100 Comments
User's avatar
Beth Kephart's avatar

We are all here together. And I take solace from that, don't know what the hell I would do without all of us who will do all we can, whatever that is, to stop this awful ugliness. This cruelty. This madness.

Karol Jackowski's avatar

John O'Donohue's tombstone message grants me peace:

May I have the courage today

To live the life that I would live

To postpone my dream no longer

But do at last what I came here for

And waste my heart on fear no more.

Abigail Thomas's avatar

Thanks for sending that to me.

Karol Jackowski's avatar

Love the thought of not wasting our hearts on fear.

Abigail Thomas's avatar

Rage takes care of that.

t-raise us up with Thérèse's avatar

What beautiful words. I have no idea who he was, but those words are, if you'll pardon my pun, to die for.

Mira Dessy's avatar

I think for many of us finding solace in the company of those we love is the only thing keeping us going at the moment.

Marilea C. Rabasa's avatar

The passivity in this country is pathetic. Lemmings, they're all lemmings following orders, walking off the cliff.

Marcy Singer's avatar

I feel exactly the same way. The situation is beyond frustrating and I keep silently screaming, Where are our former leaders and ex-presidents? Barely a peep

Out of them.

Dakota Lane's avatar

It IS a mountain of shit. And you continue to save lives with your decency and your wonderful stories. Grace and good taste count for a lot too. We have so many things left to love even as it melts before our eyes.

Abigail Thomas's avatar

That is true, we do have mn=any things left to love.

Andrea Tate / I'll Show You's avatar

It is a mountain of shit. Writing does help and so does reading your words. ❤️

Abigail Thomas's avatar

Thank you. I am glad you are doing it too.

Andrea Tate / I'll Show You's avatar

Every since I read Safe Keeping ❤️

Susan Weis-Bohlen's avatar

It's horrible. I'm watching closely to know when it's time to leave. Something my Grandmother somehow knew to do when she left Germany in 1937 with my grandfather and my dad -- he was only 12 years old. Because they were forced to leave because of the Holocaust, I'm able to reclaim German citizenship. The person working on this in Germany for me says, with the German passport I can leave anywhere in the EU, from Portugal to Finland. Alas, we don't want to put our dogs on long plane rides (one already endured that when I brought her here 10 years ago from India). So we are keeping Canada in mind. A place we can drive to. I know they have issues too but it's not as insane as here. I just wish I knew how my Grandparents knew it was time to go. How will we know?

Jane Mundy's avatar

My heart goes out to you and our American friends who didn’t vote for that stupid fucking bully. There is only one good thing he has done: the moron has united Canada and made us more patriotic then ever. Too bad you can’t just come over to my place on Vancouver Island. Hang in there Abby..

Jane Mundy's avatar

Susan , glad you are ‘keeping Canada in mind’ but hope you realize that you won’t be able to stay here unless you have family…? We aren’t the 51st state! ( I know you know that.) The longest you can stay is 6 months.

Susan K's avatar

Unless Canada becomes what the orange clown wants -- the 51st state of the US. And there are autocrats burgeoning all over the world, including in Europe. And wars. And the nuclear threat is global and worsening. Also -- packing up and moving, stuff plus dogs, is an enormous effort. I hope enough of us stay put and put up enough resistance to put an end to this. IF there are elections in 2026 -- every day that's a bigger IF -- and we manage to take back Congress -- there will be some hope.

Jane Mundy's avatar

That will never happen. Why are Americans saying ‘wait four years’? Stand and fight!

Rick Ackermann's avatar

My grandparents and 14 year old son left Germany under the same circumstances. He became a U.S. citizen a week before I was born. Consequently, I’ve thought I wasn’t able to reclaim my German citizenship. Not true?

Abigail Thomas's avatar

He may have become an american citizen, but he was born in Germany. Isn't tht what counts?

Rick Ackermann's avatar

I've looked into it and concluded I'm not eligible. I'll look again.

Dorothy's avatar

You are so right Abigail! Muskrat and his copresident are evil! It’s so outrageous! Your books cheer me up I am listening and loving your wisdom and sense of humor! Right on sister!✍️✍️🙏❤️🌹♥️💕👏👏👏

GINNY ROWAN's avatar

They cheer me up

Too

Abigail Thomas's avatar

Thank you, Elissa.

Abigail Thomas's avatar

Thank you. Strange, isn't it. What we didn't know.

DIANA ADMIRE's avatar

I agree soooooooo much with this rant, writing, bleeding onto the screen.

It is sad, yes… and I am 2shakes from closing my meta account.

Not that My lil page made much of a difference.

Blessings dear one…

WRITE ON!

Dorothy's avatar

L O L! I had to correct my comment which came out your boobs cheer me up! Well, you do my dear?

Dorothy's avatar

Beth, I also love your books and your Substack! Happy Valentine’s Day!❤️💕🙏🥰🌹

Nona Martin Stuck's avatar

Much indignation, fear and wild love traveling to you from the mountains of North Carolina. If I were a better driver, I would pack a small bag and come up to see you for a few days. As it is, I’ll send the strongest and freshest juju your way. I do love you so.

Abigail Thomas's avatar

It would be sweet to see you, old pal.

t-raise us up with Thérèse's avatar

Abigail, your summation of things in the once united state of the union, is

perfect.

You may not have had a

college education, but your words flow like water.

I got past a lady of advanced age asking WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK, and love your command of the English language.

I'm hoping there's more ease in your days, and things won't turn out quite as bad as they seem with the orange man in the top spot.

Thank you for writing, this is my favourite post this week. I love thexway you write. You have style.

Sean Jeung's avatar

Abigail….you’ve earned the right to have your peace and you are also justified in being enraged at the assault of having it robbed away.

Please don’t stop writing. Your posts always inspire me. I have not lost hope in the vibration of love and kindness and good making a difference. Your thoughts are borne of love and kindness and good….. cleverly disguised in the rage and disgust at what we are all bearing witness to.

Love your dogs, your family and your home. Take brazen pleasure in every moment of anything and everything that gives you even a moments pleasure or joy.

But please please please keep writing!!

Abigail Thomas's avatar

Thank you so much, and I will keep writing, I can't seem to help it. You are very kind and this meant a to me.