Tim and I have been in New Orleans visiting our daughter and her wife. This city is adorned with iconic purple and gold decorations for Mardi Gras. The Crescent City started celebrations on January 6 with Krewe parties and parades, which will continue through March 4. The Krewes have long traditions of fellowship and fundraising throughout the year.
Tens of thousands of locals participate, including youth marching bands between almost every float. Smaller parades reflect humor and creative ingenuity. In some parades, the “floats” are small trailers towed behind human-powered bicycles. Many include coolers packed with adult beverages.
Behind all the glitz and gaiety, we are grieving the dismantling of our precious democracy. To soothe our aching hearts, we walked through the botanical gardens at City Park. May these images comfort you.
Please take care of yourselves and take care of each other. We need energy to save our democracy. A few resources from Rob Brezny’s Meditations in An Emergency:
1. Practice going slow. Wait 48 hours before reacting to new policies. 2. Build community. 3. Take breaks. This is a marathon. 4. Find trusted analysts who do the heavy lifting of synthesis. Look for those explaining patterns, not just events.
We, the People must take back our democracy.
Contact your senators.
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Thank you for being part of our community. We need one another more than ever.
May the beauty of this world comfort us all through hard times and sustain all our efforts to work for a better future.
Beijinhos,
Tim and Penelope We return to Portugal soon where the people celebrate Carnaval.
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