The vagaries of life by Sue Robin

Friday afternoon, April 4, 2025

Too many things to juggle. None of which I can or wish to put down. I am trying hard to find the glimmers of hope to grab on to, but they are small and elusive today.

Our Democracy is in a state of chaos and being challenged for its very life. I weep and worry, write and do my small part to bring sanity back into view. A country-wide protest is called for tomorrow. To our chagrin, our plans to protest are being laid low by the vagaries of life.

A helicopter is circling overhead. Not a regular occurrence here in the hills.  We first check for whether it is police or fire. Fire copters elicit a search for smoke and a sense of terror.  A police copter means either a break-in or someone drove off the edge of Mullholland into the canyon. Neither are good. One can only wait and see. Uh oh! Four police cars just drove up our narrow cul de sac looking for someone who tried to break into the house at the end of it, just three houses from ours. Phew. He’s been apprehended thanks to the copter, but it is a bit too close to home. A flicker of light as justice is served.

My 80-year-old brother is in the hospital yet again. He was healing from the last stay, getting stronger and feeling good, even knowing there was a surgery awaiting him. He weathered the surgery well last week and was on the mend, and then he wasn’t. Now he is facing a huge setback with possible sepsis. I am distraught. Nothing I can do to help, save for my prayers and crossed fingers.

Phew again, sort of. Thankfully not sepsis, but there is a blood clot on his bladder where the surgery took place. Not unusual, not great, but it beats sepsis. A ray of light and hope towards healing.

My Sweetheart twisted his knee and is limping and wearing a brace. He will heal with a few days’ rest.  While he is limping, I am wheezing and coughing in response to a beautiful spring bloom apparently of everything I am allergic to. Both of us a bit better each day. A hint to better times.

Saturday night, April 5, 2025

Today, hundreds of thousands of people here in the USA and all over the world sent a message to our evil president and his minions.

The people protested peacefully in bright red states and blue, from tiny towns and large cities and other countries to proclaim Hands OFF. Hands Off our democracy, our bodies, our hard-earned Social Security, our libraries and schools and our country’s history of helping those around the world in need. The signs held ranged from LOL to just plain straight talk.

The protests, along with Cory Booker’s 25-hour-plus speech, leaves me bathed in the glow of light and feeling that there is more than a glimmer to grab onto now. A feeling of possibility is present and, joyfully, a sense of kinship.

Per the BBC: “Nonviolent protests are twice as likely to succeed as armed conflicts — and those engaging a threshold of 3.5% of the population have never failed to bring about change.”

Two percent of the population were present today. The next protest is called for the 19^th of April. Health permitting, I will be there! 3.5% here we come!