271 Comments

Sleep well and dream of democracy!

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Speaking of democracy, I can't wait for Heather's speaking event tied to her book here in Portland on Sept. 17. With democracy on the line seven weeks later on Election Day, it will be a packed house.

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Opportunity to see our dear Dr. Heather “live” !

Pennsylvania: Putting Democracy into Action

Tuesday, June 11, 2024

2 pm PT/ 5 pm ET

(note earlier time, replay available)

Author of best-selling Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America, as well as the award-winning newsletter, “Letters from an American,” Heather is a keen observer of progressive movements. She will let us in on how the struggle for economic justice is feeding into pressure for political change and how Pennsylvania is a promising example of that process.

https://airlift.fund/

Although this is a fundraiser for Pennsylvania Stands Up, you need not make a donation.

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Which Portland?

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Sorry, West Coast.

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Oh, damn. If it was Portland, ME, I'd be there with bells on.

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me too. I saw her speak at USM.

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Heather was in Belfast (Maine!) recently. Regrettfully missed her.

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😯😟

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Hi, Michael. I'm in Eugene, and I'm really interested in this, but I can't find any information online about this speaking event. Can you point me in the right direction?

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Not at all easy to find but hope this helps you. :).

https://www.ohs.org/events/hatfield-historians-forum.cfm

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I agree. I tried searching for her upcoming events without any success. I end up hearing about them after that have taken place.

I did find her past YouTube chats which might be helpful:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnbKOlm6H9njgmN-Yil90Rg

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Jun 9·edited Jun 9

Yes Cary, that's very helpful. Thanks so much! :-)

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The one on the right?

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May appear to be on the right, but it’s on the left. 😉

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Thank you Michael, I hadn’t heard she was coming to Portland in September. Where is she speaking?

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Definitely Ally! I just sent you a message. Maybe we could get together with our fellow LFA Oregonians there.

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Here's hoping you and Karen RN make it to the event, Ally; morning!

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It looks like we will, and bring Michele along as well!

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Attended HRC’s Town Hall in Seattle. What a

treat and what a nice down to earth human being.

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Christopher “Hold fast to dreams

For if dreams die,

Like is a broken-winged bird

That cannot fly.”

LANGSTON HUGHES

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Let's hope democracy doesn't become a dream.

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It is a dream. Without the dream, how can it become reality?

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Perhaps, Christopher, “dreamocracy” standing true!

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This thought came to my mind: MAGA - Milking Average Gullible Americans.

Someone sent me some red MAGA golf balls. I think the red in the photo did it.

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More like Milking All Gullible Americans

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I like it, Jeri. Yes, ALL, about 70 million.

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😝GFLT Gullible Fools Love Trump

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MAGAt. Made America Gullible Again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgQ9iZnMr00

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Left me speechless, not easy to do

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Definitely worth a watch and passing it on.

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Richard MAKING AMERICA GAGA AGAIN

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Ooo, I like that one!

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If you haven't seen it, Robert Reich's Sunday Caption Contest features a red ball with MAGA on it - you should submit that!

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Alert: All readers here read the statement of one of the two Republicans Speaker Johnson has appointed to the Intelligence Committee. It is in direct contradiction to everything President Biden is trying to achieve in France. It is the worst possible expression of trumpism and will destroy democracy faster than a bomb.

Also: The Barents Observer” reports that a Russian nuclear submarine is on its way to Cuba.

(Sorry I don’t have a reference for the congressman’s statement. It may be available on YouTube.

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Now’s a good time to catch up in sleep. Here and slowly on around the world.

Your video on YouTube yesterday was very powerful, clear and forthright.

I’m getting better at finding your taped messages. Thank you for your efforts and for using every kind of technology to educate, illuminate, clarify the mass of information coming at all of us every hour, every minute of the day.

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Hi Karen O. I'm having trouble finding her YouTube video from yesterday. How did you find it?

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Beautiful photo Buddy. Sleep long and well Heather.

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Please thank Buddy for his images of tranquility in the world.

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Yes. And this morning when I saw this lovely sunrise Buddy captured, I am reminded that Heather is our buoy, navigating us through calm and troubled waters, keeping us afloat sometimes as well. I am so grateful.

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Doesn’t anyone but me see that the red is a global warming statement? Yes, it’s beautiful, but it’s also a warning. “Red in the morning, sailors take warning” now has a totally different meaning.

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I describe Heather as My Port in a Storm. Soo grateful for her and this community she has built.

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From me also. His images are beautiful and full of meaning.

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Yesterday, we held our annual Frühlingsfest on the Brüsseler Platz in the center of Cologne, where for many years our group of volunteer gardeners has tended the green spaces surrounding the square and the Neo Romanesque St Michael’s church at its center. This morning, I was reflecting on the day and thought to share it with you.

June 8, 2024

A sweet spot of a day

Sunlight drifted through the canopy of mature Plane trees, plantanus acerfolia, ripe from rich spring rains, shifting its focus as the day progressed from morning into early evening.

Air cool but warmed; the effort of our work never rising to the surface of our skin long enough to dampen it. The laughter of children, so many children, from the still swaddling to the toddleringly confident, teens and tweens, young men and women. The Geiger-kinder performed a string concert for us on the steps of St. Michael’s.

And the elders, gathered at the edge of the fire we tended in the middle of it all, my son and I – a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand years and the river of the warm spring day, the break from winter, the gardens rich with green and red and gold, still flows, and we come together to celebrate the promise of life, of community.

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And as you-we all know, Cologne, in Germany 🇩🇪 a democracy with thanks to the extraordinarily brave men and women who made your celebration possible.

Buddy’s sunrise photo is a reminder for me that each moment of our lives is fleetingly unique as that stunning sunrise is; so too is freedom. We can choose to speak up, to take actions unlike too many people in oligarchies. It’s up to each of us today, every day isn’t it?

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How truly beautiful! Thank you.

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Thank you. I'm so happy it resonated with you.

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Oh yes! Your Frühling is very late, though, in June?

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R Dooley, thank you for the lovely description of the Brusseler Platz yesterday; pleasant work, the laughter of children and savoring the moment. We stayed a few days in Cologne 10 years ago when we rode our tandem along the Rhine from the source to the sea! Happy memories.

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From the source to the Sea! Eat your heart out, Siegfried.

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We do it every year at this time, after the rains. It's still spring...

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Thank you! Nice writing — I could picture the beautiful gardens. “The promise of life, of community.” May it be so.

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How lovely R Dooley. What a picture you paint

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Nothing like 14 hours of deep sleep. When I was 14. It was like a coma. At 85, five will do. Then three more. Then two more. Ten is a good round number. In segments. At 85, that works. Then half a glass of water from our well, of which we have two at the farmhouse and 13 farm wide. Beef drink. And fertilize. Septics when properly flooded leave tall deep green grass.

I’ve long ago walked Gus, our four year old Border Collie born in Canada on the Seaway. He’s done. At 4:30, he will place a paw and lick my ear. He’s patient. At 5, two paws.

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Sleep does become a slippery eel as we age. The love of our critters stays put.

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This is my situation at age 84. Our kitty curls up beside me on the bed and helps me to relax. Her name is Annabelle. She showed up at our front door one very cold night in 2017 and walked in like she owned the place. And now she does!

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I had Miss Rosie come to back door and say, I hear you have a vacancy, (we had put one down a month earlier) in 2009. We did and she is still ruling, just like Annabelle.

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Thanks, SB. I like it a lot!

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Please rest dear Professor! We look forward to hearing from you tomorrow!

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Many thanks to all who commented above, to Buddy for his magnificent photo and to you, Professor. May we all awake ⏰️ well rested and renewed.

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Thank you Buddy for such a beautiful image of tranquility. Sweet dreams Heather.

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You deserve as much rest as think you need. There are thousands of us out here and we appreciate so much what you share with us ❤️

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Gorgeous photo! I agree with others. Please sleep well and may we all dream of a healthy democracy for many years to come in this country

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Very special. Thanks for thinking of us as you share beauty on your way. Have a well deserved rest, and thanks for all that you do.

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You can tell that it's a buoy-in-law.

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Simply heavenly photo! Sleep well and dream of home.

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Stunning picture from Buddy. Thank him please. As for you, ma’am, please sleep until your heart’s content. We can wait.

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Totally understand why you can’t wait to get back to Maine!

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Yes indeed and I’ve never been there but the photos are such beautiful art of a real place.

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We were lucky enough to live in Maine for about 15 years. I miss it.

Here are some fun facts about the state:

https://www.docksseafood.com/maine-facts

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Thanks Bill. And down in Jacksonville, FL they dare to call it the First Coast. 😱

Interesting facts.

Our home overlooks Mt. Desert which is the 2nd largest island on the East Coast.

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