My Sanity Project

Pretty isn’t it? Nature helps keep one sane. Thankfully, we live in a place of beauty.

Been quite a January in the good old USA.  Many of us, at least 80 million, but I bet more, were holding on for January, especially January 20 and the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. We were ready to kick the shit storm known as 2020 out the door and welcome in something better, something adult, something competent, something calm and reassuring.

The month started out ok with two Democrats winning senate seats. While winning two seats was wonderful, all the criminal behavior leading up to the win….well it left many of us nauseous, anxious, and frightened — just like the previous four years. Millions, I believe, of Americans feared what additional terror the previous president might unleash in his final days.

That’s when I started mulling the idea of a sanity project.

Then January 6, as millions were watching (especially those who mostly hunker down during the pandemic) what was supposed to be the rather uneventful administrative process of certifying the electoral college votes, we witnessed the former president and other elected officials incite armed rioters, urging them to fight and march toward the Capitol, where our country’s leaders were meeting.

I watched in anxious horror as the riots unfolded, our Capitol desecrated, people killed and seriously injured. You’ve watched it, you’ve seen the videos. Millions of us felt nauseous, anxious, frightened, again, and filled with rage.

Time for my sanity project………

While the evening before the inauguration gave Americans a needed opportunity to remember, honor, and grieve those who passed from COVID-19 and all we’ve lost as a nation and while the inauguration was inspiring, emotional, beautiful and full of competent, strong smart women, 

I still needed a sanity project.  I felt, had been feeling, my grip loosening on…..everything. Go figure.

Vaccinations, while on their way, are still weeks? Months? Who knows how far away….? As a nation we are under threats from domestic terrorists, new strains of the damn virus, financial ruin and according to the scientists (Yes, science is back) we need to double-down on our COVID 19 precautions for….well a long time.

January has felt like a year and 2020 felt like 20 years. For now, I’ll attempt to remain mostly sane by posting nature photos, photos of my street dog, and a few of my other pandemic partner. Since we now don’t travel or do much of anything else, I can discuss what’s good on HBO, Netflix, PBS, Acorn TV, and the like.

Distancing snow shoeing in Edison Sno-Park wonderland. I felt fairly sane that day.

On Feb. 1, my guy will celebrate 4 years post-cancer surgery. That’s something to celebrate with my two pandemic partners.

I’ll end with some cuteness. Cuteness helps with sanity.