Thank you thank you thank you. I am avoiding all non-book media for the foreseeable, because I'm not ready. The only thing I'm keeping on is this newsletter. It's the only thing I could bear/dare to read, and yes, it helps. Your words are the only safe ones for me right now.
Thank you. Only 10% of subscribers pay for it, which is a bit maddening sometimes since I do feel I give it my all, but I appreciate you and every single person who pays the $6 to make this sustainable for me as a writer.
Also, under category: SANE: Things-That-Are-Good-And/Or-Funny-In-The-World, @weratedogs is hilarious and delightful, and @effinbirds is hilarious and maybe not safe for children.
Love and appreciate this post. You are one of the brilliant, brilliant stars Kamala Harris was talking about.
I read the following on my friend Edna's page--something I hadn't heard before, and it hit home. "The forest was shrinking, but the trees kept voting for the ax, for the ax was clever and convinced the trees that because his handle was made of wood, he was one of them. Turkish Proverb." We need to regroup and be more clever than the ax.
Thanks for putting some of my emotions into words… and I’ve been feeling so badly for the earth and the children- your dialogue with your son is a good perspective.
You are a bright light in the darkness,. Thank you for your çaring and beautiful writing.
I am glad I was directed to Substack by a writer for the Washington Post, Shane O'Neill. Shane is feeling like we are, as are most of the WaPo writers.
I am concerned about your health. Please take good care of yourself. Your son needs you and we do. 💙🙏
These are boom times for therapists, I'm guessing. I noticed a number of unexpected psych dimensions to this situation while speaking with my sister in TX yesterday: I trust no one I don't already know; I don't look at anyone or engage in the simplest interaction; I still can't make sense of why anyone would vote for someone who's determined to deport them; I no longer watch TV news of any kind; just to name a few new behavioral departures.
The betrayal piece is what I can't get past -- the sensation that I awakened today to the news that my partner was unfaithful to me the day before. Was life with me really that bad? Was inflation really that high? Are immigrants really that dangerous?
I lived through Johnson & Nixon back to back, two Reagan terms and two Bush 43 terms (re-elected though he left us vulnerable to 9/11), and a legit "joke vote" that made an ignorant wrestler governor of MN. Those were separate, survive-able agonies, turns out, completely different from this one.
In addition to seeking health care options you mentioned, reproductive and otherwise, I would also liquidate all stocks-based investments until mid-term Congressional elections arrive, by which time our fickle disinformed electorate may have changed its tune about the brave new world of dictatorship.
Get well soon! I came down with covid the day before the election, so it was knock me down and step on me. I echo the others in saying "You are a bright light in the darkness." Pete, Ithaca NY
After this post I finally subscribed to a Substack page for the first time ever. I got to know you, Bess, from when he was elected the first time. Back then, although I'm from Germany and there is far more geographical distance to me, I needed and enjoyed the solace you gave me (and us) by "lecturing" him in the most witty and satisfying way on twitter. The serious tone of this and other recent posts of yours marks a notable contrast to these "happy" former times. This contrast accurately depicts and corresponds with my present perception and my sense of dread, disbelief, and anxiety. He is, for obvious reasons, not only a threat to the U.S., but a global threat. Not to make it too long: I can take your consolation more seriously than others. At the time, I think we all still had some thin dark sense of collective fun as we laughed at him, since that joy was the least he had to admit to us (as if he cared; well actually he did, right: didn't he even block you on twitter?). Now that we know his election wasn't an outlier and that this time people really - JFC - *knew* what they were voting for, it's all so much more grim, depressing and scary. So, thank you (and get well soon).
Thank you thank you thank you. I am avoiding all non-book media for the foreseeable, because I'm not ready. The only thing I'm keeping on is this newsletter. It's the only thing I could bear/dare to read, and yes, it helps. Your words are the only safe ones for me right now.
love you, bess. thanks for this, and for all of your words. let's fucking do this together!
Thank you, Bess. ❤️
Today's newsletter finally inspired me to upgrade to a paid subscription. You deserve my support just as you support me!
Thank you. Only 10% of subscribers pay for it, which is a bit maddening sometimes since I do feel I give it my all, but I appreciate you and every single person who pays the $6 to make this sustainable for me as a writer.
Same!! We are in this together.
It was yesterday’s newsletter letter that did it for me!
Also, under category: SANE: Things-That-Are-Good-And/Or-Funny-In-The-World, @weratedogs is hilarious and delightful, and @effinbirds is hilarious and maybe not safe for children.
Thanks for doing what you do. It helps.
I've said it before and I'll say it again...Bess Kalb=National Treasure. And glad you are feeling better and got the care you needed.
Love and appreciate this post. You are one of the brilliant, brilliant stars Kamala Harris was talking about.
I read the following on my friend Edna's page--something I hadn't heard before, and it hit home. "The forest was shrinking, but the trees kept voting for the ax, for the ax was clever and convinced the trees that because his handle was made of wood, he was one of them. Turkish Proverb." We need to regroup and be more clever than the ax.
Thanks for putting some of my emotions into words… and I’ve been feeling so badly for the earth and the children- your dialogue with your son is a good perspective.
You are a bright light in the darkness,. Thank you for your çaring and beautiful writing.
I am glad I was directed to Substack by a writer for the Washington Post, Shane O'Neill. Shane is feeling like we are, as are most of the WaPo writers.
I am concerned about your health. Please take good care of yourself. Your son needs you and we do. 💙🙏
You make me hate it here a little less.
My work now.
With you, with this community, I am going to keep trying. I am. I fucking AM.
These are boom times for therapists, I'm guessing. I noticed a number of unexpected psych dimensions to this situation while speaking with my sister in TX yesterday: I trust no one I don't already know; I don't look at anyone or engage in the simplest interaction; I still can't make sense of why anyone would vote for someone who's determined to deport them; I no longer watch TV news of any kind; just to name a few new behavioral departures.
The betrayal piece is what I can't get past -- the sensation that I awakened today to the news that my partner was unfaithful to me the day before. Was life with me really that bad? Was inflation really that high? Are immigrants really that dangerous?
I lived through Johnson & Nixon back to back, two Reagan terms and two Bush 43 terms (re-elected though he left us vulnerable to 9/11), and a legit "joke vote" that made an ignorant wrestler governor of MN. Those were separate, survive-able agonies, turns out, completely different from this one.
In addition to seeking health care options you mentioned, reproductive and otherwise, I would also liquidate all stocks-based investments until mid-term Congressional elections arrive, by which time our fickle disinformed electorate may have changed its tune about the brave new world of dictatorship.
Thanks for letting me vent, Dr. Kalb!
Get well soon! I came down with covid the day before the election, so it was knock me down and step on me. I echo the others in saying "You are a bright light in the darkness." Pete, Ithaca NY
After this post I finally subscribed to a Substack page for the first time ever. I got to know you, Bess, from when he was elected the first time. Back then, although I'm from Germany and there is far more geographical distance to me, I needed and enjoyed the solace you gave me (and us) by "lecturing" him in the most witty and satisfying way on twitter. The serious tone of this and other recent posts of yours marks a notable contrast to these "happy" former times. This contrast accurately depicts and corresponds with my present perception and my sense of dread, disbelief, and anxiety. He is, for obvious reasons, not only a threat to the U.S., but a global threat. Not to make it too long: I can take your consolation more seriously than others. At the time, I think we all still had some thin dark sense of collective fun as we laughed at him, since that joy was the least he had to admit to us (as if he cared; well actually he did, right: didn't he even block you on twitter?). Now that we know his election wasn't an outlier and that this time people really - JFC - *knew* what they were voting for, it's all so much more grim, depressing and scary. So, thank you (and get well soon).
(by "subscribed" I meant, of course, upgrading to a paid subscription, sorry)
Thank you, Bess.
Thank you Bess. It helps so much! ❤️