Care Bear Stare

The election results were a shock. It baffles the mind. Without indulging the frustration and details, I read comments about want to live by example.

My daughter woke up next to me and I told her, "there's some bad news in the world, but I want you to know it's going to be ok."

She replied, "Trump won, didn't he?"

"Yes, and it's going to be ok. We are going to keep being us. We are going to be even better versions of ourselves. We are going to show love and kindness. We are going to treat people with kindness regardless of how they look or act. We are going to watch and make decisions for ourselves."

"But we've never seen his real skin color!"

"It would hurt if somebody said something like that about me." [I might have had to suppress a smile.]

She understood quickly and was ok with this for a bit. Then she said, "What if he stops letting women work?"

"That's not going to happen" [because he wouldn't want to have to support me without a j-o-b.] "Do you remember your care bear? Do you remember the cartoon show? When the bears were afraid, they joined together and they sent out light from their hearts, and everything was ok."

She was ok with this for a bit too. "We still have the electoral college on December 9."

"That's probably not going to change anything."

And she cried. [gut punch]

Fast forward: Driving home tonight, this beautiful rainbow appeared on top of a pink sky. It appeared to be bright, radiant light erupting from the sunset. I edited up the saturation to match my memory of the moment. This happened about the time I read some words from Hillary. As soon as I got my baby girl in front of me again, I delivered the message.

To all the little girls watching...never doubt that you are valuable and powerful & deserving of every chance & opportunity in the world.

I choose to love. I will choose to do good things. My little girl is forever watchful, hopeful, and worthy. Care Bear Stare.

I saw a unicorn!

Maybe you know that my friend and I are doing some Heart Spoken jerseys?

Yesterday morning I was on the phone with Rachel, and I wound up driving on the road that I usually bike on. (Don't be mad. Sometimes I drive a car.)

The coolest thing happened! I SAW ANOTHER FEMALE BIKE COMMUTER! I did what any other giddy driver would do... No, no - I didn't run her off the road - I stopped to give her one of our jerseys.

I hope she wears it and that it protects her, even if for just a moment. We need to stand up for each other. We need to help each other. We need to protect each other, regardless of how we're getting to work in the morning.

What dream shall we live today?

In this moment I'm imagining the next version of me. This is me getting good with me.

It is tough to keep breathing calmly. Lots of things surface with change and growth. Lots of them hurt.

Ben Folds says - I'm going to make the best imitation of myself.

I spent the last 3 days on a pirate ship with my best friend, little guitars, incredible food, crushing laughter, heart break, soft silence, blinding light, and me.

Coming home was jarring. I want to do and see and be! What dream shall we live today?

Must be this tall to ride

My objective is not to "make it" bigger than life. I am happy when people let me do what I do without getting all mad about it. I don't need a slushy to the face, or to have to stop and make way for a faster passing vehicle. I just want to get along with my getting along.

I don't have a smooth segue to this, but I am enjoying a blog, Must Be This Tall To Ride. I don't quit at things and I'm not trying to interrupt the happiness of others. However, I am single. Like this guy, I'm looking at my own mistakes and trying to do better. I just want to get along with my getting along.

Church on Sunday.