A New Family Picture that does not involve unshowered bodies or matching clothing

November 7, 2020, My Beautiful and Wise Daughter, Jane.

I can breathe again. I won't be going to bed with my stomach in knots and my whole body feeling tight.

I won’t be listening to a President who gains momentum by tearing others down.

I won’t be going to sleep worrying that my children won’t have clean water to drink or clean air to breathe.

I won’t be going to sleep thinking about the horrific experiences of children being torn from their mother’s and father’s arms because they were seeking refuge.

I won’t be living in fear of the rapidly-growing racist attitudes and prejudice—that someday harm would come upon my baby that I have now and my future children. That my sister and my cousin and others that I love won’t be stripped of their rights and feel like they are any less of a human being than the rest of us.

If this election wasn’t going to change anything for you and if you didn’t see the harm that Trump was causing, that is great and I’m sincerely glad that you have that privilege.

But it is more than just an election for many people, including my family. It is about compassion for others who are less fortunate, who don’t have that privilege.

If you are disappointed, I’m sorry. But please know there are families all over the nation that are holding their loved ones close, and crying tears of joy and relief for the first time in 4 years.

If I ask one thing from my loved ones and friends who don’t agree with me, it is to please just have a little compassion and recognize what it means for so many people. I’m not an extreme leftist by any means, but I can tell you that the left is not all the evil you may think it is. It doesn’t mean I support killing babies. Please don’t misunderstand or assume that you know everything about me and my beliefs, or anyone else’s for that matter. I will do the same for you.

It means that I see this as the way to value and respect and save ALL human lives. It means I am seeking to keep the minorities in mind, whatever that may look like, and give them hope and let them know that they are not forgotten.

I am one of those people holding my baby close, crying tears of joy, and celebrating tonight.

Because I finally feel a sense of hope, peace, and safety.