In these last few hours of democracy, I reach out to key players in my life to harvest and protect within a social bubble. The only way I survived the pandemic in the dope’s first bout of leadership was with a tightly knit circle of friends who consistently checked on each other and supported one another and safely socialiazed! (Proud to have not been to a “super spreader” event.)

It is time to make the connections and reestablish what we mean to each other as our liberties slowly perish. We might not develop a headache or a cough or a lack of smell when our lives are about to change in these next foreseeable years. Our groups of support will be of paramount significance in keeping us mentally protected when our nation will be under siege from so many angles.

Who will I be in the face of division, hatred, bigotry, misogyny, de-fundings? How will I cope? Will I keep my voice, or lose it as it becomes threatened?

I would like to say I will act on the side of democracy with my friends who will likewise be internalizing and fearing the changes to come. Yet I worry I do not have the tenacity required. This isn’t just a four year stint with a hard stop on the horizon. I’m already processing so much angst and terror. This will all be an enormous test of character and resilience. Hence, we will need to lean on each other.

Brains, courage, the American spirit, all under siege by the wicked witch who will put up road blocks galore as we try desperately to return to democracy… I hope that the good witches will quickly identify themselves and thwart the wicked witch’s plans. (She’s orange this time instead of green.) I truly hope we can all safely make it to Oz. I expect this is going to be a dark, dark time. I shall look for rainbows and vivid technicolor beacons of hope to keep on going.