"No harm will come to you...not on my watch." These words have come to represent for me all of those who would "lace 'em up" and defend to the death people, ideals, and that which is "right and just". The promise of those words is also something that whispers quietly through the halls of my soul, because I know what it feels like to be vulnerable, unable to defend myself, and desperate for someone, just one someone who would stand for me without hesitation, restrictions, or conditions. And perhaps all of us, to some degree, are familiar with the fear and pain of being helpless.

I learned the hard way that if I was going to be saved, I'd have to find the strength and courage to become the hero of my own story. Fortunately, I had a great group of people along the way who showed me how to tap into my inner warrior (...I mean, I didn't even imagine for a moment that she existed, but was extremely relieved to find her sitting in there waiting for me to call her up!). I've also learned that most people who are driven to "protect and serve" don't do so for accolades, or thanks, or even recognition. They go about the business of doing what is necessary in a quiet, methodical, steadfast way, usually in the shadows. And when they sleep at night, they carry the backlash of demon battles into their dreams.

We woke this morning to a President elect and in-coming Commander and Chief who represents the absolute opposite of the values surrounding service to country. It is my most fervent hope that those who do stand for others above self and do so with dignity and honor will teach their President a thing or two about how to be a human being of true value over merely being one who takes up space.

To all of the Veterans of this great Nation...thank you for your service.

Nights are colder now here in rural North Carolina, as the year 2016 quickly slips away. This is the time of year when my mind is all about reflection...what's gone right and what's gone wrong with the goals I've set for myself at the start. That is one reason why I feel this huge lump of dread in the back of my throat. Tomorrow our Nation elects a new President, and no matter who wins, all of us lose. The field of candidates chosen to "represent" us as a people don't look, behave, or emulate anyone I know and certainly don't project any "value" I, personally, could be proud of; and all the while, as this ridiculous circus of "democracy" plays out,  I keep asking myself, "How has this happened?" My next question, as always, is "What can I do about it?"...besides complain, which is completely unhelpful.

As I've listened to what passes for media (I mean, do they even teach journalism anymore??? And was everyone from CNN to Fox News absent the day it was taught?) in regards to these to prospective "leaders", I realize that they are the best real life caricatures of the absolute worst that "humanity" has to offer...i.e. egocentric, narcissistic, bigoted, avarice, lies and greed. They stand for nothing but themselves, crushing anything and anyone who gets in their way. These are not new traits for humans, by any means, nor are they exclusive "American" traits, but they are now, as they have always been, a disgusting front for the degradation of a people who could actually be ridiculously great should we collectively choose such a path.

And yet, here we are...the "masses", once again held hostage by those who could give a shit about anything other than furthering their own agenda, while the rest of us pay the price they exact in every corner of the globe. One billion plus people on this planet do not have access to even the most basic electricity. ONE BILLION! Our Earth is constantly being raped by big business, as they slick-package and sell us lots of things we don't want or need, meanwhile convincing us that we do. And WHY is any country in the world still dependent on ANY fossil fuel, when we've had the ability to go completely green, bring access to energy and clean water to every corner of our Earth for many years...meanwhile, those who make money off the fossil fuel beast glibly ignore the fact that extracting it from the Earth and using it is summarily destroying the very place we all live!

Many of you might, at this point, be like...blah, blah, blah...that's nice, Amy, but what can I do? What can any of us do? I'm barely able to take care of my own tiny part of the world. There's no way I can think or act beyond that. If you have reached that point, then we're sitting right there together, because I don't know what the solutions are, either, and trust me, I've spent many a sleepless night staring at a dark ceiling wondering how on Earth I can contribute to the END of being held hostage by the "best of the worst" that the human race has to offer. I don't know what I can do beyond the tiny little acts I teach and share with students each day. I don't know what I can do beyond using my voice here to share how I feel about any of this. And honestly, I'm not sure any of that matters anyway. But it's all I've got. I will offer this...educate yourself, and not just by traditional means. Find out what's really happening in "our world" and choose something you are passionate about to advocate for, volunteer for, etc. One thing I have vehemently taught my progeny, as well as my students is that they should be able to readily answer "What positive thing have you done to leave the world a better place?!" It is a question I challenge myself with daily.

Thanks for letting me step on the soapbox. I apologize if it sounded a little preachy. That wasn't my intent.

Always,
A.