After the Fourth, What We Fear and What Brings Joy, Walking in Rose and Lavender Gardens, and GOOAAALL

Glenn and I in lavender

After the Fourth, Walking in Rose Gardens, and What We Fear

I hope your Fourth of July was as happy as possible. We had some family over for a cookout, watched our local fireworks on television, and took a stroll in a rose garden at a nearby winery that was actually open on the fourth.

As Trump tries to ruin everything, instead of celebrating America on its 250th birthday, he pumped up his crowd with fear—this time, mysteriously, a fear of…communism? You know what? I’m not scared of communism at all. I’m afraid that AI will kill humanity. I’m afraid data centers will render power and water scarce and destroy our environment. I’m afraid that government trying to control my body because I’m a woman or making ten-year-old rape victims have babies that might kill them. I’m afraid of a population twisted by hate. I’m afraid of a health care system that does nothing but expensively let us down.  But communism? Nah.

Paris celebrates the USA’s 250th

I think what he was really thinking of was Democratic Socialists in the vein of AOC, who preach things like free health care for all and education for all, and taxes for billionaires. Oh, and spending on human needs, not war and AI. And you know what? Those ideas are really popular right now for America. Are you for all those things? I definitely am too. Let’s look to Europe for examples on how to do it right—particularly in Scandinavians countries. I know America can do better for its people that it’s doing right now. I hope we have an educated enough electorate to throw out corrupt evil old men, and maybe elect some young women to run this country the right way for a while. Hey, at least that would be novel, right?

What are you looking forward to? My 32nd wedding anniversary and my husband’s birthday (double fives) are next week, though we’re not planning much splash because of budget concerns. However, having a pleasant 70°F day to walk through a lavender garden or a rose garden, spending time with friend and family, catching up on bird-watching and reading outdoors on the back deck, those are all low-cost, high joy things that I can do. I am also looking forward to the soccer match to be played in Seattle, US vs Belgium, and the (hopefully) celebratory spirit that it will bring to the city. We could all use a little joy right now, right?