Election 2024 Aftermath

 On Wednesday people kept checking in on me. I avoided the news too. I was in shock. It was like when Princess Diana died. I couldn't believe it was real. I focused on the good things going on:

1. Preparing our plans for what to do when after Thanksgiving to prepare for Christmas

2. Invite and plan our New Year's Eve dinner to celebrate Josh's birthday and Guiney Pig my in-laws for baked ham. I have never made it but have my mom's recipe. I'm making it for Easter and need to test things. The meal plan is similar to when my mom hosted New Year's Eve. 

3.  Zach's 1,110 on the PSAT score arrived yesterday. 

Basically, I focused on family. I also reflected. Last time he was president I can't blame all of our problems on him. I can blame almost all. But not the biggest one. That is no longer an issue. Last time we lived in the condo and had run out of space and had very nosy neighbors. Like, one said "I saw you on your couch the other day, what were you doing?" (answer: crocheting). Another would come sit on his still and watch my window whenever I walked by like I was a TV show. 

Now, we are in a house and have fabulous neighbors. My yard looks the way I want it, we have an irrigation system to make watering easier starting in the spring, and the inside looks great too! It's a significantly improved living situation! 

I started thinking about what Trump said and what the next few years will be like. Here are some thoughts. 

1. Biden has nothing to lose. Juice the supreme court and term limit kick out Thomas and Alito replacing them. Senate can help too now without the house. Trump-proof the country!

2. So, Trump won't pull off this dictator goal for one big reason. Even if republicans control both the House and Senate, he won't get the votes. Too many of them want to be president themselves and have been waiting him out. They won't give up their own ambitions. 

3. He's lazy. He told people what they wanted to hear but is only likely to actually follow through on things that benefit him, his kids, and his business. Last time he took the actions he thought he needed for re-election. This time he is lame and a lame-duck the entire time. He also isn't stupid and knows he might die of natural causes while in office. Being narcissistic, he's only going to pursue what benefits him. Other than that, it'll be all talk no action. 

4. Democrats are going to have an easier time in local races! 2018 repeat! 

5. Research has shown that what did it was the high grocery bills. Voters ignored that a large portion of the country got raises under Biden and that a lot of those costs were due to nature, outside war, and other factors no one in American can control. 

Inflation is coming down but still high. I did a post 4 years ago: For Democrats to Win, Progressive Have to Lose. Those bills passed early on in Biden's presidency to please Progressives; voters are openly blaming them for the high inflation and the high prices. The lesson that will save the democratic party is to take my advice. Moderate is what wins, don't cater to Progressives. Kamala tied herself by catering to progressives in winter of 2020. She never shook that. 

A Walk Around My Yard

     We have done a lot of things this year around my property. Tomorrow morning the landscaper puts down the last two things. One of them is pathway slates but the final plants will be yellow daffodil bulbs. This is a "walk" around. It's the "yard tour" I take. A set path the takes me around everything. I do the same thing inside with my pictures and paintings. 

    A lot of these plants were at my house growing up. They hold sentimental value. I remember being put in leaf bags to squish the leaves down, jumping in leaf piles, and wandering the property like I do now. Letting my mind wander while getting lost in the plants. 

    I try to set it up where there is always or almost always something happening. Sometimes you have to look closely to see it. But that's the best part. Finding nature's hidden surprises. My current and past subscriptions to Fine Gardening have helped along the way. All of this made possible with the help of a new irrigation system! 

This is my "Sunny Daylily Bed". It's in the back next to the grill along my new patio (picture at the end). There is a story. They are alternating "Stella D'Oro" Daylilies and "Bright Sunset" Daylilies. I had my species confused. This bed was a mess, and we were starting from scratch. But my favorite perennial was there and removed. I confused 'Orange' Daylilies with 'Bright Sunset'. The ones blooming are 'Bright Sunset' daylilies. A happy accident. Here is a closer look. 

This is my "Fine Gardening Bed". 

'Walker's Low' Catmint (planted last year)

'Autumn Joy' Sedum (came with the house)

'Walker's Low' Catmint (planted in early September so next year it will be the same size as the other)

'Diane' Rose of Sharon (planted in May, summer blooming)

So, in 2013 or 2014 Fine Gardening did an article on powerhouse super-hardy plants that grow under a lot of conditions. The Catmint and Sedum I have were featured in that article. At the time, I got one of each for the condo. It took some thinking before I landed on the second Catmint next to the Rose-of Sharon. I searched the Fine Gardening website and didn't find the Rose of Sharon in it. It probably is somewhere though. If not, it should be! 

These sprouts will be my 'Orange' Daylilies:

They are Zach and my favorite perennial. We had them at my house growing up and they always were special to me. We had to get rid of these behind the grill (we added bricks and pushed the grill back). But it was important to me to make sure to have them!

This Hydrandia came with the house but was moved. 'Stella D'Oro' Daylilies used to be here but we got rid of them. This grew a lot this year and blooms blue flowers in the summer. 

 Can you see my 'Intermedia' Forsythia? If not, that's okay. It "hides in plain sight". My "spy" shrub! Forsythias are my favorite shrub. I always knew I wanted one at the house and it took until this May to find a good place for it. My bedroom window as a kid faced the driveway. Our neighbors had a row of Forsythias that hung over our driveway. I loved them so much! I see this from my office!

My 'Superform' Norway Maples. The species is a best guess based on research. This is tied for my favorite tree. Another plant from my childhood home. This one was my special secret as a kid. A neighbor had one and two saplings were growing between shrubs at our place. I'm the only one that saw the saplings because of my yard exploring. They are big now and beautiful. These came with the house and yes, are one of the things that drew me to the house. 

Believe it or not, these 'Fragrant Bouquet' Hostas are under the Norway Maples. I had ordered some plants on Amazon but the Hostas got delated in transit. Knowing Home Depot got some in recently, I ran there and got these! Don't worry, I'll tell you at the end about my deer trick. It's not perfect but, it's the best I have seen so far! 

I have pots all around the property. 16 places for annuals. This is 8 of them. While mums are technically perennials, they are treated as annuals by most people. Mums are tied with 'Antigua Gold' Marigolds (below) for my favorite annuals. 'Antiqua Gold' Marigolds are the first plant I planted in my own garden in 2008. Of course, later that season, when planting the Hyacinth bulbs, I lost a fight to a rock on the day I apparently started to grow more than plants! Zach was that treasure! 

This bed is my "White Bed" It's longer so I'll show you this in three pictures. 

 

If you look in the five holes you can see three sets of leaves. Those are 'Joan Senior' Daylilies and will be white. Between them are two 'Stainless' Daffodil bulbs. Also, white. Again, I try to time the yard, so something is almost always happening. These daylilies were from Amazon. These Daylilies, like the 'Orange' Daylilies arrived as "bare roots" plants. Those are the roots with bulbs but not as a root ball. It's okay, they are dormant anyway now but taking root. The flowering part is in those bulbs. They will be small the first year but will grow and spread. I am worried about one of them but remnants or a broken stem show that plant is healthy. 

Between the bunny sculptures is the 'Prelude' Andromeda. The center of the whole white bed. It's a dwarf Andromeda but at my childhood home we have a regular sized Andromeda. The white bell flowers always interested me, and it was next to the path leading to a neighbor's yard. We were friends with those neighbors. 

This was taken in August. It's a summer blooming vine and is quite dormant now! It's a Chinese Trumpet Vine that came with the house. 

This is my "Annuals Bed". 

Boxwood (came with the house)

Annuals (Mums and Ornamental Peppers)

'Goldstrum' Black-Eyed Susan (I planted soon after moving in)

Daffodil (Came with the house)

Dwarf Alberta Spruce (with the house)

The annuals are on a rotation, and I do have some artificials to fill the spaces when nothing is blooming. 

Pink Artificials (Early March)

Purple Pansies

'Antiqua Gold' Marigolds

Mums and Celosias (sub: Asters or Ornamental Peppers)

Mums and Cabbage (sub: Kale or Ornamental Peppers)

Orange Artificials

Red Artificials

Light Blue Artificials

Purple Artificials (just if the soil is thawed at the start of February)

My pots by the stairs (Mums and Ornamental Peppers). The other side of the stairs have a pumpkin on each step. 

My "Tree Bed" 

'Stainless' Daffodil

'Fantasy Pocahontas' Anemone 

'Walker's Low' Catmint

'Francee' Hostas (were the ones ordered that got stuck in transit)

Cherry Tree (with the house)

Azalea (with the house)

Boxwood (with the house)

There is a story behind the Anemone:

I got it at Home Depot when I got the "Fragrant Bouquet" Hostas. I had so much trouble finding a plant to go there! Some were a different size at full size then the tag said. I looked this species up in the store though. In the Sept/Oct 2013 issue of Fine Gardening they did a special on pink fall plants. That's what this is (although not in the article) and I love it! 

This faces a main street in town. They are Laurels that came with the house. Their leaves turn red in the fall. For the first time, I see berries! Deer usually eat them but, my trick helps, and the berries are a nice surprise!

This is the 'Bloodgood' Japanese Maple. Its leaves will turn crimson before falling but this is its regular season color. We had an Ash that was infested so, it got cut down and I got to remodel the main lawn!

The rocks are covering a French drain that was put in. We no longer get flooding in the basement. Since this picture grass seed was planted over the gravel the slates are on. 

 My "Driveway Bed" because it is near the neighbor's driveway. 

'Dorothy Wycoff' Andromeda (center)

'American Gold Rush' Black-Eyed Susans

Tomorrow yellow Daffodil bulbs get planted between the Black-Eyed Susans

This was taken in August. They are still blooming but not this pretty. 

This is the middle of the main yard (Laurels in back) that pot will change with the annuals.

The "Corner Bed" because we are a corner house, and this is on the corner. It is the same as the Driveway bed. 

This is the 'Green Mountain' Sugar Maple tied with the Maples in the back as my favorite! Red and orange leaves are captivating! Like literally I have seen people accidentally turn down the side street because they were looking at it. I call it my "shut me up" maple. 

Back in the back yard, here is my "Found It! Bed" by the nook (the one the vine is on). So, remember when I mentioned those removed daylilies and my bare roots daylilies? It's called propagating. They are wild and roots, bulbs and all, can grow near but not necessarily with the original plant. We got rid of a lot of Daylilies but, these were nearby the old ones. 

The one in the center is an 'Orange' Daylily founds in the rock bed near the grill. The sides are the 'Stella D' Oros' found near the Forsythia! They have plenty of bulbs so plenty of promise for flowers! 

My two pots near the nook.

This is my new patio! My office is just in the sliding doors. Perfect since most of my work involves the yard! 

Finally, the deer trick. Deer hates the smell of mint. So, I get loose mint from the produce section of the grocery store and strategically place it on the flowers or leaves of favorite plants! If placed right, they leave the plant alone! You do have to lay fresh mint at least once a week but, it mostly works! The one time it didn't work for me was because of where I placed the mint on the mums. They stay away from the purple mums though. It's been the most effective thing I have tried! 

Me, My Mom, and the Beach

 When I think about a perfect example of "compromise" I think about family summer vacations at the Jersey Shore. Ocean City, NJ is a dry city. It is mostly safe and a family friendly place. We have run into people from our town while on vacation there. A lot of people from here go to Ocean City. We have gone there most summers of my life for vacation. I couldn't go last year and the year before because I couldn't eat at restaurants. But something odd happened after my mom died 6 months ago. A few of the foods that used to make me sick don't anymore. I still have a lot of issues. But I have been enjoying eating out again! So, last week we went back to the shore. For the first time ever without my mom. 

My mom discovered Ocean City on a business trip one October in the 80's. She loved the beach. I never was a fan of the beach. It's beautiful but the sand bothered me. As a kid, my dad always worded it like this, "we go to the beach in the morning for mom and (my brother) and the pool after lunch for us." As an adult, I only went to the beach for Zach's first experience on the beach at age 2. I didn't want to miss that! I think I walked a few steps in it in the summer of 2019. 

2011, Zach age 2

When Zach was small, he spent the morning at the beach with my parent's and the afternoon at the pool with me and Josh. We used to take this vacation every year with my parents. After the pandemic, my mom and Zach went alone. They had the time of their life! Below is a picture now framed in my family room. Zach has been intrigued by sand since the first step on the beach in 2011. When he was 6, in 2015, my mom captured him exploring how sand texture is different near the water. Even this year he fiddled with the sand while we talked on the beach. My mom absolutely LOVED to build sand boats!

Zach age 6, 2015

This year, Zach and I walked on the beach after breakfast each morning. We walked down to where my family would set up on the beach during those first years. As a kid we only moved our family beach area once that first hotel either closed or became condos. This year, Zach and I sat and talked. I watched the waves while Zach played in the sand while we talked. I usually have a favorite quiet spot on the boardwalk for watching the waves. But this was a lot better! The below waves picture is my new wallpaper on everything. Replacing something that has been up for years! After talking, I would walk ankle deep into the ocean and feel the waves. Just like I did 35 years ago! With the sensory processing disordered these sensations actually heighten the experience and make it more peaceful. 

Zach age 15, 2024 my age 43 :) He's 5'10.5" I'm 5' 2"

The past 8 months I have been wrapped up in landscape design at the house. We have a little left but, I walk the property multiple times a day. Watching those waves, I did what most people do and self-reflected. Nature is my greatest comfort object. Most of my monthly and seasonal themes are nature based. So are what I considered seasonal colors. It's like medicine for me, nature. 

The other themes are holiday based. Most of my paintings and pictures are landscapes or with nature in the background. Only 5 out of 82 aren't with nature in the background. Those are portraits of my great-grandparents, Zach's school picture, a picture of Zach and me making Christmas cookies, and a giggling one-year-old Zach playing with a Santa hat secured in his highchair while Josh set up the Christmas tree. 

I took more pictures than before this vacation. It was a nice mix of wonderful memories of my mom and enjoying each other. I am enjoying my yards more too. The landscapers come next week and might actually finish what's left! 

Where I live, we can see most of what nature has to offer with the changing seasons. Nature's beauty in many of its forms. But we can't see a desert or a beach. For the first time in my life, I cherished deeper than before this part of nature I rarely experience up close. My mom's spirit was with us this vacation. I felt her presence. She helped me change the beach from a loving-sister and daughter compromise to something I appreciate. Zach played a lot of mini golf with Josh. But, each morning, we had our special time on the beach. I look forward to the beach again next year.  

I always say nature beauty is God's gift. It can heal your soul, uplift your mood, and connect you to a part of yourself you need connecting with. 

My Idea for Solving the Democratic Party's Problem

 I look at the current situation in the democratic party and can't help but think that this can be solved just like I solved my lawn problem. For that to make sense, both are going to need some back story. In the end, I know how we can dig ourselves out of this political mess. 

Democratic recap:

In June, President Biden debated Convict Trump. Convict Trump lied, blustered, dodge questions, and complained without evidence like a 3-year-old in need of a nap. President Biden was knowledgeable in his answers. But he was also forgetful, lost his train of thought, and confused at times. Ever since, Trump has done better in the polls and Biden is being asked to step aside so someone else can be nominated at the convention in August. 

Lawn recap:

Over the winter I had decided on a few minor changes I wanted to make to the landscape on the property. We are a corner house with the front lawn on a busy street. The property seen by most of the town so, it has to look good. I now have my big 4 favorites:

Favorite Annuals: Mums/Marigolds tied

Favorite Perennial: 'Bight Sunset' Daylily (tall orange ones)

Favorite Shrub: Forsythia

Favorite Tree: Yellow Maple

More grass seed was laid down then expected so we decide we needed an irrigation system. It takes over 2 hours with a normal sprinkler (2 running at the same time front and back). We don't have that kind of time. That was installed this week and I love it!

But our front lawn had an Ash tree that was dying through that insect infestation that has been killing Ashes. All I had planned for the front was a garden bed around that tree but, it had to be taken down. So, we are talking a full yard remodel. 

We had a good plan but, something was missing. I had several ideas but, my mind kept changing. None of it seemed to work right. So, I went across the street and visualized how the complete picture would look. We had decided to put in an 'October Glory' orange maple in the front. Those are the "shut me up" maples. When there is a row of them, I lose my train of thought in the fall because I can't stop looking at them. Another maple tree that is shorter will go on the other side and we have Adirondack chairs and a flowerpot for the middle. It needed more. After all of those ideas (including a wishing well) I landed on two andromeda flower beds, one in front of each tree. By stepping back and seeing the full picture envisioning it now and 20 years from now, I found a great solution! I can't wait for the late-October and early-November fall beauty about to unfold! Complete with pumpkins in front of the flowerpot! 

That's what the party needs to do. Step back and just look at the complete big picture envisioning the future. Biden isn't dropping out because we don't know who will be on the ticket if he does. VP Harris is a good start. But who would be her VP? If we give him the names of who would be on the ticket, we might get him to drop out. 

But that's the problem. We don't have confirmed names. We don't have Gretchen Whitmer as President with a named VP. This is why we are still in limbo. We are a mess right now. We need to get our collective heads back on strait, put aside egos, and unite around a real solution. Kamala Harris for President with Sec. Pete Buttigieg as VP is probably the best ticket. 

This isn't a lost race. Trump has not won the election. We can still win this. I think a Harris/Buttigieg ticket could very well change things for us. But we need to make it clear to President Biden that this is our best chance for November. 

I think he will step aside if given a real "this is the ticket" alternative instead of the long wish list floating now. We also need to get Harris and Buttigieg to agree. This is how we solve the mess of a problem we have going right now. I did get a text poll asking me if I support Harris as the president to replace Biden this morning. This tells me his campaign is sending out feelers. Perhaps Biden is not against stepping aside, if he can support the alternative. His two heirs apparent should suffice. Harris/Buttigieg, now THAT can save the country from a tyrant dictator!

President Biden's Complicated Situation

 On my mail-in ballot the Presidential ticket is odd. Biden, two people who don't belong there that I never heard of, and "Palestinian Justice". It's just the primary. But that's the "protest vote" option. My dad went with Palestinian Justice this time to protest providing weapons to Israel that are essentially being used for genocide in Palestine. 

We civilians who read, listen, and watch reputable news sources only know the facts that have been reported to reporters. The Fox News, News Max and One America News people know absolutely no facts at all. Opinions are formed from incomplete information. 

There are a lot of things classified about all this. Decisions made in the situation room we will never know about. Information we will never receive. There is also something none of us are considering. 

The Israeli prime minister is the Israeli Trump. He wants Trump to win and will try to sabotage Biden's re-election chances. To obtain Biden's co-operation, bribery very will might be involved. What would mean more to Biden than pleasing voters? 

That's how you secure the weapons flow. He's a dangerous man and the safety of the Americans in Israel and the American hostages might be at stake without the American people ever being told about it. 

Look at Biden's career. Do you seriously think he supports what the Israeli Trump is doing? Anyone paying attention even a little should be asking themselves, "He doesn't have a history of supporting this type of thing, why now?" 

Classified material is classified for a reason. My father-in-law earned a Medal for Valor during Vietnam but won't talk about it. It's actually possible he legally CAN'T talk about it. The event in question might still be or was at one point classified. 

He was a MP with a protective personality and became a life member of the rescue squad after serving. I suspect he was a medical and/or deceased front-line soldier transport guard. Something may have happened when getting a patient from Vietnam to a safer German hospital where he was stationed. 

My cousin was in that war around Desert Storm but not in Desert Storm in the navy in the middle east. I think it was Iraq but, I always thought Iraq and Desert Storm was the same war. I was a kid with a processing disorder and adult choices never fully made sense. He still has classified information he can't talk about. 

We probably will never know the full story about why Biden has decided to continue to provide these weapons. But he's dealing with his political rival's ally. That gets tricky with international politics. If the lives of American citizens are on the line if these weapons are not provided, what choice would you make? It's a lot more complicated than we think! 

Art and the Mind

 I have a lot of photographs and paintings. Most of it is Thomas Kinkade. I used to work for a Thomas Kinkade gallery. But some of what I have are pictures of his paintings printed on canvas and framed at AC Moore. I also am a fan of Wall26, an art company on Amazon. It's affordable and pretty artwork. 

We finally decorated Zach's floor. When we moved in almost 2 years ago, what he wanted to do didn't sound like it was going to stick for long. So, we waited. His birthday is in early June so, his gift was to finally get the wall decorations he wanted. He has a few posters. But, unlike 2 years ago, was willing to consider Wall26 art. I prefer the realistic paintings as gallery wrapped canvases. He wanted natural framed watercolors. Most of what he chose was done by Claude Monet. He loves it! We are still waiting on a poster and a few paintings for him. I asked if he still wants anything he wanted 2 years ago. He said, "no". 

This got my OCD juices rolling! The Thomas Kinkade "Christmas in New York" Painting that was Zach's had been at the landing of the stairs. Now, he got a sunflower painting in the same type as the rest of the stair paintings. The Christmas tree painting had to move! It's now by the fridge across from the framed photograph of 3-year-old Zach helping make Christmas cookies. 

Other paintings were moved, a few Thomas Kinkade gallery wrapped canvases were ordered from the Thomas Kinkade website, a few pictures were added to a "canvas frame your photo" Amazon canvas. A few are now in the basement, replaced by nicer choices. Now, anywhere the eye goes will have a painting to look it. 

It's an optical illusion. At any time, multiple paintings will be in your line of sight for most of the main floor on the house. The eye goes to the painting your brain consciously or subconsciously needs to see. There is something about that painting reflecting your thoughts or needs. 

My dad says it's too much. His walls have always been kind of baron to me. I know I put small things in places most people leave bare. Like the wall space above a light switch, but I do it for this very reason. So, the mind can find the image it needs to see. 

Years ago, at the condo I used to do "gallery tours". I would start at the painting by the door and work my way circling the condo looking at all paintings and photographs in every room. I did that today at the house. I have printed out pictures of the new art and used painter's tape to secure them where the real thing is going to be so, these were included. 

Thomas Kinkade's "Conquering the Storm". Holds an interesting history for me. 8 years ago, it's almost like God was guiding me to buy it. A reminder that I will get through the hard times. For my mom's memorial service, I chose lavender and peach roses. They reminded me of the different sunsets. Later, I realized the painting with both these sunset colors in it was "Conquering the Storm". God's reminder I will get through this loss. 

I see this all the time. I look up and let myself be guided instinctively in a direction. I end up in front of the painting or photography I need to be in front of. When you need comfort, it's a good thing to do to find that comfort. 

My Mom and Princess Kate

 I haven't been reading the "where's Kate?" articles. It's none of my business. Public figure or not, everyone deserves privacy. She is a person before she is a princess. William with a mistress? Please, have you seen how he looks are her, he loves her deeply! Remember when she was "Waity Katy" because he made her wait so many years before proposing? It's because he wanted to be certain it would be forever.

But her video announcing her cancer diagnosis has me extra afraid. In the early morning on February 29th my mom died of cancer. She had been battling it for technically a year but really longer. She was the one in my December blog post. "What is Grief if Not Love Persevering?"

Home With Mommy: "What is Grief if Not Love Persevering?" - Vision in Wandavision (homewithmommy-fran.blogspot.com)

In February of 2023 testing revealed the cancer. At first, the surgeon thought it might be removable if it shrunk enough after three months of chemo. But, on the Friday before Memorial Day weekend (May 26, 2023) she was told it had moved and couldn't be operated on. She started the "extend your life but you're terminal" chemo then. That stopped working around Halloween and in December she briefly tried a drug trial but decided it was too much for her. She entered home hospice and in January, at her decision, was moved to a care facility. 

Princess Kate has me very afraid. What type of cancer? Is she terminal? Is she on the "shrink then remove" chemo or the "this will help with what time you have left" chemo? My mind races, hoping she is spared following my mother's path. But these answers are hers to give if and when she wants to. 

Kate is giving me flashbacks to when Princess Diana died. In the 1991 - 1992 school year I did a biography project for school on Princess Diana. I was in the fourth grade (age 10). I really liked her, and she became a favorite of mine after that. When I heard news of her death I was driving. I couldn't process it as something that really happened for a while. I'm still not fully wrapping my head around Kate's diagnosis. I really like Kate, just like I liked Princess Diana. It takes a special person to be married to the heir to a kingdom. I admire them both. 

My mom got to spend part of the last year of her life doing what made her happy and the one thing she wanted to do but was waiting on. She wanted to take Zach on a college visit to the college where she met my father. She showed him the place where they met. Zach developed a love or Architecture. A really awesome man from church is a professor there and offered to give them a private tour. That man was at her viewing so, it was nice to thank him in person. 

She was cremated. For a few days I didn't know if she was in human form or dust. It turns out that they can't cremate for 24 hours but were quick to take care of it after that. The memorial service was beautiful, she had planned it, and the priest did a phenomenal job! So many wonderful people came, some from far away, to celebrate her life. 

"What is grief if not love persevering?" I haven't cried. My mom hasn't been herself since Thanksgiving. But I spent a lot of time with her throughout my life. My mourning started after Thanksgiving when she no longer had the energy to be herself. The last thing I ever told her is "I love you". It gives me peace that she died knowing that. I miss her hugs. I miss walking with her. I miss being able to ask her to explain something to me that I don't fully understand. I just miss her. 

The royal family has delt with a lot these last few years. Now, two of them are living with cancer and it's unclear if it's terminal or not. Prince William is around my age, and he's been taking metaphorical body blows from all sides. We can't forget that the prince is human too. He's probably afraid for his father and wife. He's probably afraid what he'll do as a single father if she dies. He probably misses his brother and doesn't know a graceful way to fix things. Is he thinking of his mother now?

My mom was a wonderful woman taken too soon at age 75 by cancer. I pray Princess Kate goes into remission and lives a very long, very happy, and very healthy life. What does my mom have in common with Princess Kate? They are both diplomatic, loving wives and mothers, brilliant, beautiful, caring, and suffering from cancer. They are also both human.

My Immigration Reform Plan

 Right after the 2022 election I contacted each of my congress reps with a bi-partisan idea. 

Rep. Payne - Criminal reform that only punishes the officers who actually are problems and not all officers. 

Senator Booker - He's known in my area for having used charter schools to improve education as the Newark mayor. So, I said to make pre-school part of the public school system like kindergarten in. It helps solve the childcare crisis. To get republican support, including funding for charter schools. 

But my only successful idea was the one I have been the most persistent about. Senator Menendez at the time was the chair of the senate foreign affairs committee. After several calls and emails over time, later including senator Booker in this idea. We have the Border bill up for a vote today. It's mostly either my ideas or modified versions of it. 

My idea was in two parts:

1. Add new border checkpoints where people are entering anyway. Homeland security knows where these places are. Give them more opportunities to claim asylum making it legal. This also means more border agents. 

2. A new temporary visa they can get at the border so they can work anywhere in the country legally and be tracked for their asylum hearing. This relieves pressure for border states.

What is in the border plan?

What's in the bipartisan Senate package to aid Ukraine, secure U.S. border - The Washington Post

1. More border agents (no new entry points)

2. Visas that can be approved at the entry points so they happen quicker. 

3. Quicker asylum hearings and a higher number of visas allowed.

4. A limit to how many can enter a day.

There are other things. But they clearly listened to me. Most people entering want to do it legally and just don't know how. This addresses that while addressing the undocumented, entry number, and criminal concerns. 

"What is Grief if Not Love Persevering?" - Vision in Wandavision

 I haven't done a post in almost 3 months. The post I want to do, I was not allowed to do. Someone might be mad at me for this. But it can't wait anymore. 

Someone I love is dying of cancer. Enough people know where I feel like this is okay to finally write. They will take a piece of me with them when they go. 

I just keep thinking of this one quote from Vision (played in the MCU by Paul Belamy). He is an Avenger in the Marvel comics. In episode 8 of Wandavision on Disney+ he is talking about loss with Wanda Maximoff (the Scarlett Witch). 

Wanda lost her parents in an apartment bombing when she was 10. Then, as a young adult, became an Avenger with her twin brother, Pietro (aka. Quicksilver) in the movie "Age of Ultron". The scene is a memory of her time at the Avenger compound right after Pietro died in a battle with Ultron. 

Vision had been killed in a battle in the movie "Infinity Wars". She used her powers to bring him back in Wandavision. Vision tried to comfort her by saying, "what is grief if not love persevering?" Vision is highly philosophical and overall brilliant. See link to learn more about him. 

Vision (Marvel Cinematic Universe) - Wikipedia

"What is grief if not love persevering?" 

I hold that thought with me as this person has gone through various stages. There is nothing left to be done but relieve their pain. 

My loved ones are on the lookout for me. I get depression and yes, I am in it right now. No, I am not going to harm anyone but, I have had some strong mood swings. What's going in inside me this past year?

Turmoil - there really is no other way to word it. I can't picture life without this person. I can't piece together modifying things, but I have too. Already they sleep all of the time and can't do that much of what they used to be able to do. I have been attempting to adapt. 

Refusing to Pray - I am an Episcopalian that does believe God answers some prayers. I refuse to pray for this person. I have this gut instinct that isn't wrong about things like if someone is going to die and when. I want to keep my faith so I am refusing to pray for something that will never be answered. 

Sense of Unfairness - this person is a good religious person who has donated a lot of money and time to various charities. They are the very best of people. It's not fair that this person is being taken from us. A long life that isn't long enough. Unfair suffering for someone who didn't just attend church regularly but spent her life helping those who need it with everything they are. 

What do I want this person to know? I love them. I will do everything I can in my limited abilities to support those that they leave behind. I know those same people will be there for me. I will try to fill the void they are leaving. They are taking a piece of me with them. A big piece. This person has helped keep me stable. Luckily, others I love are trying to fill that place because they love me. 

"What is grief if not love persevering?" 

You don't get over a loss like this. You adapt. This person is still alive but weakening. My love for this person will persevere for eternity. But my grief will evolve to be sweet memories eventually. I will miss their smile, their laugh, their guidance. I will miss their hugs and everything else good about them. 

I bury myself in romance novels. A guaranteed happy ending which is why I started reading them to begin with. I am repurchasing my old ones on kindle little by little. Hiding in the stories. Forgetting the basics of my daily life. Dinners have been late and not what they should be. I forget to walk or even go outside even on nice days. Slowly, I am getting better at those things. Remembering to cook the right foods, walking at least a little each day. remembering it's been 3 months and I really need to do a blog post. 

"What is grief if not love persevering?" 

Vision is right, grief is love persevering. 

Election 2024 Vs. Election 2028

 For obvious reasons we are talking about the likely rematch next year between President Biden and FORMER President Trump. But what happens next year effects the 2028 election too. It's time we talk about that. 

Things are close but the bottom line when people step in the voting box is going to amount to this:

Vote Red Not Instead voters = Trump but much more of them will do it because they always vote republican and NOT because they think he's great. 

Vote Blue No Matter Who voters = Biden but they do it while thinking about Kamala Harris.

Swing voters = Most will be Biden. It's a close election simply with fewer swing voters then in the past. But they will be thinking about Trump's indictments, his election denialism, and his autocratic tendencies. That's going to be more then they can take. 

Opinion | Voting in primaries has vanished - The Washington Post

I read that article today. by Karen Tumulty of the Washington Post.  Mostly extremists vote in the primaries and the "general election only" people are more likely to just stick to their party even if they hate the candidate. Most swing voters don't follow politics and vote for the sane option in the general election. 

"Only 68,000 voters, or 12 percent of the number who were eligible. We don’t have a House that represents voters because most voters don’t participate."

If Biden were progressive, it would be more of a toss-up. But Biden is very moderate and has passed a lot of things on a bi-partisan basis. All the MAGAs in the house are doing between the baseless impeachment inquiry and the shutdown is reminding voters that democrats are the ones willing to meet in the middle. In fact, the Senate signed sealed and delivered the house a bi-partisan stopgap bill that easily could have gotten house democrat AND moderate republican support, enough to pass. But McCarthy refused to bring it to a vote because of his MAGA crowd. 

So, Biden wins a second term. What about 2028? Trump will be 83 but still legally can run. What about the too old argument? That is only a problem when democrats are running. Democrats will also be in a jam. The last time the same party served for 12 years was Reagan and the elder Bush. In recent years most (except for Trump) serve two terms then the Presidency flips. 

But this might be the one situation where democrats can pull off that 12 year or more thing. It literally all comes down to the candidates. For democrats I see Sec. Pete Buttigieg as the nominee. He's the true heir apparent and will be well polished by then. His VP will be a moderate woman like Gretchen Whitmire. 

The wildcard is the republican nominee. If Trump loses this time, it's harder to claim TWO stolen elections. He's a loser and this proves that. So, he might run in 2028 but, is he the nominee? I don't think so. I think GOP primary voters will want a nominee that is NOT prone to elections getting stolen. The nominee is still likely to be a MAGA extremist crackpot. DeSantis will be out because all of his extreme laws get struck down at least partially by the courts. Josh Howley with Marjory Taylor Greene as the VP is the like GOP ticket. 

So, Sec. Buttigieg verses Sen. Howley. It's the same voter decisions and too many swing voters are tired of the MAGAs. I think we can do it. I also think if we do, THAT will be what turns the GOP moderate again.