, ad nauseam, so we went with what we had. I decided that it doesn’t really matter what the signs say. It’s our presence that is important, even for a short time.

I put those heater things in my boots (under my wool sox) and my gloves, my hood up, wrapped my wool scarf around me, wool sweater and turtleneck under my down coat (yes I’m one of those who gets cold when the temperature drops below 70) and off we went.

It was a very small gathering of people compared to the Hands Off and No Kings protests, but we were mighty. In fact far more cars driving by were overly enthusiastic with their honking and waving and slowing down to blow kisses. Only one car had an angry male driver with a very sullen woman sitting next to him (which could be interpreted one of two ways).

All in all, we are glad that we went. Not only did I put pieces of paper with names of people on them who were not able to physically attend but were there in spirit, we met old friends at the protest and we met even older good friends where we stopped next and took the time for a very good catch up.

I forgot to include in my list on my last post a few things we’ve already done to resist this madness:

1. we already have solar panels that create nearly all of our electricity for the year

2. we have replaced all natural gas appliances (including our geothermal furnace) to be electric except for one gas stove in our second kitchen

3. we only have one car now and it’s a very small EV

I also forgot to include another resource for action, which is the 5 Calls app or use their website 5calls.org.

I also forgot to include one big thing that I haven’t done yet that I am going to do next and that is calling voters, not just writing postcards. Honestly, I’m nervous about doing this, but the chips are down in numbers that just keep growing and growing, sh*t piles that just keep getting higher and higher, holes that just keep getting deeper and deeper. Thanks to Jessica Craven on Substack who writes Chop Wood, Carry Water for the suggestion.

Again, I’ll reiterate that I don’t have answers for how to stop this mad king and associates (here and worldwide), but clearly we each can and need to do something more.

We have woven a tangle web. Pull the one thread, not the million that are available and need attention, but just the one that is right in front of you in this tangled web. If millions of people just pull on that one thread, that one thread that means something to them, a tipping point will be reached.

So I’m going to sign up for call voters through the Environmental Voter Project. Ask yourself “What do you love too much to lose?” Your worries, your passions, your talents all will be different from mine. That is the beauty of each of us pulling on the one thread that is in front of us.

Sadly, it’s now time to wear my necklace “War is not healthy for children and other living things” that I’ve had since the late 60’s-early 70’s. That was evident during yesterday’s protest, too, during which I gave the peace sign instead of raising a first when cars honked their support for our presence. Many people rolled down their window to do the same. (I’ve posted this photo somewhere in an earlier post.)

One last suggestion, if you have time, I highly recommend signing up for Carrie Newcomer’s substack post and reading her post (and the comments) from yesterday about resolutions and revolutions. Here’s the comment I posted: “Thank you Carrie. Yes, we can do this hard thing, together, with love.” Everyone who follows Carrie is heartsick over EVERYTHING, but everyone is also jumping in to do something, something more than they have done in the past.

I repeat my North Star here, “What do you love too much to lose?” (quoting one of my favorite authors Kathleen Dean Moore, PhD - read anything she has written for inspiration to get serious about reversing our climate crisis).

Enough, enough. Longer than I thought. This feels disjointed, and there are likely spelling/grammer errors, but I’m not taking the time to finesse it. You get the idea!

Let’s cultivate our life and our future together, my friends, for all. We can do this hard thing, together, with love.

Diana Dyer