Monday, November 05, 2018

Vote Like Your Life Depends on It!

Mostly it was the majestic, leathery oaks we admired in their brown-and-burgundy splendor. But the odd maple was still showing off.
My loves, just popping by to remind you to vote tomorrow, and to remind you to remind whomever in your life might need reminding!

I enjoyed an extra-loving piece of popcorn shrimp.
We canvassed in upstate New York over the weekend, talking to people in NY19 about Antonio Delgado, among other things. Folks wanted to talk about how they don't like his rap background--he is somehow a thug who is also a snob, being a Harvard grad and Rhodes Scholar--and we did not say, "Spare us the thin, thin screen over your racism." We listened and tried to understand how politically unseen people felt. A man with a huge and fully toothless smile gently shook Birdy's hand and noted that his wife was also named Birdy. The trees blazed. I drank what was possibly the best glass of beer of my life, given that I do not believe in sifting political work out from the pleasures this short life has to offer. Life is good. (Edited to add: And also terrible and terrorized.)

Bat girl.
Also, I've been writing! In addition to my regular etiquette column, I have a feature in the November Real Simple about being or having a house guest. (I loved writing it). I wrote for diaTribe about low-carb packed lunches. I wrote about Thanksgiving for Family Circle. And I wrote for O Magazine about my love affair with the local public library. Motherwell reran my "It Gets Better" essay. I read Strange Beauty and Lake Success, two very different books, and loved them both.


Soon I'll tell you about the amazing dal I've been making in my InstantPot. In the meantime, vote, get out the vote, love the ones you're with. xo

21 comments:

  1. Anonymous2:16 PM

    REALLY?!?! Not a single comment about Pittsburgh????? Beyond disappointed.

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    1. I am sorry to disappoint you, although I don't feel like an anonymous scolding is so much what typically moves me to respond. I am numb and raw from Pittsburgh. I had meant to make just a quick "Go vote" post, but then it got longer and more hopeful. I do not mean to make anyone feel stranded in their grief.

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    2. Anonymous7:31 PM

      I so appreciate your thoughtful reply, and apologize for the tone of my comment. I've been reading your posts since before Birdy was born, and am often heartened, inspired, and comforted by your words about both the personal and the political. In this current terrible political climate and with the recent events, I think I was just expecting (hoping for?) more. You've been so insightful in the face of other tragedies that a comment like "life is good" seemed strangely out of place. But it was misdirected anger, sadness, confusion, all of it on my part... I think numb and raw (and terrified) sums it up well. Thanks very much for taking the time to respond.

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    3. Your response made me cry. I really, really hear you, and I'm sorry. And I so appreciate your understanding. And "misdirected anger, sadness, and confusion" is pretty much my whole entire life right now. I'm sorry not to have offered more, and I am so glad and grateful that you checked back in. With so much love. xo

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    4. Anonymous9:50 AM

      This exchange gave me so much hope. When we are human, honest, respectful and compassionate with each other, when we really hear each other, that gives me hope that healing is possible in this world we are living in. My heart aches. And refused to give up hope. Love to both of you. --Cathy K

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    5. Anonymous3:41 PM

      Thank you for the kind words, Cathy K, and thank you, Catherine for your grace toward me. Wishing you both more peaceful days ahead.

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    6. Just reading this exchange made me feel more human. It felt like a gift, especially in this climate.

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  2. Catherine, thank you, as always, for sharing bits of your life and family and work with us.

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  3. I am in Canada. I can only hope and hope and hope all goes well for you over there. We aren't immune up here either.

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    1. Thank you, dear JennX. Fingers crossed for all of us! xo

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  4. Thank you for speaking to voters, for listening and trying to understand others, for raising such an engaged daughter, and for sharing all this with us.

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  5. Thank you for this post and your work; you are a gem. I early-voted in MN last week, as have most of my friends here--too eager to wait until today. Fingers crossed for positive change. On another note, I have been wondering and thinking about Ben at college and fervently hoping he is happy and well. You know we fellow moms feel protective of him, seeing as how many of us have read about him since his toddlerhood. xoxo

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  6. So Delgado won.... good work, guys!

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  7. Snuggling in soon to read your pieces. So looking forward to a Catherine catch-up. Your words are balm to my weary soul. 💕

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  8. Catherine your writing and reflections make my day (week? month?)! I have an account on Feedly just to see if you post :)

    Can't wait to hear about the dal (winter is coming), and I hope you'll throw in some game suggestions, too. Much love to you and yours and the 100 women going to the House!

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  9. Are those bat wings made out of fleece? We did that for our summer girl's camp two years ago (except we called them dragon wings) - theme was Fantasy Camp - the girls were over the moon to have dragon wings and wore them all week long despite the sweltering heat of mid-June Alabama.
    Of course, it sucks to be in Alabama. I always need a day of mourning. And then I remind myself of Doug Jones and the numbers are coming up and we'll start next week planning for next time. Over joyed to see more women in place. Yay!

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  10. I just read your Thanksgiving article and as someone who hosts every year all I can say is YES to all of it. Best advice ever!!!

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  11. I too loved your Thanksgiving article! Saving it for when my son becomes a weekend guest at friends. Wish I could find the article online!

    Thank you !!

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  12. Ryann4:29 PM

    OH - that feeling when a librarian or book seller comments positively on your choice - LOVE!

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  13. alison12:39 PM

    I seemed to have lost the link to your advice column. I actually thought you had stopped writing it. Can you link to it again?

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