Holding our breath

Election Eve 2016:  Snuggling with my daughter, watching My Little Pony, stress-eating and obsessively reading Pantsuit Nation. It's going to be a long 24 hours as we wait to see if America comes to its senses.

So much is at stake tomorrow.  On the one hand, we have the potential to make history, with the election of our  nation's first female president (about damn time), by choosing a candidate who is not just female but also brilliant, experienced, and on my side of the great political divide. A candidate who has spent her career working tirelessly for the good of others. A candidate who will lead our country with level-headed logic, and choose Supreme Court justices who lean towards equality and choice. On the other hand, we have the potential to make history by choosing to put our fate in the hands of a narcissistic, racist demagogue with a complete lack of impulse control.  A man who only thinks of serving himself and who knocks down our most vulnerable when they get in his way.

Regardless of the outcome tomorrow, I am  grappling with  the fact that almost 50% of the American populace is going to vote for choice B.  It is terrifying.  Even if/when Hillary Clinton is inaugurated, that won't change.  We will still be a country divided, full of people who are too fearful and angry to think straight.

I have no answers for any of this.  But I am heartened as I read the posts by other feminists on Pantsuit Nation, and encouraged as I've talked to fellow voters in my (safe, liberal stronghold of a) community during canvassing. Come Wednesday, we'll have an outcome.  And regardless of it, there will be dishes to do and kids to feed and a lot of people out there in the world to love.  I am trying to take my fear and anxiety and turn it into positive energy.  The work isn't over tomorrow.  We are just getting started.

In the meantime:

We had a super nice weekend! Glorious weather, an extra hour on Sunday (silver linings of that pesky daylight savings time!) and even a date night to kick it all off .

In the face of uncertainty-- life is good.  We are holding our breath-- and breathing in this beautiful fall and the richness and joy in our lives.

Date night, courtesy of Gram's babysitting service...
Dinner at L'Albatros. French cuisine, great service, just the two of us...

Then, off to MIX at the art Art Museum.

 Keith and his new beau met us there, and we had a blast listening to a brass band, making metal crafts, and drinking lots of beer around Art.

 And, then, because it was 60 degrees out, we went for ice cream.  Because, you know, its November...!

Saturday:  Spent our morning off going canvassing for our candidate.  My first time ever doing this, and way out of my comfort zone in a lot of ways--but I survived!  In fact, it was surprisingly easy.  So I signed us up for two more shifts.  #betterthanfretting  I hear tell our ground game is how we'll win this.

We had a nice lunch with my friend Fiona from choir, followed by a fun swim in the lovely Winton Place pool.  Fiona is a treasure.  Ivy couldn't get enough of her, just gazing at her with a look of wonder and surprise as they joked together.  We had a great time.

From one party to the next:  Lillian and Naomi are seven!  (What?? How did that happen so fast?)  The girls had a  "Zootopia" party, complemented by the perfect fall weather and a grand leaf pile.

Eating donuts on a string....

Jack was the only "big boy" there but it didn't seem to bother him much-- he was in his element chasing all those girls with leaves all day...

Barb kept the party games going, with the assembled kids hanging on her every word.  She's a magician.

 Sunday:  Ivy's first canvassing!  We teamed up with a nice young lady named Brianna and had a successful shift, talking to 13 voters out of our 35 doors.  Ivy loved it, mastering the "ring, knock-knock-knock" on each door, and carefully leaving a leaflet and sticker on the unanswered ones.  She's a trouper, walking the whole way, focused on her task from start to finish.

We had to soak up yet another perfect fall day-- a quick trip to Horseshoe Lake Park (Ivy's idea, and she was very clear that I should ALWAYS listen to her ideas, when I told her it had been a good one--- "See mom???  I TOLD you we should come to this park." )

 Jack has been reading everywhere we go.

 Sometimes they are cute.

 Jack found a new friend and they played soccer together for almost an hour.

 With the sun now setting at 5:30, we could fit in a sunset lake trip too, all before dinner!

Tag and sign climbing in the fading light.  Loving our city and our fun-loving family.

Took home two completely starving children who happily ate every bite of their suppers.  We need to take them to run at two different parks EVERY day before dinner.  Really.