Often on a Thursday night when I sit to write my post, I am torn in multiple directions. The headlines are hard to ignore even by those of us desperate to be in the here and now, tending to our own local fires. Many folks run around propelled by the latest gossip, perhaps they too are desperate to get far away from it all? My cold run generally helps. Getting away from a screen and breathing in that mountain air a natural tonic for most.

I mean for me, it’s those lies swirled by the politician on their soapbox that’s got our country tied up in knots that catches my attention and I feel pulled to address that mess. “Ten fake electors in Wisconsin today settled a civil lawsuit over their own participation in Trump’s false-elector scheme. The settlement involved correcting the historical record. The ten agreed to withdraw their paperwork with the false information, explain in writing to the federal offices that the filings had been “part of an attempt to improperly overturn the 2020 presidential election results,” and acknowledge that Biden won the 2020 election. Going forward, they agreed never again to serve as presidential electors in an election in which Trump is running“(The Guardian). Okay, good outcome, but the unraveling of Trump’s lie is slow going, rippling through red state by red state, uncovering all who sold their soul to that devil, and that is a tough reality to accept. I have spent three decades in a classroom so this level of ignorance is personal. Are there no critical readers left in our country? No thinkers?

Sometimes the crazy is closer than I wish, like the recent shooting of three college students of Palestinian descent while they were visiting friends and family in Burlington, Vermont, leaving one of the young men paralyzed. I can’t believe we are still victimized by a gun-crazy America who think that carrying a loaded and concealed weapon is a right which mentally ill, angry and violent people have hoodwinked themselves and the rest of us is worth the good will and safety of scores of innocent citizens. There may be a peaceful vista right out my window, but those gun-toting people are crushing my joy with every one of their sick and hateful shootings.

Wishing you all a peaceful night despite all my grumbling. With all seriousness do what you can to ignore the abuse of power, the lies falling out of the mouths of those same folks abusing their power, and perhaps tonight, have a smoke and play some Yahtzee. Remind yourself, it is December, a month with several holidays made resplendent by bright and colored light. Find one of those occasions that suits you and light up your night.