I don't even know what to say. I don't have the words to express my joy, relief, hope, and pure jubilation. And I know I'm not the only one. All over the country, all over the world people are celebrating, dancing in the streets, releasing the fear and uncertainty, the horror and the pain we've experienced for the past four years, chasing away the orange demons with our finally-let-out breaths, our cries of glorious rejoicing, our tears made up of all it.
Let it out, let it out, let it out!
I was having a nice day as it was. August woke up at 6:40 this morning and immediately began talking as if his switch had been powered on full strength. He got in the bed with us and I actually laughed with him and we all snuggled a bit until finally Boppy said, "Okay, let's go watch TV," and I immediately went back to sleep. When I got up I made the best biscuits I've made in forever, fluffy as can be and they were delicious with butter and homemade jelly and preserves.
August staring into space, eating his biscuit. I think he ate two.
And just before we all sat down to eat, Owen and Jason showed up with a deer to clean. Owen got meat for the family early this morning. One shot. Clean. Done. So that was happening. And this too, right after breakfast.
August and Levon helped dig the hole where the deer's parts that we can't use would be returned to the earth. Even many of the bones were saved from this deer to smoke for Pepper and Sammy, Owen's dogs. Owen dug most of the hole but these boys had to get involved, being the professional diggers that they are. I never thought that I'd be part of a family that hunted but here I am. And I would not trade this family for anyone's.
In the middle of all of this activity, I got a text from a darling beloved friend.
"Holy shit Mary they're calling Joe Biden on the news stations now President Elect is today it?!?!"
And that is how I found out and thus, there has been one more of those moments added to my life in which I will always remember where I was when a hugely momentous event happened.
Most of these moments are moments of tragedy- John Kennedy's assassination. John Lennon's assassination. 9/11.
But some are moments of pure and glorious joy.
The moments of each of my children's and grandchildren's births.
Obama's election.
And here's a beautiful one- when Lily told me she was pregnant with Owen on the day we all got together to watch Barack Obama's inauguration.
And now I will always remember where in my yard I was standing on a Saturday morning when I got a text telling me that the election had been called for Biden.
A few seconds later I got another text from another dearly beloved friend confirming the news. They live on different sides of the country so I knew it was for real and honestly true.
I screamed out loud! And began to shake. And soon I was crying and I've cried on and off all day but mostly I've just been feeling incredibly thankful and grateful and celebratory and lighter.
Lighter than I've felt in four years.
Joe and Kamala. Can you believe it? One of our oldest, most seasoned political figures with a vice president who is a young and incredibly intelligent and energetic woman and a beautiful example of what America really looks like. Two decent people. Two good people. Two people who are not cartoons or religious fanatics or homophobes or xenophobic or misogynists or pussy grabbers or child cagers or science deniers or climate change deniers or cheats or cons or hucksters or, or, or...
And our first lady will be Dr. Jill Biden, thank you very much, and we shall have a vice presidential HUSBAND who appears to be supportive and loving and strong and a good man.
How could you not love this picture?
I'm thinking that Melania is getting her divorce papers in order and also, that she's saying, "Fuck Christmas decorating! For real! I von't be doing that bullshit again! Be best yourself, you stupid asshole Donald! I'm out of here!"
Ooh boy. I better stop now before I tell you how I really feel.
The next few months are going to be wild but for right now, let's celebrate and be happy. We all have a lot of work to do and as I said before, I do not envy Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. But we have their backs.
Amen AND Hallelujah!
Love...Ms. Moon
P.S. On top of everything else, this happened today.
It's been a wonderful, wonderful day! I've cried off and on myself, including when I first saw the news in a text from a friend. I had been cleaning the kitchen, momentarily not thinking about the election at all, and when I finally went to grab my phone that was charging in my bedroom and saw the text I almost couldn't make sense of it for a minute. What glorious relief!! I met up with two friends for a very careful outing to a small Mexican restaurant for lunch and between the three of us we polished off two pitchers of margaritas. Then another friend asked me to come by her house later when she got off work and we had champagne! And I still have champagne in my fridge that I won't open until later tonight when my man gets off work. He was so thrilled when I texted him today! He said this is the best birthday present ever (his birthday is coming up on Monday). I SO WISH I could be in Philly partying with all those people in the streets, but come to think of it partying here in the comfort of my home with people I love is better.
ReplyDeleteSorry for rambling dear Mary, as I said I've done some drinking and I'm still feeling electric with excitement and joy. I don't know how I'll ever get to sleep tonight! And one last thing: how wonderful is it that the first woman Vice President (and a woman of color at that!) was elected on the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage?!?! It's all just so great!
I hope you enjoyed those margaritas. I would have got legless if it hadn't already been the middle of the night when we heard the news here in France!
DeleteJennifer- sounds like you had a perfect day! From margaritas to champagne- joy and excitement. Yes. I highly approve of all of that. And the coincidence of Kamala's election being one hundred years after women's suffrage is marvelous. I only wish it could have happened much earlier but better late than never.
DeleteI have been ecstatic all day, but have had to put myself in timeout from the facebook. I've kept my mouth shut for 3.8 years and I've come unglued today, responding to the lies that Cheeto's followers have regurgitated. But then, from time to time, I imagine him cleaning out his underwear drawer or throwing a cry-baby tantrum and I'm happy all over again. I'm watching the celebrating on CNN right now. It's a thing of beauty!
ReplyDeleteI have whittled down my FB friends to only people who are NOT Trump supporters which helps tremendously. Fuck those who are. I wonder if secretly, Trump will be happy to move back to where his toilets are golden.
DeleteI'm too happy to talk! I keep thinking of all the awful people who will be gone, gone, gone. It's taking time for the weight to lift off my heart.
ReplyDeleteBut it's wonderful. They rang the church bells in Paris!
They rang the church bells in Paris! That is a beautiful, beautiful image.
DeleteIt *is* a day to remember exactly what you were doing when you heard news! My heart feels lighter than it has in a long time.....and wine is flowing! I think much of the word will feel lighter today as well, which is a wonderful thing
ReplyDeleteSusan M
that was supposed to read *much of the WORLD*......too much wine already LOL
DeleteI never even would have noticed "word" for "world" had you not pointed it out. Let's hear it for lighter hearts!
Deleteoh my fucking god yes
ReplyDeleteAmen to all the fucking gods!
Deleteoh glorious day!!! we have kicked the evil out of the White House.
ReplyDeleteGonna be a long >2 months. But we shall survive.
DeleteA momentous day. I am looking at my TV here in Yorkshire - about to watch Joe and Kamala addressing the American people from Wilmington, Delaware. I know he will be dignified, thoughtful and humble as well as joyous - in direct contrast with the previous uncivilised incumbent.
ReplyDeleteI loved their speeches. What did you think?
DeleteWonderful news in 2020, finally!
ReplyDeleteI am so thankful.
Me too, honey. All of us here are so thankful.
DeleteWonderful day! I've cried, I've danced, I've cried again. Now I'm drinking a dark and stormy in celebration with my husband. Such relief.
ReplyDeleteDark and stormy! Mmmm...
DeleteI need to revisit those at some point. Perhaps for the inauguration?
I heard by old fashioned land line phone when my son,daughter in law and grandchildren called. It is so exciting. Pretty soon we heard people coming out of their houses and cheering on our street. We joined them with our masks at a distance and my daughter and I had a nice cry. I feel lighter and I finally feel hope. My best to you Mary, and to your lovely family as well.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds perfect, terry! What a beautiful moment in time!
DeleteDid ya see those speeches??? I was on facebook yelling at family for being so hateful, and President-Elect Joe Biden is asking for us all to work together! Consider it done, sir!
ReplyDeleteThe speeches were great. I got teary all over again.
DeleteYes! Amen and hallelujah! We’re breaking out the good champagne here.
ReplyDeleteXoxo
Barbara
Certainly the correct time for the good champagne!
DeleteThe best possible news. That is a beautiful picture of Mr. and Mrs. Kamala.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it? Can you imagine anyone in T's whole enclave hugging a loved one like that?
DeleteI didn't know what a heavy burden I had been carrying these past 4 yrs until I felt it lift today. Glorious! I celebrated with a small, heart shaped chocolate edible. It is well with my soul.
ReplyDeleteAngie D
And that sounds like another perfect way to celebrate! Light hearts, light souls. Amen.
DeleteYes! I'm so grateful! Let the healing begin.
ReplyDeleteOh, how I hope!
DeleteA wonderful day all around but I'm waiting to celebrate until all the mess is gone and they are sworn in.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to take every opportunity to celebrate the upcoming events. Why limit ourselves to one?
Deletegirlfriend-I opened the Dom Peridom ($250 a bottle!!) with two friends and we drank the whole thing. First I cried through Kamala's speech, then cried through old Joe's.
ReplyDeleteGawd, what an effing horrible 3 + years it's been.
Now a moment of peace.
sigh,
Beth
Yay for you, Beth Coyote! I love that! If there was ever an appropriate occasion to open the Dom, that would be it for sure. Love you, woman.
DeleteOver here in England, I too am feeling ridiculously happy at the out come of your election. I just hope that the orange one goes quietly and not with toddler tantrums!! Let us hope that he can find some self respect and do the decent thing.
ReplyDeleteHe won't. He'll kick and scream until they have to drag his orange ass out. At least that's what I'm foreseeing. He's such a shithead.
DeleteAnd Rudy will remember that on this great day he was on a parking lot between an adult bookstore and a crematorium. It's comedy gold. You couldn't make it up.
ReplyDeleteI honestly cannot believe that story and yet- it's true! MY GOD!
Deletebaby boomers are going to get abused and treated like garbage in the retirement homes. Thanks to Trump pissing off every group of people, literally everyone hates baby boomers now. Maybe you boomers shouldn't have been so selfish and ruined your children's future with your short-sighted greed. Enjoy those retirement homes, and good luck, boomers!
ReplyDeleteHey buddy, how's your mommy's basement looking while you're sitting there wanking in your underpants. Still a virgin are you?
DeleteDude, I've been forgetting to delete you. That's how much I give a shit about what you think. Unless you're a bot in which case I give even less of a shit.
DeleteI feel like I've just been cured of pneumonia -- like I can breathe again for the first time in four years!
ReplyDeleteI'm laughing at Liz's comment above. That whole "Four Seasons" thing really WAS right out of SNL.
It was way too perfect, wasn't it? Oh, Rudy!
DeleteHappy news! What a relief!
ReplyDeleteThe happiest!
DeleteWith the orange turd in the punch bowl having been in office over there these past 4 years believe me it really HAS resonated around the world, mainly shock, horror and disbelief how such an uneducated, bigoted, spoilt, delusional narc could ever have been elected in the first place. The US is incredibly important of course, but for the most part, up until now, if you lived elsewhere you could mainly just ignore. That is, until the freak got elected. But believe me, I reckon I'm almost as ecstatic as you are that the giant orange baboon is going. I'm also leery as I reckon he will do as much damage as he can wherever he can out of spite. But you're right, let's bloody celebrate such wonderful news!
ReplyDeleteOh, I wouldn't be surprised if he trashed the White House while he trashes the government as much as he can. He is absolutely the worst human being ever to hold that office in history and we've had some really bad presidents. He makes Nixon look good. Or as I said to Jessie, "He gives shit a bad name."
DeleteI know the whole world is taking a deep breath of relief.