"Two or Three Things I Know for Sure...."

The past couple of months have been extraordinarily busy. Now that I am back to a somewhat typical schedule, I will post regularly again. But first, a check-in. (Please let me know how you’re doing. You can leave a comment or message me.) 

I don’t know where to begin, so I’ll start with this: Last week, the writer Dorothy Allison (quoted above in title and subtitle) passed away (on Election Day, no less). I have read Bastard Out of Carolina and Two or Three Things I Know for Sure many, many times. Years ago, I had the opportunity to work with her at a Tin House Residency. This was a dream for me. Her work shaped me as a writer and changed me as a human. But I was unable to attend. I was pregnant with Franklin, and it was a high-risk pregnancy; I could not travel. And I never did meet her, but I am forever grateful that I have her books, that we have her books. Thank you, Dorothy.

In September, our beloved cat, Soda Pop, passed away, and four years ago, we lost our dog, Pretty Lady (no, I did not name her 💁🏻‍♀️). Finally ready to get another pet, I came across a unicorn (for me) of a dog and began the adoption application process. Things seemed to be moving forward, and then I was informed that another family who’d put in an application before me was adopting the dog. I am disappointed and sad and trying to accept that this was not meant to be. 

And, as I am sure you are aware, we had a polarizing election last week in America. (If you are a magical creature blissfully unaware of this, please teach me your ways.) Over the course of the past week, I've moved from despondent to furious to resolute, channeling that energy into actionable to-dos. 

But today, truthfully, I feel heartbroken. By the world. About everything.

Yes, I will be “okay.” I do believe we are in this together. How I feel will change. I will get my energy back to do what I can in and for my community. Yes, I have so much to be grateful for (but gratitude and grief/ gratitude and heartbreak/ gratitude and disappointment…. are not mutually exclusive; they can and do coexist, often).

So here we are.

I’ll leave you with one more of my favorite Dorothy Allison sentences: “Behind the story I tell is the one I don’t.”

Today, that’s all I’ve got. And today, I guess that’s enough.