by sheila morris
Roe, Roe, Roe the vote – and to the polls we go
We won’t go back – we’ve made a pact
that Dobbs we’ll overthrow.
*******************
We’re singing a new song of freedom celebrating democracy in America – sing along with Kamala Harris and Tim Walz who are leading the parade to the ballot boxes! Your votes, your voices. E pluribus unum. Out of many, one.
Like many Americans I continue to experience high anxiety about the general election taking place one week from today. I have several lingering questions in addition to worrying about the outcomes. Number One, how can November, 2024 be upon us already when we are still using leftover 4th of July napkins? Number Two, why are large acorns dropping from the gigantic oak tree in the backyard, rolling off the tin roof of our screen porch, and flying into the sun room windows with so much velocity I think we are under siege by malevolent squirrels? Thwack!
What could possibly distract me from the hate speech spewing from the campaign of the Man Who Would be King?
Thank heaven for little boys.
Yesterday my friend Becky (whose family included three sons I named the Fabulous Huss Brothers when Pretty and I became “bi-stateual” with our second home in Texas from 2010-2014) sent us a picture of a thank-you note from her youngest son George who had his 12th birthday in September. She found the note when she was cleaning behind her desk – he had written the note two years ago to thank us for the Valentine’s card and cash Pretty and I sent when he was ten. Maybe the note got lost because the universe knew I would need it more now.
Distraction accomplished. I can survive another week.
I hope this helps you, too.
Onward.
Once upon a time a kind queen who loved to wear shorts in warm weather took her two little princesses to a special Halloween festival called Trick or Trunk in the magic land of Westover Acres. All the villagers came together to celebrate by decorating their carriages to welcome the many children who lived in the kingdom.
Princess Ella and her little sister Princess Molly carry their goody gatherers
Princess Molly clutches her goody gatherer and stays close to Queen Nana
oh my, what treasures must be hidden behind the colorful carriage streamers!
Princess Ella flees the scary ghost who offered her a second piece of candy
to give her younger sister Princess Molly who was afraid of the ghost
kind Queen Nana holds Princess Molly while Princess Ella waits her turn
decisions, decisions – so many yummy choices from Bonnie and Clyde
kind Queen Nana serves joy juices to the two thirsty princesses
last stop: corn dogs and chips marked the festival exit
kind Queen Nana and Princess Ella reach their carriage
while Princess Molly struggles to keep up
Queen Nana and Princess Ella all smiles as they leave Trick or Trunk festivities
(Princess Molly wants to make sure the ghost isn’t going home with them)
The End.
********************
When I think about the futures of Ella and Molly, my wish for them is they will grow up in a country where they are free to make discoveries of who they are and what they believe with kindness toward others, with love in their hearts, with joy in their souls.
Last weekend downtown Columbia hosted the 34th. annual South Carolina Pride March and Festival which is now known as the Famously Hot South Carolina Pride! Festival.
“To celebrate, to experience queer joy. That’s something that we talk about a lot, is queer joy and queer resilience,” said Dylan Gunnels, president of Famously Hot South Carolina Pride. “Oftentimes, when you hear stories, they might be in a negative light, or we might be focusing on negative legislation or negative experiences. This is our night.” (Corey Thompson, News 19, October 18, 2024)
Nine years ago as I walked away from the 2015 Pride March and Festival I stopped to take this iconic image of lesbians celebrating on Sumter Street. Clearly inspired, obviously empowered. This remains one of my favorite photos to this day.
Finally, another favorite from the 2014 Pride celebration:
The girls (and guys!) who march and/or ride for equal rights truly do rock.
Thanks to all who led and participated in Pride this year – the future is brighter because of you. Celebrate yourselves!
Happy Pride! Onward.
*****************
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion – but not to his own facts.” – Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan
Lest we forget the horrors of 2016-2020 when the devil operated from the White House? (From the archives on July 22, 2022.)
“The devil went down to Georgia, he was lookin’ for a soul to steal
he was in a bind ’cause he was way behind
and he was willin’ to make a deal”
No disrespect to the lyrics of this popular hit by Charlie Daniels, but the devil the American people experienced as their President for four years from 2016 – 2020 did indeed go down to make a deal in Georgia for the 11,780 votes he believed he needed to turn that state’s results away from Joe Biden – to allow Trump to overturn the will of the voters in Georgia and retain the oval office he couldn’t afford to lose. The devil couldn’t close that deal in Georgia or any other state because of duly elected officials who refused to tilt democracy over a cliff from which search and rescue would have been a monumental task, because 61 of 62 courts laughed his cases to delay the election results out of their courtrooms.
The devil grew desperate, and the results of his desperation were on full display to the world in the brutal attack on the US Capitol during the insurrection on January 06, 2021, the day the electoral ballots were brought to Congress for certification.
‘Cause Hell’s broke loose in Georgia, and the devil deals the cards
And if you win, you get this shiny fiddle made of gold
But if you lose, the devil gets your soul
Much has been said about restoring the soul of America, but the devil continues to play his trump cards of disillusion, deception and division from his shiny Florida fiddle made of fool’s gold.
The 01/06 Committee has been a reminder for all people of good will that the devil is alive and if democracy loses, the devil will get our soul.
************
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion – but not to his own facts.” – Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan
I'll Call It Like I See It 
You must be logged in to post a comment.