It’s been a week and although I’m late with my October What I Read post, I feel like I need to share a little life before I put it up.
The obvious low point of the week was Wednesday morning, waking up to hear that Donald Trump had once more been elected president of the United States. Americans, I don’t know what to say to you. I know that there are so many good, decent people among you and many of you did not want this. But…a lot of you did. And I’ve spent the aftermath of other US elections feeling bad for your country but this time it feels different. We’ve been here before and you’ve chosen to return. It’s exhausting and frustrating to watch from the outside, particularly from the nation closest to you, both geographically and economically. And it’s heartbreaking to realize that Americans would rather have a convicted felon lead them than a woman.
So, against that, I offer my own little highlights. They feel fairly paltry this week but they are good and real things. In the dark, the light shines all the brighter.
Last Thursday was Halloween, one of the most chaotic and exhausting weeks in the life of parents with elementary school-aged children! The girls’ school had a dance Tuesday night, Rose had a field trip, and then Thursday was Halloween. Costumes at school and then neighbourhood trick-or-treating in the evening. Pearl was a paleontologist and Rose was a bunny. There was a bit of rain that evening but we had a great time trick-or-treating through our neighbourhood. I know many Christians struggle with Halloween and there are definitely parts I don’t love but every year I am delighted at what a community event it is. For one night a year, the neighbourhood opens its doors, steps out into the street, and shares generously. We see so many friends, meet so many neighbours, and connect as a community in a truly unique way.
On Monday – this isn’t exactly a highlight – we had a huge weather event and the coast was hit with heavy rains, strong winds, and in some cases something most closely resembling a hurricane. Now, we don’t get hurricanes in our part of the country. I’ve never heard of it happening. But the winds that whipped through our neighbourhood on Monday were crazy strong and weirdly localized. Most of the Coast lost power in the morning and some places didn’t get it back on until yesterday. The highway was closed in two parts on Monday and so many trees were down all over the place. We lost part of our fence and one tree but are very fortunate. Some huge branches came down in our yard that could have caused a lot more damage and other homes in our neighbourhood were much more badly damaged when trees came down on them.
We were also fortunate to get our power back Monday night and to be able to go to Peter’s parents’ house for a hot meal that evening because they still had their power.
Happy weekend, friends. Wishing that you have a moment this weekend to be as comfortable and as at peace as Winnie the Dog, asleep on my couch.
Karissa Reads Books 
Karissa, I’m so sorry about the election. I voted Harris/Walz, early, from abroad, and was so hopeful, and don’t regret hoping, but it’s a terrifying result. For the past few days I’ve been trying to find words—my English friends and family are also baffled and disgusted, and as someone who loathes the man and all of the creeps and goons for whom he holds the door, I feel so ashamed on the country’s behalf. We’ve let the whole world down, we’ve let all our children down. You don’t have to feel sorry or sympathetic towards us, or anything other than anger, but do know that the suffering that comes out of this choice will be real and dreadful. Total destruction of the norms of Western democracy aside, I’m frightened for the physical safety and health (reproductive and otherwise) of everyone I know.
I’m sure it’s so much harder to be an American looking in. And I know it’s not all Americans but it turns out it’s a lot. I do feel angry but I also have the luxury of not feeling scared for myself or my girls. I can’t imagine what I’d be feeling right now if I lived in the US. If America existed in a vacuum, I’d be tempted to say give them what they want and let it crumble. But there is such a global effect and I’m just so tired of living next door to a lunatic.
You have every right! It’s absolutely ridiculous and it’s so unfair that it affects not just millions in the actual country, but trillions across the globe. A gross abdication of our responsibility.
Feeling very similar feelings about the US election at the moment. (The president-elect accused the UK of interfering in the election before it even took place, so I don’t feel great about whatever’s coming down the tracks for us economically if he decides he wants revenge of some sort. Obviously there will be more serious consequences and with much greater global reach, but I can’t quite bring myself to think about those yet). However, I am glad that you have got your power back and that you’re okay, and the lovely pictures of your girls and dog did cheer me up. Praying for some moments of peace for you and yours this weekend as well ❤
It feels like the best case scenario is that he doesn’t follow through on anything he’s threatened against Canada (tariffs etc) but even without that there are going to be major implications for the environment and global politics. For now, I’m planning to take a break from the news. We had an election in our province recently and although the results were good in the end, it was so close that it took a week to call it and I’m tired of electoral news!
Winnie The Dog looks so content! That’s a lovely big back window you have for her to look out. I about died inside when I saw your kids’ Halloween costumes. A paleontologist, omg, and a bunny, complete with a carrot. How lovely! Do they pick their own costumes, or do you make suggestions?
Sometimes she like to stand on the couch and bark at birds! The girls pick their own costumes. I sometimes try to steer them in a certain direction but they usually have pretty clear ideas of their own! We already had the bunny costume so that was easy but Pearl was really set on her costume idea and it took us a while to pull it together. Rose ate her whole carrot throughout the day at school and came home with orange all around her mouth!
I’ve washed my hands of America now. They’ve had two and a half centuries to grow up and they’re still behaving like hormonal teenagers. My ambition now is for Europe to pull out of NATO and form a new alliance with functioning democracies around the world – ones that don’t deliberately elect convicted fraudsters and sex criminals.
I’m sadly feeling similar. I know many lovely and kind Americans but this is what the country is. I would love to see Canada move away from our dependence on the US and lean into our European and UK connections.