Beloved friends,
There's a ratty old fence around the athletic field in town; it's due to be replaced in the spring. One woman, Alex Anagnostopoulos, got a bee in her bonnet about the possibility of making public art here and spent two years diligently working to bring about the Outsiders Street Art Project Port Townsend, the first community public art project to be approved by the my county. Apparently the fact that the site is county land within the city made it extra complex to get all the needed approvals. Nevertheless, she persisted (I couldn't resist!), and now there is a three-block-long canvas awash with the art of my neighbors in the middle of town.
There is painting, stencil, collage, and poetry. There is work by children and adults. There is joyful art, mournful art, reverent art, irreverent art. This expanse of public artist expression has been met with widespread enthusiasm. The fence clearly has to go, but people want the art to stay, which has me feeling hopeful about the future of public art in our community. Art – particularly imperfect and inexpert art! – feels extra potent right now because joy and personal expression are delicious ways to undermine the dreary monotonous conformity beloved of fascism. The piece of art that heads this missive was my favorite on the day I first walked through; I imagine that might change as there is so much to love! Goodness, though, what a glorious piece that is. I cannot look at it without smiling.
Eccentricity, kind-heartedness, curiosity: all of these are anti-fascist means and medicines. Dan Savage made a comment in his column a while ago which rung me like a bell; I shared it here at that time and have been thrilled to see it spread widely and wildly. "During the darkest days of the AIDS crisis, we buried our friends in the morning, protested in the afternoon, and danced all night."
It's time to dance, friends! I've been finding myself craving laughter, too. Have you? A few weeks ago I posted to Facebook, "I am finding that staying awake to what is happening around and to us requires me to be more vigilant about my self-care to stay well; to balance the sorrow I am called to thoughtful choices. One of the things that's helping is laughter. Remembering that life is beautiful is a steady part of my living, and remembering that life is funny really helps, too, so I've been leaning into comedy more in my entertainments. I find comedy a tricky genre; since we use it to reinforce social norms, it can get prickly! I love to find comedy that deeply vibes with my values. Often that means queer comedians. I wonder who you love to laugh with who is really good-hearted, and who is not propping up the patriarchy? I'd like to gather some good comedians both for myself and to share in my newsletter."
Lots of suggestions followed! Feel welcome to check out the thread. I'll be sharing some of these laughter artists with you in the Resources section over time because laughter is a valuable resource! If you'd like to share a suggestion, I'd be delighted to hear from you.
Resources
Laughter is the Best Medicine
The first person who responded to my call for socially aware comedians suggested that I check out Tina Friml's work. Tina has cerebral palsy, and here's a clip in which she speaks to that. Here's another in which she speaks about her sexual renaissance. Here she simple shares – not as a comedy– about her experience speaking as a person with cerebral palsy. If she lifted your heart or opened your eyes, you might follow her on Instagram or check out her website to see more of her. Thanks to Adi
Inspiration
James and I met Ash and Scott in Mexico along the path of their voyage from Oakland, California to Richmond, Virginia. We spent just 24 hours together: dinner in the evening, a trip to the weekly waterfront market of farmers and artists the next morning where I pointed them toward my favorite vendors. Ash and I formed a sweet connection and have supported one another in reestablishing life on land. If you've been in my Workshops for Living in the past few years or attended the donation-based Tuesday morning Meditation Gathering, perhaps you've met Ashley Gremel, too!
On the day we spent together, Ash handed me Alexis Pauline Gumbs' Undrowned: Black Feminist Lessons from Marina Mammals. This book, like Ash's friendship, is a powerful gift: writing by a poet about lessons in solidarity, liberation, resistance, and living – Black feminist lessons – arising from from her contemplation of marine mammals. Each essayette begins by examining facts about a particular creature, flows into contemplation, and peaks in an emphatic, ecstatic poetic expression. Her meditation upon the orca the Miami Seaquarium called Lolita and who the Indigenous Lummi people of her home waters called Tokitae and Sk'aliCh'elhtenaut includes this passage:
"What does it actually mean to love someone whose love leads generations? Ecosystems shape themselves around her. Great and small dream her at night. What does it mean to love someone who has seen her children taken, and, at the risk of capture, stayed to witness and scream? Who will carry around the corpse of her child until her grief has reached another stage? Who will not pretend that her heart is not broken when it is? Do we know how to love a love that huge and unapologetic? Could we learn that?"
This work is jubilant, mournful, defiant, life-affirming. Perhaps you, too, would find this book a useful medicine?
After drafting these words to share with you, someone who attends my evening yoga series shared her excitement about having been assigned to a new project researching local whales, which she volunteers for in addition to her full-time job. I immediately left the room, grabbed that book off my desk, and handed it to her. The gift flows on. Thanks to Ash
Toward Stability
As a yoga therapist I am occasionally in the position of suggesting to someone that they might consider using a cane. As a person who lives in a body, there are times when I have walked with a cane. I have found through these experiences that the tricky edge is folks who don't always need a cane but benefit from one on occasion. Someone might need a cane when the ground suddenly becomes more uneven than anticipated, when weariness decreases stability, or to signal to others in a crowd that they should not be knocked around. I was therefore delighted to learn of the Quickfold Cane, which folds into three pieces, snaps open at a touch, and folds easily.
If you have loved ones who might benefit from a cane and feel hesitant about it, another excellent option can be hiking poles, which folks are often more open to using than canes. Hiking poles have the added benefit of coming in pairs for broader stability. I keep a pair in the closet of our guest room, and there's a Quickfold Cane on the way to join them. Thanks to Kelly Dawson and Cup of Jo
Just the Word
Last week I mentioned that autumn had arrived with a many-days-long windstorm. Someone kindly taught me that there's a word for that sound of the wind in the trees: psithurism (SITH yur iz um)! Thanks to Jessica
Resistance
Last week I shared my intention to begin taking steadfast daily resistance actions. I'm pleased as punch that I've kept my word. Every day at 5pm my calendar reminds me to take 5 minutes to make some calls or write some letters. Having a buddy to check in with, cheer each other on, and share resources with has been such a boon! Thanks to Tricia and Aimee
My intention most days is to follow Jess Craven's suggestions in Chop Wood, Carry Water. Heidi reached out after checking that out last week and said, "I love how she makes doing something to combat the horrors so approachable!" and "My mom really loved the Sunday newsletter!! The endless negative news really wears on her 84 year old self. (As it does all of us!)" The Sunday newsletter is a roundup of wins and positive political news. Reading about dozens of resistance actions, lawsuits, and successes is so uplifting!
Science Fight Club
This new organization says, "We formed the Science Fight Club for people like us - scientists, students, health workers, researchers and academics, patients and parents, activists and science allies - who have been waking up each morning since January 20th feeling more and more disempowered by Trump's destruction of the twin institutions of science and health in America." I see that they have strong female leadership; 8 of the 9 people in the organization's staff appear to be women on their website. You could check them out here.
A Careful Information Diet
I've been enjoying WTF Just Happened Today, a newsletter which offers a summary of the daily actions of the executive branch in a single sentence with brief expanded details on each topic. Media Bias Fact Check gives them solid ratings.
Supporting Me in Supporting You
I invest half of a day in the creation of this newsletter each week, for which I earn less than I'd get paid if I spent that time working at McDonald's. I want to keep this up! I want to continue to offer it freely for widest access. That will only be possible if folks who can support my work choose to do so. I'd be grateful for your support in supporting you! You can upgrade to a paid subscription for as little as $5/month.
Sharing my newsletter with others when it moves you is also a wonderful support; this increases my readership and that hopefully leads to more donation as well.
Thank you for your support of my work, which means more to me now than ever and puts food on my table.
