Chris Andrews: Please stay strong. I hope you are in Tucson's Sabino Canyon or some other beautiful place. (The picture kind of makes me think of Sabino Canyon -- breathtaking place.)
Listen to string quartets of Dmitri Mikhailovich Shostakovich, read beautiful work like James Baldwin or Jesmyn Ward (Sing, Unburied, Sing) -- whose prose is beautifully poetic.
We need our cultural, musical, artistic, literary, philosophical roots to strengthen our minds and spirits.
Your main job is to take care of Chris Andrews and to care for loved ones close to you.
We contribute to causes that fight back.
One resource to look closely at is that of Sherrilyn Ifill (cousin to the dear and much missed Gwen Ifill):
Armand - I love all your thoughts, and I will be joining you in the persistence/resistance ahead. For now, I will do as you (and my doctors) recommend. Already dove into a bit of the Sherrilyn Ifill stuff. I loved Gwen Ifill, especially her voice and manner - always a very soothing delivery of the news. Shostakovich - good recommendation! The picture at the top of the page is from my home in Napa, CA, a beautiful ranch. I think I'm going to be ok. 😉
But as individuals we can be lights by loving the persons around us and by loving the weak, the persecuted, the stranger.
During Passover, Jews remember 400 years as strangers in a land, made more poignant by the Shoah, the Holocaust.
A Commandment in the Jewish Canon is to protect the stranger.
That is very poignant and very much at the front of today's needs as the Trump Administration makes indiscriminate sweeps to deport loads of persons to a Salvadorean torture cell.
We need lights.
There are many immigrant lawyer groups, with Sherrilyn Ifill's Legal Defense Fund doing invaluable work.
We do what we can.
An individual can only do what she is physically and spiritually able to do.
But she is able to love herself, her neighbor, the poor stranger in the land.
And here you have a community of love.
Most persons are good and loving women and men and kids and we can have faith generally in human nature.
I treasure, deeply treasure you as a person and friend. You share much of yourself, and what you share is lovable.
I'm so sorry that you are ill. It's no joke as you discovered. Truly glad that the clots were (mostly) caught before something worse happened.
The mom in me says whatever you are told to do by docs for your kidney, do it. I don't know if it's relevant to you, but a good nutritionist is critical to kidney health. Docs don't help with that. You may find acupuncture helpful with reducing cortisol, which causes inflammation. Ok, I will retire the mom voice. I hope I didn't offend.
I also have met the end of my tolerance for the shit we are subjected to. Even anxiety meds don't help.
If you have to step away from writing, I will read you when you get back.
I’m so sorry. I KNOW trump etal are carcinogenic. My darling friend Patty from Kansas City had a relapse of breast cancer in 2020. She was so riled up about the asshole. She even said as much at the time.
To be honest I had such a hard time with your recent posts. They were so filled with vitriol. But I truly wanted to support you. Being in your wonderful world of John, the ranch, your friends, and your kids is
the perfect antidote. Good movies are a boon and detective fiction. I’m with you on having the urge to use my art to make a difference but it is Not satisfying and fewer and fewer images come to mind these days.
So I’m wondering if I can come up to the ranch and see you. Maybe we could take a little walk. I mentioned to John last visit that I’d love to see you and I surely would. xo
Right on. Chris, this is so helpful to me. Thanks for sharing. I LOVE your writing and your vibe and your humor and all of it and, yes, the piling on more misery (you describe so well) is pushing to the point of struggle. I think the hidden toll of having all our dreams for our country and world turn to Stinky Orange Bronzer is making all of us sick. I did like the "what to do" ideas and I want also for myself is to find a balance between awareness (dare I say Woke?) and a life that can be helpful in some small way. Thank you!
I hear you on all. It is heartbreaking to have to let go of all we imagined our country to be. I was relieved (just a tad) to see Harvard's reaction to the WH's threats to their funding. They set the example — we should not be giving our talents to these heartless narcissists. Yes — I love the idea of helping in some small way. That is the true act of rebellion.
Chris, I am very happy you are putting your health and well being first. Also thrilled to hear you are continuing to write. When I see a new post from you, I dive in to read it as soon as I have a quiet moment. It jumps to the front of my reading stack. You do you because you rock!
Chris Andrews: Please stay strong. I hope you are in Tucson's Sabino Canyon or some other beautiful place. (The picture kind of makes me think of Sabino Canyon -- breathtaking place.)
Listen to string quartets of Dmitri Mikhailovich Shostakovich, read beautiful work like James Baldwin or Jesmyn Ward (Sing, Unburied, Sing) -- whose prose is beautifully poetic.
We need our cultural, musical, artistic, literary, philosophical roots to strengthen our minds and spirits.
Your main job is to take care of Chris Andrews and to care for loved ones close to you.
We contribute to causes that fight back.
One resource to look closely at is that of Sherrilyn Ifill (cousin to the dear and much missed Gwen Ifill):
https://www.naacpldf.org/about-us/staff/sherrilyn-ifill/
https://counciloncj.org/ccj-directory/sherrilyn-ifill/
https://www.naacpldf.org/sherrilyn-ifill-legacy/
https://policingequity.org/fireside-chats/sherrilyn-ifill
https://law.howard.edu/civil-rights-lawyer-sherrilyn-ifill
https://sherrilyn.substack.com/
Ms Ifill's article today shows her fight:
https://sherrilyn.substack.com/p/americans-must-prepare-to-fight-for
Chris Andrews: Take time. Nourish, even spoil yourself. Indulge yourself. Build yourself up.
Then we will fight.
We will resist.
We will be heard.
We will be seen.
We are not going away.
We are not stepping down.
Surround yourself with loved ones.
Armand - I love all your thoughts, and I will be joining you in the persistence/resistance ahead. For now, I will do as you (and my doctors) recommend. Already dove into a bit of the Sherrilyn Ifill stuff. I loved Gwen Ifill, especially her voice and manner - always a very soothing delivery of the news. Shostakovich - good recommendation! The picture at the top of the page is from my home in Napa, CA, a beautiful ranch. I think I'm going to be ok. 😉
Chris Andrews: Please, do be well.
You are a light.
We are only individuals.
But as individuals we can be lights by loving the persons around us and by loving the weak, the persecuted, the stranger.
During Passover, Jews remember 400 years as strangers in a land, made more poignant by the Shoah, the Holocaust.
A Commandment in the Jewish Canon is to protect the stranger.
That is very poignant and very much at the front of today's needs as the Trump Administration makes indiscriminate sweeps to deport loads of persons to a Salvadorean torture cell.
We need lights.
There are many immigrant lawyer groups, with Sherrilyn Ifill's Legal Defense Fund doing invaluable work.
We do what we can.
An individual can only do what she is physically and spiritually able to do.
But she is able to love herself, her neighbor, the poor stranger in the land.
And here you have a community of love.
Most persons are good and loving women and men and kids and we can have faith generally in human nature.
I treasure, deeply treasure you as a person and friend. You share much of yourself, and what you share is lovable.
I and your other friends believe in you.
"We do what we can do," - that says it all. That is where it's at. Sherrilyn Ifill must sleep well, doing what she does.
Wonderful trajectory! And maybe a new brand of writing will emerge that feels good in your soul!
That is precisely what I'm hoping for. I'm starting today on some new and more positive writing. Thanks for reading, Ginger. - Chris
Yay, can't wait to read!!
Here's the Corn Dollies:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP8jhhmBpfY
This is fabulous. Just replaced the tune I had with this great selection. Much more my style (and current mood). Thank you 😘
My pleasure.
You describe how I feel.
I'm so sorry that you are ill. It's no joke as you discovered. Truly glad that the clots were (mostly) caught before something worse happened.
The mom in me says whatever you are told to do by docs for your kidney, do it. I don't know if it's relevant to you, but a good nutritionist is critical to kidney health. Docs don't help with that. You may find acupuncture helpful with reducing cortisol, which causes inflammation. Ok, I will retire the mom voice. I hope I didn't offend.
I also have met the end of my tolerance for the shit we are subjected to. Even anxiety meds don't help.
If you have to step away from writing, I will read you when you get back.
Hannah- thank you for the mom words. I love them. I think you are spot on about special dietary care for the kidney.
I will be writing! Just more beautiful, funny and artistic pieces. Bye bye to politics. No more.
xo
Chris
I love the funny you.
Good, because that’s what you’ll be getting.
I can relate. Feeling the same way. Stay strong.
Thank you Tom. Hope you find some peaceful, healing things to do as well.
I’m so sorry. I KNOW trump etal are carcinogenic. My darling friend Patty from Kansas City had a relapse of breast cancer in 2020. She was so riled up about the asshole. She even said as much at the time.
To be honest I had such a hard time with your recent posts. They were so filled with vitriol. But I truly wanted to support you. Being in your wonderful world of John, the ranch, your friends, and your kids is
the perfect antidote. Good movies are a boon and detective fiction. I’m with you on having the urge to use my art to make a difference but it is Not satisfying and fewer and fewer images come to mind these days.
So I’m wondering if I can come up to the ranch and see you. Maybe we could take a little walk. I mentioned to John last visit that I’d love to see you and I surely would. xo
Would love to see you, Louise. And perhaps our conversations will be a spark for both of us. It is beautiful up here right now.
Right on. Chris, this is so helpful to me. Thanks for sharing. I LOVE your writing and your vibe and your humor and all of it and, yes, the piling on more misery (you describe so well) is pushing to the point of struggle. I think the hidden toll of having all our dreams for our country and world turn to Stinky Orange Bronzer is making all of us sick. I did like the "what to do" ideas and I want also for myself is to find a balance between awareness (dare I say Woke?) and a life that can be helpful in some small way. Thank you!
I hear you on all. It is heartbreaking to have to let go of all we imagined our country to be. I was relieved (just a tad) to see Harvard's reaction to the WH's threats to their funding. They set the example — we should not be giving our talents to these heartless narcissists. Yes — I love the idea of helping in some small way. That is the true act of rebellion.
Chris, I am very happy you are putting your health and well being first. Also thrilled to hear you are continuing to write. When I see a new post from you, I dive in to read it as soon as I have a quiet moment. It jumps to the front of my reading stack. You do you because you rock!
Thank you so much for that. I often think of you as I am writing.
❤️