My heart is heavy this morning…yesterday at my local poll in my neighborhood was an eye-opening experience. I have a different view of my neighbors this morning and it makes me so sad. You know that phrase “kill them with kindness”? I am here today to tell you that is highly over-rated. Kindness did not work. Matter-of-fact-ness (i.e. slide your ballot here please) did not work. I have never heard so much hate-filled language. Ever. Nor have I ever been accused of changing votes. I guess there is a first for everything. It was painful.
And this morning, I don’t think any of us can say “this is not who we are” because that is simply not true.
Yesterday, I brought my Pheasant Pullover to the polls, foolishly thinking there might be a minute or two to knit. But today it will be my companion as I hunker down, avoid these insane predictions, and tune out by binging on The Queen’s Gambit.
I also started my morning with this little slice of hope.
The reading though!! I had some excellent finishes this week! I am so thankful for the diversion that reading is.
Summer by Ali Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Ali Smith knocks it out of the park with the final book in her Seasonal series. This book will make you stop and think about so many things. It is timely and I was stunned that quarantine life was included. This book poses so many questions that have lingered over the days since I finished it. These lingering thoughts caused me to raise my rating from 4 to 5-stars. I highly recommend the entire series!
A Traveler at the Gates of Wisdom by John Boyne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
For me, John Boyne is one of the greatest story tellers of our time, and A Traveler at the Gates of Wisdom is a masterfully crafted tale! I did not want to put this book down, and practically devoured it in one sitting. I listened to it, and the narrator was excellent. So… how many lives must we live until we get it right? We listen to an unnamed narrator bring us along with him over 2000 years of his lives. From the beginning to the end it is brilliant! And that ending! I loved it. I highly recommend this book!
Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This letter! Boy, do I wish I had someone say these things to me about a hundred years ago! It is loving, challenging, questioning, thought-provoking, and all women should write them in our hearts! We should affirm them to our daughters, to our friends, to our neighbors, to our significant others.
I highly recommend this brilliant little book!
That’s all I have for today. As always, if you wrote a post to share, please leave you link below and thank you!
Oh no. I’m sorry it was such a difficult day! How disappointing.
I’m so glad you have that beautiful pullover to keep you company today. And your books! Yay for reading mojo!
Oh Kat! sorry yesterday was so nasty for you. Thank you for volunteering. My two bosses who voted in person had nothing but positive words about their experience – everyone civil and polite, etc., etc.
Oh, Kat, I’m so sorry that yesterday was awful and painful. You deserve better and we as an electorate need to be better. I’m just not sure how to make that happen. Keep knitting, reading, and hoping …
Kat, I’m so sorry that you had to experience that. People can be horrible at times. 🙁
Your sweater is beautiful!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
thanks for sharing that link…i can’t begin to express how I feel this morning. Devastated with maybe…just a glimmer of hope on the horizon? Who are we as a nation?
So sorry for your experience yesterday! (and for the lack of knitting time). Hope you find some kindness and love in the rest of your week 🙂
I am so sorry you had to see such ugliness yesterday — but I am so thankful for people like you who worked the polls in spite of it! You are my hero! I hope your sweater brings you some comfort. I, too, will be seeking solace in my crafting while I try to remain patient and hopeful.
Ugh. That’s so awful, Kat! I’m pretty sad at the state of things right now… with a glimmer of hope.
Sadly we have become like this because our leaders have set the example. Thank you for being courageous.
Yesterday was the first time I didn’t serve as an election judge in over 20 years. I didn’t want to spend 14 hours in a packed church basement. Reading this, I am sorry. The results this morning are telling me that no matter what, this is who we are and I am heartsick.
big hugs to you and thank you for your service. These are hard times and all I can say is ‘hang in there’!
I’m so sorry you had to go through that nastiness yesterday. I wish I had the right words for you or even to know the way forward. I am struggling to cling to all that is good and right and have hope for the future.
I thought about you yesterday, Kat…and have been since watching the PA numbers come in. I had such high hopes for the urban vote. I’m so sorry for the depletion of your spirit at the polls. I’m with you on that ‘This is not who we are.’ Troy just said something to that effect–and I said, ‘You’re wrong there. You give people too much credit…’ An indicator light is on if *I’m* the cynic in my house. But I AM hoping. I’m pulling for Michigan at the moment. Ahead by 10K a moment before I hopped online.
And it made me smile to see we were reading Adichie at the same time. I need to keep her voice in my head…
Let’s stay as up as we can, send our hope to MI and WI…listen to the voice of Good. Try our damndest. xoxo
I’m sorry you had that experience yesterday. Many of the election workers in my town are my friends and I know they always enjoy the process. It was brisk but I’m told everyone behaved appropriately.
Dear Kat, I am so sorry you had a hard day. I for one and many of us understand. I want to say this: I still have lots of hope and I still believe. Do not give up.
I am so sorry that people were so rotten. It’s just more GD 2020. Fingers crossed that I’m having a Manhattan with your pumpkin pie spice additive ’round 6 tonight and toasting in the right direction. xo
Smith worked for Utah Gov as a pole worker before we went to mail in only ballots and he said the same about people back then. I don’t know why people would be so adversarial to someone who is there to help.
I am sorry you had such a tough day yesterday. What is the matter with our citizenry anyway? Thank you again for your service. And that sweater is gorgeous – such an autumny color. I hope it brings you some comfort.
I’m sorry you had such a bad time, Kat. My experience yesterday – where I also worked a precinct – was the opposite. Everyone was polite, respectful, and very civil. (And it was a “red” district.”) Our city and county clerks reports the same behavior throughout the county. It was a pleasant surprise.
Today . . . I’m reeling just trying to fathom that HALF the country is will to support incompetence and a total lack of character in their president. HALF!
Yeah, more than half actually -55% of white women and 58% of white men supported him. It is horrifying.
They say that stress does strange things to the way people act and the things they say…..sad that you had to be the recipient of their stressful behaviour.
The world is watching and waiting…it’s a stressful time for us as well
You have a ‘lovely blog’….highlighting knitting and reading…two of my favourite pastimes.
Take care
Cathy
I’m sorry your experience was so horrible, and even more sad that I’m not surprised. We have truly sunk to an all time low as humans.
I am sorry I am just catching up with some blog reading. You have been in my thoughts this week. I am so sorry to hear that your experience at the polling station was so difficult, it sounds thoroughly awful. Thank goodness for the meditative practice of knitting, I do hope it was restoring for you.