Spring Tree

Winter LIfe

I am tired. LB's bus comes ridiculously early. We need to be at the stop at 7:10, then she takes a scenic tour of Pawtucket and Central Falls before getting to school. I can't really complain because it would be a dick move if they picked up the kids in the wealthy part of town last, and sometimes it's good because I can get into work early. But up at 5:45 is bleary and prying LB out of bed for a 40 minute sprint to our leaving time is never fun.

This week several building unions have been out protesting a new building that is going up by my work and is not using union labor for the job. Work is already loud with young people laughing and chatting and the phone ringing, and lately, we also have pile driving and chant leading on a bullhorn. Things are hip and expensive here. So many $3 small cups of coffee and $8 or $10 sandwiches. It is hard to live without a decent wage.

I've been listening to a country music app with tons of stations. Weirdly, many of them seem to have French or German DJs which led to me listening to the top of the hour news update on R Kelly's newest inditement in German on a country station. Not that I speak German, but I guess R Kelly and inditement are universal words.

Last week we had an hour weather school delay that I didn't know about till we got to school. Not fun, but at least there's a diner nearby. Tomorrow we have a two-hour delay and I'm hoping we can make the most of it with the pretty great sledding hill by our house. This is the first year we've gone out on it because LB can be very fussy about cold and clothes, and it's been so fun.

Proof

City Life revisited

I guess the last time I posted last year there was a snow storm, and now there is a snow storm. I'm feeling very proud that I did my civic duty by scraping out the storm drain by my building. It's a slushy mess out there now, and is supposed to drop well below freezing tonight, so everything should be an icy mess tomorrow. LB is at her mommy's house, and I'm trying to figure out where to get snowed in.

What we're talking about:

• Is this how it ends? The USofA I mean. Nobody pays the bill so we slide away from the three branches, the Constitution, NOAA, GPS satellites, federal judges, taxes, highways.
• How far away from the ocean should you buy a house if you'd like to live in that house for say 20 year+ and maybe even do something as inconceivable as hand it on down to your child.
• SNAP was deposited on 1/20. It needs to last until 3/1 or maybe for the duration.

What are we teaching our WASP/C kids. I feel really lucky to live in a place where my kid interact with people of different cultures/races/ethnicities than her own every day. There are universal lessons of the be kind and do unto others as you would have them do unto you. In such a mixed place I've felt pushed to stress the skills you need when you are interacting with people who have different world views and different cultural practices.

Trying to do right by a white child as a white parent-I feel unmoored from culture which might lead me. For all the talk of white supremacy culture, as a parent I need something positive to offer my child. At a vigil for those murdered in the Pittsburgh synagogue, in a majority Jewish crowd, I was struck by the way that people were able to mourn together knowing the same prayers and the same songs. Go to any WASP/C protest and event and listen to people try to muddle through a song. What is there to offer a child. I push for "being chill"-that is accepting people as they are, not getting worked up about them doing things differently than you would, or looking different, or sounding different unless they are hurting another. Curiosity is good-tell me more, and I don't know anything about that will you share with me. Respect for what you don't understand.

A couple months ago, I attended a fundraiser at a bar, and as is customary around her the adults drank (and wrapped donated presents), and the kids ran wild, and we ate some pizza. The entertainment was a group of Algonquin drummers. Their music and singing filled the space, and the children all stopped and walked toward them, watching silently, a few dancing. Our kids recognize beauty and art, they respect the people and the world around when we let them, when we don't fill them with the fear and pride that pushes the rest of the world away.

2018 in review

We protested. Unfortunately an early morning protest in Warwick outside ICE offices surrounded by faith leaders was super stressful for LB and was at least a partial factor setting off a lot of anxiety. I'm still thankful that I can tell her, yes I will be here, no you won't go to jail, no I won't go to jail, no we won't be separated, so many people aren't that lucky.

We went to Maine and I thought a lot about climate change while sitting on weirdly warm beaches, while sitting on appropriately chilly beaches. It's coming, and so much of what we know will be gone.

Look at you Providence, with your light up swing. I don't remember what event this was, maybe Thursday concert at the Park?

Growing like a weed this one, I think this is one of the dresses that can no longer be worn as a dress.

Herminone and Zombie Ballerina off to the bar on a Friday night.

The universe always gives me a good sunset around Christmas, I think this was Christmas Eve with no LB, but it was still good.