I woke up this morning to find this photo in my messages. It came from the contact I call August/Levon now that they are sharing a phone. A phone with a pretty bad camera. This was also waiting for me.
I assume my doter had just gotten home from her night shift.
I had no idea whether it was Levon or August who'd sent me this treasure trove of pictures and text. I replied anyway, "Thank you! You have a beautiful mama! Is that a real lizard?"
The answer came back, "No, that is a 3D printed dragon."
Well okay then. I have no more idea about how one goes about making a 3D printed dragon than I do about how I would go about making a 3D printed space station.
It turned out my morning correspondent was August. I think I will be sad when those two boys tire of the novelty of using their phone to send texts to their grandmother. Any clue I get from one of my grandchildren about what's going on in their brains is something I enjoy a lot. And of course, just the idea that they might want to interact with me on any level is precious.
It turned out my morning correspondent was August. I think I will be sad when those two boys tire of the novelty of using their phone to send texts to their grandmother. Any clue I get from one of my grandchildren about what's going on in their brains is something I enjoy a lot. And of course, just the idea that they might want to interact with me on any level is precious.
I am not filled with words today. I think I am going through something and I am not at all sure what it is or what the root cause is but I had another small panic attack this afternoon and yes, I'm pretty darn sure that's what it is. All the symptoms I have fit right into the panic attack profile. Mr. Moon was here and he held me and that helped tremendously and he got me a half a tiny Ativan to take and I suppose that helped too but not as much as his presence. He understands these things, having gone through them himself at times and although I wish he hadn't, it makes me feel as if he knows what I'm going through and that it is quite real.
I am certain that the stress of living with the news that gets worse and worse every day of the cruelty and horror of what the administration is doing is part of this whole situation for me. That stuff is a constant and it escalates so often seems it can't be taken in before the next unbelievable thing happens. All of that is like a dank gray blanket constantly blocking out the sun and whatever joy I may have so that any added worry or fear, however illogical, just kicks the whole panic process into high gear and here we go.
Yes. I should quit obsessing about the news which, by the way, I only get online, but if I try to back off, I feel even more anxious because how can we be prepared if we don't see what's coming?
Here- I saw a pileated woodpecker right beside the back porch this morning, loudly tattooing a rotten pecan branch for whatever it is that lives in a rotten pecan branch. I dug more crocosmia out of the dirt in front of the fence. I planted some chives in growing bags.
I texted with my grandson. The seeds in my garden are all coming up and it looks like rain and I can hear birds calling for it but I doubt we'll get much, if at all. Still. I know there will be rain again sometime.
I have snapper and field peas to cook.
I have a partner who is my safe harbor.
These things are all good and all real. I will try my best to hold on to them. I will try my best not to check every two hours to see if anything has changed for the better to give me even the tiniest sliver of hope for change.
That's all.
Love...Ms. Moon
Love...Ms. Moon

Out of all your words, the ones that stand out are "I have a partner who is my safe harbor". That resonates so much with me because I did not. I had a partner who said " stop worrying about it" and other comforting phrases.
ReplyDeleteYes. That is so comforting. One of my favorites is, "Just choose to be happy!"
DeleteWhich really only works if you were born happy as I was.
DeleteYes. It's almost like people saying, "Just decide to be more intelligent!"
DeleteThe sweetness of those texts with your grandson. And of Mr. Moon holding you until you came through to the other side. Reality is hard to process right now and perhaps the only sane thing to do is to pull our focus in when we get overwhelmed, and keep our gaze on those we love, who love us. Put our trust in love. Here’s my hand, sweet friend. Let’s breathe together.
ReplyDeleteThank you, my love. Thank you always and forever.
DeleteI love those boys and their news.
ReplyDeleteI think many people are having panic attacks at every thing that happens. That's why I try to make my blog a safe space.
You are right about a lot of people feeling the effects of all of this in ways that are very uncomfortable. I guess I do not make my blog an especially safe place but it IS safe for people to recognize that others feel and react in the same way they do.
DeleteI had a meltdown on Friday. I’m happy to hear you have support. I don’t check every two hours but i do feel i have to LOOK so i can be prepared. It’s not easy but we’re right here beside you on this fucking journey we’ve been forced to take.
ReplyDeleteIn better news, i love that those two boys keep you in the loop! You are loved!
Yes! I can always think about my beautiful grandchildren.
DeleteWhat a great dragon, even if out of focus. My philosophy is kind of lame, so just ignore it if it sounds that way.
ReplyDeleteI am what I eat. Not just the food, but the things I see around me, and hear. And read about in news items. I record news broadcasts and fast forward through the spots where I know the liar-in-chief is spouting off. I excuse myself when a conversation with friends focuses on some of the awful things happening in the world today.
I may be putting my head in the sand, but it's to protect the sensitivity of my own life. Anxiety is already there, and I try to feed it as little as possible. I have stopped (mostly) sharing the things that are related to current events, even about the environment.
Basically I'm trying to follow the advice of the Serenity Prayer.
I so wish I could be more like you are. I've never been very good at practicing the Serenity Prayer. I let anger and fear have too much place in my life and I know it.
DeleteI'm afraid we are facing 4 years of chaos.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I am starting to expect nothing less and even tune things out.
To maintain sanity, anything done with the intent to self-protect is important.
I have to believe; friendship and family will get us through some very tough times.
August and Levon are having fun with their phone and their texts to you are wonderful, happy gifts. You enter their world of wonder and delight.
I am afraid it's going to take a very long time after this administration (if they do get kicked out- they're trying their best not to let that happen) for things to settle down at all.
DeleteThose boys are sweeties and they do have very serious thoughts along with all the rest.
I’m old enough and realistic enough to know I won’t see the restoration of what was until so recently a great, if flawed, democracy. The deliberate despoliation of this nation by the little puppet’s handlers is as well orchestrated as it is despicable. Margaret
DeleteYou are exactly right.
Delete"Out of my head, into my hands" are the guiding words of my life now. Long time news junkie just isn't keeping me sane.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds good. Wish I could do it.
DeleteI can only keep busy. It is such a surreal time. I often wish that I had a magic wand.
ReplyDeleteStaying busy is the best thing I can do too but that is hard when depression joins in with the anxiety.
DeleteMy anxiety has never been worse. We all are just doing our best.
ReplyDeleteOh, Jill. I am so sorry.
DeleteYou have perfectly expressed my own feelings about the news. The grey blanket vs the need to be prepared I’m so glad you have a safe harbor. Anxiety is a perfectly natural response. I don’t know that any of us will be unscathed. We can just love each other extra hard. Sending you love,
ReplyDeleteXoxo
Barbara
I believe that anyone who comes through this time unscathed has something deeply wrong with them. Or else they're the Dalai Lama.
DeleteI think checking the news just once a day might be a fine idea. I love that August and Levon like to keep in touch. If the birds are calling I'd say rain is on the way.
ReplyDeleteEven once a day can be a complete shock to the system.
DeleteI live in Portland, yes, THAT Portland, and every time I see/hear that orange turd (channeling my Mom with that term) I want to scream. He does nothing but lie every time he opens his mouth. He finally really pissed off a Federal Judge here with the CA and TX Natl. Guard orders! As our Chief of Police said; "it's ONE square block" where there is a mostly peaceful protest-this is not 2020. We had nearly 12,000 runners here for the Portland Marathon and half marathon today and they ran part of the race very near the ICE facility.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see a Pileated woodpecker and lucky you to have such a wonderful relationship with your grandkids. That is something to cherish and I know that you do.
Of course Trump and the troops of National Guards are the ones causing chaos and danger. And Trump knows that.
DeleteIt’s so difficult to keep yourself from checking the news. And it’s definitely a major part of our anxiety right now. I’m not glad Mr. Moon has been here himself, but I’m glad he came through it and now truly understands how hard it is. SG went through a really tough time some years back and it completely changed how he relates to me. It really is hard to emphathize if you haven’t experienced it yourself. Just stick with your doter!
ReplyDeleteGlen understands up to a point...and then he doesn't, really. He's never been a person who suffers from depression. Once, really, since I knew him and boy, that was bad but I think he's blocked that. But he has learned over the years that he cannot "fix" me and just knows that his presence is what I need so I can call on him if I get to that place. I am sorry to hear that SG had such a hard time. Damn.
DeleteMy doter is a blessing.
One of the hardest lessons for SG was to stop trying to make me feel better and instead just be there.
DeleteYes. That is indeed the hardest thing.
DeleteMr. Moon sounds like a real gem of a person, and I know you are grateful that he is there to support you and hold you up. Like you, I feel great anxiety and trepidation about our country. It seems like everything has gotten so cruel and vicious. I don't think the major players in the administration have hearts.
ReplyDeleteI've been saying the Republicans are cruel for a long time. Our governor in Florida is a prime example. He seems to want to hurt as many people as he possibly can and he's doing a great job of it. You're right- those people have no hearts. What happened to make them this way?
DeleteI "Snapchat" with my oldest 2 grandkids and that's really the only way I keep in contact with them. They live in northern Wisconsin and are too far away for a quick visit. They are busy and we don't get a chance to get together anymore and I do miss them so. But "Snapchat" is better than no chat so that's what we do.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you have a supportive family to hug you and hold you when you need it. xo
Well, thank goodness for Snapchat.
DeleteIt is horrible out there, what's being done with only the judges trying to stop it but that takes so long and by the time they declare it illegal, it's already done. Unelected far right religious and racist extremists are running the government, running roughshod over this country. And Txxxx could not care less as long as they praise him. I never thought our democracy would fall to fascism and so fast in my lifetime.
ReplyDeleteTexts from grandsons are a good antidote as is working in the garden, nurturing the earth. It's all we've got.
And it appears that the administration is completely ignoring these judicial rulings.
DeleteNo. I don't think any of us foresaw this happening in our lifetime.
I'm right there with you, Ms. Moon. -Nicol
ReplyDeleteWe have to stick together.
DeleteI know what you mean about the omnipresent dread of the news. I try not to read too much of it -- and I only get it by reading, which I'm convinced is better for mental health than getting it on TV or via social media -- but it still fills me with sorrow and a kind of hopelessness. I get it.
ReplyDeleteThe texts from August are adorable. I love the dragon, though only in the 3-D physical sense, not the metaphorical sense.
I'm a little shocked we're not all micro-dosing make-me-feel-good-drugs.
DeleteI'm also surprised that opium dens haven't come back in style. I think a lot of people would be quite happy to chase a dragon of their own.
I wonder if the sales of marijuana products have gone up here in Portland :) Lea
DeleteLea- somehow your comment got caught in spam. I have no doubt that weed sales everywhere are on the rise.
DeleteHugs to you Ms. Moon. I also feel very angry about the disgraceful conduct of the people in the White House. I am grateful you have such a strong support system. I too have a strong support system. We just need to keep our wits about us, and carry on. Your dinner sounds like it will be delicious.
ReplyDeleteAs long as I can still cook...
DeleteWe do have to keep our wits about us. You are right. And thank god for strong support systems.
I’m with you too xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you, John. It is so hard to be a human sometimes.
Delete