The election came and went and while there was hope that things would turn out for the best, it was quickly dashed by the polls and media. When the final counts were done, the United States was in the red.
The years of attacks on education and the media came to fruition with a population that believed the lies and decided a fascist cult was the way to go.
There’s a lot of anger and disappointment still – and a lot of blaming and fear. And hope seems elusive. I wonder if, when things start changing for the worst, there is some “buyer” remorse and the pendulum will swing back around. But, I’m concerned that the fundamentals of the US will be eroded further to keep those in power from losing said power.
Right after the election, Jim’s job announced that the merger was going through – and the timing suggests that they were waiting to see how much they could get away with in the new political climate. Which is not a hopeful sign.
For myself, there’s a meeting coming up towards the end of the month about a reorganization in our department. There have been emails as well about more staffing cuts at UA and while I’ve “survived” 2 of these already, I’m more nervous about this round since the people making the cuts won’t know my value.
Jim and I are also in the middle of a basement renovation project with contractors that are not as reliable as we had hoped. So, the house is a mess and the project is creeping along slowly.
There’s just so much uncertainty right now and I’m feeling a lot of anxiety. I can pivot with the best of them, but I’m worried this time I’m going to twist my ankle – existentially.
But, I’m still working hard and trying to keep up with the house. This afternoon I’m going to rake leaves and this past weekend, I saw my folks and finished up an origami project to donate. I’m trying, at least, to keep my chin up and keep doing what I do.
Maybe there’s still a little hope after all. Maybe that’s what hope is.