July 4th is still my favorite holiday

Thank you, Kamala

When I was in middle school the local paper wrote that I wanted to be the first female President. I will not be. But even then, I believed that a Black woman could absolutely be President and on Tuesday Kamala proved it. Half of this country voted for a Black, South Asian, WOMAN. That is incredible. She didn’t win, but she came closer than we ever have before. Plus two Black women are in the Senate! And other good news that I am too tired to think of! Young people around the country stood in line for HOURS to vote! Is that voter suppression? Absolutely. Is it also amazing that so many people cared enough about their Democracy to go to the polls and stand in line? Absofuckinglutely.

I am sure that most of you reading this, unlike the vast majority of my little Arizona town, are feeling like garbage today. And that’s ok. But, honestly, I thought I’d be mad and mostly I just feel really hopeful. Kamala had three months to convince the country to vote for her and she did almost it. And she broke records. Holy shit. What a country. The world is on a rightward swing and it is going to be painful, upsetting, and often, pretty embarrassing. But it is not the end. Not if we don’t choose for it to be. I feel so much hope, resilience, and as much love for this country today as I had yesterday. I will still be watching John Adams on the 4th of July. I will be in the halls of Congress in January advocating for my bill. I will be helping someone get an ID tomorrow. It is totally healthy to work through your rage, sadness, and utter confusion. But then, I hope you come back to hope, to joy, and the to true promise of this country. A promise that we have the privilege of working to make true.

Choose the Bear Kate Gorton aka The Girl with a Microphone and I hilariously recorded this episode before the election thinking that surely we wouldn’t know the results yet. But if you ignore how much we’re wrong it’s still pretty great.

What to watch, read, or listen to Something that makes you happy, something that makes you joyful, something that makes you forget.

Don’t give up hope,

Kat