I wrote my postcards for Josh Stein last week, I wrote 80ish letters in the last 3 weeks so that felt like a lot—my postcards went to Charlotte, NC. Here in Guilford County I saw hour long waits at early voting. My MIL and parents only waited 15 min at their rec centers near their houses.
I had Covid last week too and watched Nobody Wants This. I’m reading an Olivia Dade novel, At First Spite. I don’t feel like I’m getting anything finished at work. There’s a lot of dissociation.
And on the parent front, I don’t know how we do it either, my kids are 7 and 5 and I’m pretty sure the only reason we survive is we have local grandparents and family who will watch our kids and I’m thankful for the public school system and their wonderful teachers who at least seem like they stay emotionally regulated with my kids. I chaperoned 2 field trips in the last 2 weeks and while it was exhausting, at least I wasn’t at work disassociating and my kids seemed to appreciate my presence.
As my election anxiety has been increasing, I've been thinking about you and wondering how you're holding up. My coping mechanism has been napping. It's not remotely productive. That and visual art and watching TV. I'm very much trying to limit how much news I take in.
Hi! Napping is an excellent strategy. 10/10. And yes we don’t watch cable news and Ill read the major papers in the morning online to get the lay of the land. Then I go “that’s enough for today” and check out
I am voting this Saturday (I think my husband will too), so as far as I’m concerned once I do that I may take a little break for a hot second to prepare for my daughter’s birthday party next week and not worry about who can I talk to to get them to vote for Kamala energy. It’s so stressful and I fully expect to sleep like absolute crap the night of the election- I am so anxious.
It IS hard to think about much else, even though I have no doubt we all have so many other things happening on top of all this insanity. I’m glad your bestie came to visit, mine is also in Chicago! It’s hard to live far away from people like that.
And I actually did some phone banking yesterday through mobilize - Turn PA Blue which basically has a list of Democrats you call to make sure they’ve gotten their ballots, answer any questions about down-ballot candidates and make sure they have voted or have a plan to vote. Because you’re talking to like-minded people it’s a lot easier. And there’s a script that pops up so you aren’t “winging it” at all, though I went off script as I got comfortable. They’re happy to hear from you. And a few hadn’t received ballots yet and there’s a place to enter that. There was so much enthusiasm, it really made me feel hopeful (and I was super anxious when I started because I had no idea if people were going to be angry/hang up/turn out to be a wrong number lol.) I’m gonna do it Tuesdays until the election. It’s great you’re writing letters. I just think whatever we can do. And my daughter plays Sims (that is not a dig, my daughter is extremely cool) and it’s amazing the way you can create entire worlds.
Anyway, loved this, Keri, related, and wanted to send a hug!! I am happy to wait for your long-form essays and look forward to them 🤍xo
Thank you Ally! I did some phone banking for Hillary in 2016, but it was work-sanctioned and with people I knew, and it was Fine but doing it on my own is another thing. This motivates me to sign back up! I am going to work with Showing up for Racial Justice - I attended some of their Zoom meetings - and they call folks in swing states.
Your support means so much and thanks again xo. These are hard, hard times (when have they NOT been over the past...*checks notes*....DECADE or so)
I was sort of laughing at myself for feeling anxious, but it’s the exact stuff I find abhorrent - calling someone who didn’t ask to be called, worrying about pissing someone off, not liking confrontation, not knowing if I’ll know what to say, etc, wrapped into one big ball. Plus I was calling at dinnertime so I was worried about that, too. But it was all fine and good, and I always think it’s beneficial to me to move outside my comfort zone once in a while. Or a lot lol. I wasn’t trying to push you, though. I think writing letters is equally effective and probably more effective for some voters. But if you do it, I hope it goes well!! And yes, a portal opened when he came down that fucking escalator and it has yet to close. Hoping we can close it soon, or at least reverse a lot of mayhem and vitriol 🙏🏼💪🏼🙏🏼
I wrote my postcards for Josh Stein last week, I wrote 80ish letters in the last 3 weeks so that felt like a lot—my postcards went to Charlotte, NC. Here in Guilford County I saw hour long waits at early voting. My MIL and parents only waited 15 min at their rec centers near their houses.
I had Covid last week too and watched Nobody Wants This. I’m reading an Olivia Dade novel, At First Spite. I don’t feel like I’m getting anything finished at work. There’s a lot of dissociation.
And on the parent front, I don’t know how we do it either, my kids are 7 and 5 and I’m pretty sure the only reason we survive is we have local grandparents and family who will watch our kids and I’m thankful for the public school system and their wonderful teachers who at least seem like they stay emotionally regulated with my kids. I chaperoned 2 field trips in the last 2 weeks and while it was exhausting, at least I wasn’t at work disassociating and my kids seemed to appreciate my presence.
Thank you for putting into words exactly what I am feeling. May this election put an end to our mass trauma!
I don't think it will end the trauma if it goes our way, sadly, but it may begin the healing process. Maybe.
As my election anxiety has been increasing, I've been thinking about you and wondering how you're holding up. My coping mechanism has been napping. It's not remotely productive. That and visual art and watching TV. I'm very much trying to limit how much news I take in.
Hi! Napping is an excellent strategy. 10/10. And yes we don’t watch cable news and Ill read the major papers in the morning online to get the lay of the land. Then I go “that’s enough for today” and check out
I am voting this Saturday (I think my husband will too), so as far as I’m concerned once I do that I may take a little break for a hot second to prepare for my daughter’s birthday party next week and not worry about who can I talk to to get them to vote for Kamala energy. It’s so stressful and I fully expect to sleep like absolute crap the night of the election- I am so anxious.
I am voting by mail this year. I can’t handle the anxiety of waiting until the day. Lord help us all.
The election anxiety is ramping up for me, and I can’t sleep well already because there is a lot going on in my head in addition to that.
It IS hard to think about much else, even though I have no doubt we all have so many other things happening on top of all this insanity. I’m glad your bestie came to visit, mine is also in Chicago! It’s hard to live far away from people like that.
And I actually did some phone banking yesterday through mobilize - Turn PA Blue which basically has a list of Democrats you call to make sure they’ve gotten their ballots, answer any questions about down-ballot candidates and make sure they have voted or have a plan to vote. Because you’re talking to like-minded people it’s a lot easier. And there’s a script that pops up so you aren’t “winging it” at all, though I went off script as I got comfortable. They’re happy to hear from you. And a few hadn’t received ballots yet and there’s a place to enter that. There was so much enthusiasm, it really made me feel hopeful (and I was super anxious when I started because I had no idea if people were going to be angry/hang up/turn out to be a wrong number lol.) I’m gonna do it Tuesdays until the election. It’s great you’re writing letters. I just think whatever we can do. And my daughter plays Sims (that is not a dig, my daughter is extremely cool) and it’s amazing the way you can create entire worlds.
Anyway, loved this, Keri, related, and wanted to send a hug!! I am happy to wait for your long-form essays and look forward to them 🤍xo
Thank you Ally! I did some phone banking for Hillary in 2016, but it was work-sanctioned and with people I knew, and it was Fine but doing it on my own is another thing. This motivates me to sign back up! I am going to work with Showing up for Racial Justice - I attended some of their Zoom meetings - and they call folks in swing states.
Your support means so much and thanks again xo. These are hard, hard times (when have they NOT been over the past...*checks notes*....DECADE or so)
I was sort of laughing at myself for feeling anxious, but it’s the exact stuff I find abhorrent - calling someone who didn’t ask to be called, worrying about pissing someone off, not liking confrontation, not knowing if I’ll know what to say, etc, wrapped into one big ball. Plus I was calling at dinnertime so I was worried about that, too. But it was all fine and good, and I always think it’s beneficial to me to move outside my comfort zone once in a while. Or a lot lol. I wasn’t trying to push you, though. I think writing letters is equally effective and probably more effective for some voters. But if you do it, I hope it goes well!! And yes, a portal opened when he came down that fucking escalator and it has yet to close. Hoping we can close it soon, or at least reverse a lot of mayhem and vitriol 🙏🏼💪🏼🙏🏼
You weren’t pushing me! It’s always good to hear about these experiences because I get so much in my head.
I’m convinced that the escalator started the portal, but the cubs winning the World Series right before the 2016 election opened it 😂😂😂