The blend of the joy and beauty in the world with the pure terror of what is happening in the states is exactly what living these days is. I fear annexation (I’m in Canada), I’m worried about our election (our Conservative party desperately wants to be as badass as the Trump admin), and spring is so beautiful I’m so happy. Did you know trees communicate with aerosols? And we breathe those aerosols in? And some of them are medicinal! So that spring feeling is actually your brain on tree drugs. (A non scientific term.)
I'm Canadian, too. The news gives me heart palpitations. I live close the border and used to visit bi-monthly for groceries and friends and now I wonder if I'll ever go to the US again.
I do think that more people are worried than you might expect in the US -- or maybe it's just the people I hang out with - all my friends are looking for exit strategies, but nowhere feels immune to the strongman oligarchies and what it means for the world. I hope your kid has safe and easy travels -- we'll be rooting for them! (And thank you for sharing snippets from your fairytale life -- ogres and all.)
I so hear you. My daughter is mixed race, often mistaken for Mexican, and has to travel internationally for work. I am terrified for her, as well! And I am angry that I have to be so scared.
I feel for you and hope your family avoids trouble from ICE. Every one in my family has dual citizenship -- we have American passports but live in Scotland. In the past, that's provoked some rude comments from border agents who consider that disloyal, but they were just dicks. I shudder to think what might happen now. As for me, I've decided never to return.
It was so nice to read this. I completely agree with your fear and rage over what is going on. I'm so sick of people dismissing my feelings about this administration. Democracy is fragile, and what's happening is terrifying to me too.
I feel like no one realizes how bad and dangerous things are. We’re all the frog in the proverbial pot set to boil. I’m sorry you had a harrowing experience like that.
The people who are walking around like everything is fine are the scariest of all to me. It’s like Stepford people. Then there are the people who are concerned, but not as concerned as you think. I have found myself in conversations with women I thought were on the same page, and conceptually they are, but twice it’s happened that someone has said, wow, why do you think you personally are so worried about all this? And followed it up with suggestions to “take breaks from the news” which I do, my god. I’ve just realized that a lot of people are really not understanding the depth of what’s happening here. They think they’re safe I guess, or they want to hope for the best, or their minds can’t or won’t hold onto the reality of where we are. It’s crazy-making and heartbreaking and scary.
I hear you! I especially find it scary in online communities where the main focus is making money. As a 50-something year old who has never really earned much money on my own, I had, at first, found it empowering to join spaces that encouraged financial freedom and wealth building! But the lack of care or concern about what's really happening scares the f$ck out of me. Stepford wives is exactly how it feels! Thank you for naming what I couldn't name...
So scary. I can't even believe this is our country right now. You might want to look at the r/passports sub on Reddit for the latest on people traveling with X markers to get an idea of safety. People are posting about their recent experiences.
ummm, what?! As you were walking out to the plane? This is terrifying. We moved out of the US in October and are currently in the UK. But we still have family and friends there, my very aging parents, a house that we own...so grateful to not be there, but oh my, what does it all mean?
I said I was so incandescent with rage towards my family members who voted for Trump I was (seriously) fantasizing about attacking them with eggs. A goose army would be better. 😏
Thank you for sharing your awful experience and how it affected you and your family. Reading these personal experiences can penetrate the fog of disinformation and denial.
As an avid reader, I am especially drawn to historical fiction about the lived experiences of ordinary citizens during wartime. I am amazed by the capacity for humans to survive. The bleakness and fear seems overwhelming.
Denial is the mechanism of a majority in the US. We want our fat dumb cushy insulated lives to continue regardless of hostile war footing this current Admin has very publicly announced. And repeated. And repeated. Lying and exaggerating more with each passing day.
I long wondered how German citizens could be so cruel and blind. I now believe that propaganda is more deadly than a nuclear warhead. Fox and other propagandists have MAGAs convinced that Canada and Greenland citizens are eager for Orange Daddy’s protection and want desperately to become Americans for our culture and far superior way of life. They believe this rubbish.
Former American here who immigrated to a major Canadian city. Terrified for my kids one of which doesn’t have US citizenship yet and currently sitting here waiting for the inevitable upcoming invasion and wondering if we’ll even make it out alive.
Thank you for sharing this, Jennifer. It must be so frightening for you, your husband and your child. I'm shaking my head daily at the cluster that Trump has wrought upon the world and frankly, cannot believe that people actually voted for this maniac - TWICE. What is happening?? I'm Canadian, living in Toronto, and apparently we went from being the United States' largest trading partner, best friend and neighbour and the friendliest and most polite people that you could meet. Fast forward to January 20th with the installation of the Useful Idiot and all hell broke loose. Suffice it to say that we're not happy up here. We're polite, never complain and put up with a lot, but for him to think that he can bully us into submission then annex us is another level of delusion. Anyhoo, I'm off on a tangent. Yet another great - if not scary - post. Thanks for sharing! P.S. - Canadian Geese are BRUTAL! You don't want to mess with them, they won't back down, will chase you down and are downright frightening!
Terrifying. Last summer, you remember how much I wanted to come visit and I even told my husband we should do it before we can’t. We’re all hostages here now.
Living here is the US is just as jarring, between relishing in a Spring day to reading the news and realizing how much we have lost. I hope you keep writing as we all need this community right now. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings.
Thank you so much for writing this!
The blend of the joy and beauty in the world with the pure terror of what is happening in the states is exactly what living these days is. I fear annexation (I’m in Canada), I’m worried about our election (our Conservative party desperately wants to be as badass as the Trump admin), and spring is so beautiful I’m so happy. Did you know trees communicate with aerosols? And we breathe those aerosols in? And some of them are medicinal! So that spring feeling is actually your brain on tree drugs. (A non scientific term.)
Like, how cool is that?
It’s extremely cool. I love talking to trees. The trees are incredible in Amsterdam.
I'm Canadian, too. The news gives me heart palpitations. I live close the border and used to visit bi-monthly for groceries and friends and now I wonder if I'll ever go to the US again.
💙
This is probably why the man in charge wants to cut down all the trees.
I do think that more people are worried than you might expect in the US -- or maybe it's just the people I hang out with - all my friends are looking for exit strategies, but nowhere feels immune to the strongman oligarchies and what it means for the world. I hope your kid has safe and easy travels -- we'll be rooting for them! (And thank you for sharing snippets from your fairytale life -- ogres and all.)
I so hear you. My daughter is mixed race, often mistaken for Mexican, and has to travel internationally for work. I am terrified for her, as well! And I am angry that I have to be so scared.
I feel all of this with you. xo
I feel for you and hope your family avoids trouble from ICE. Every one in my family has dual citizenship -- we have American passports but live in Scotland. In the past, that's provoked some rude comments from border agents who consider that disloyal, but they were just dicks. I shudder to think what might happen now. As for me, I've decided never to return.
It was so nice to read this. I completely agree with your fear and rage over what is going on. I'm so sick of people dismissing my feelings about this administration. Democracy is fragile, and what's happening is terrifying to me too.
It really is, and yes, I can barely speak to people who don't get what's going on. I need to write about that.
Agreed!
I feel like no one realizes how bad and dangerous things are. We’re all the frog in the proverbial pot set to boil. I’m sorry you had a harrowing experience like that.
The people who are walking around like everything is fine are the scariest of all to me. It’s like Stepford people. Then there are the people who are concerned, but not as concerned as you think. I have found myself in conversations with women I thought were on the same page, and conceptually they are, but twice it’s happened that someone has said, wow, why do you think you personally are so worried about all this? And followed it up with suggestions to “take breaks from the news” which I do, my god. I’ve just realized that a lot of people are really not understanding the depth of what’s happening here. They think they’re safe I guess, or they want to hope for the best, or their minds can’t or won’t hold onto the reality of where we are. It’s crazy-making and heartbreaking and scary.
Yes, totally, all of this.
I hear you! I especially find it scary in online communities where the main focus is making money. As a 50-something year old who has never really earned much money on my own, I had, at first, found it empowering to join spaces that encouraged financial freedom and wealth building! But the lack of care or concern about what's really happening scares the f$ck out of me. Stepford wives is exactly how it feels! Thank you for naming what I couldn't name...
So scary. I can't even believe this is our country right now. You might want to look at the r/passports sub on Reddit for the latest on people traveling with X markers to get an idea of safety. People are posting about their recent experiences.
I will look, thank you for this tip.
ummm, what?! As you were walking out to the plane? This is terrifying. We moved out of the US in October and are currently in the UK. But we still have family and friends there, my very aging parents, a house that we own...so grateful to not be there, but oh my, what does it all mean?
Yes. We had been through security and through the boarding gate. ICE was waiting in the jetway where you board the plane.
Rage is exactly the right word for what I am feeling.
I would love to see a battalion of angry geese descend on Trump.
If they knew what he's been up to, they would. A worldwide goose revolution, bringing down the tyrant.
I said I was so incandescent with rage towards my family members who voted for Trump I was (seriously) fantasizing about attacking them with eggs. A goose army would be better. 😏
Thank you for sharing your awful experience and how it affected you and your family. Reading these personal experiences can penetrate the fog of disinformation and denial.
As an avid reader, I am especially drawn to historical fiction about the lived experiences of ordinary citizens during wartime. I am amazed by the capacity for humans to survive. The bleakness and fear seems overwhelming.
Denial is the mechanism of a majority in the US. We want our fat dumb cushy insulated lives to continue regardless of hostile war footing this current Admin has very publicly announced. And repeated. And repeated. Lying and exaggerating more with each passing day.
I long wondered how German citizens could be so cruel and blind. I now believe that propaganda is more deadly than a nuclear warhead. Fox and other propagandists have MAGAs convinced that Canada and Greenland citizens are eager for Orange Daddy’s protection and want desperately to become Americans for our culture and far superior way of life. They believe this rubbish.
Yes to a goose revolution!!!
This is horrifying. I am so angry and sad at the same time. Mostly angry.
Former American here who immigrated to a major Canadian city. Terrified for my kids one of which doesn’t have US citizenship yet and currently sitting here waiting for the inevitable upcoming invasion and wondering if we’ll even make it out alive.
Thank you for sharing this, Jennifer. It must be so frightening for you, your husband and your child. I'm shaking my head daily at the cluster that Trump has wrought upon the world and frankly, cannot believe that people actually voted for this maniac - TWICE. What is happening?? I'm Canadian, living in Toronto, and apparently we went from being the United States' largest trading partner, best friend and neighbour and the friendliest and most polite people that you could meet. Fast forward to January 20th with the installation of the Useful Idiot and all hell broke loose. Suffice it to say that we're not happy up here. We're polite, never complain and put up with a lot, but for him to think that he can bully us into submission then annex us is another level of delusion. Anyhoo, I'm off on a tangent. Yet another great - if not scary - post. Thanks for sharing! P.S. - Canadian Geese are BRUTAL! You don't want to mess with them, they won't back down, will chase you down and are downright frightening!
Yes. Agree with all of this, including the geese🪿 💙
Terrifying. Last summer, you remember how much I wanted to come visit and I even told my husband we should do it before we can’t. We’re all hostages here now.
It’s so fucked up.
Living here is the US is just as jarring, between relishing in a Spring day to reading the news and realizing how much we have lost. I hope you keep writing as we all need this community right now. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings.