Three corn stalks have created six little ears of corn, all in a row. Let’s get husking!
Lasts /
The political landscape is looking fresh for a change. What a relief.
Meanwhile, back in the backyard garden, we’ve got our last harvest of the year coming in…
Firsts /
With women making up only 20 percent of Congress, there are many types of women — especially women of color — who have never been represented on Capitol Hill. The record-breaking wave of female candidates in 2018 comes with a list of firsts among those women. Here's a list of some of those firsts…
Flipped /
Good morning, America! Thanks for turning out and flipping the House!
Finally /
Finally, finally, finally, Election Day is here. These midterms matter, people. For the love of all that is good—and I mean that sincerely—if you didn’t vote early, vote today!
Finishing /
I think this handful will be our last harvest from the garden—this, and the ears of corn.
Freezing /
The squash vines have seen better days. It’s no surprise; freezing temperatures are upon us these last few nights. Either way, we knew they’d finished producing fruits for harvest and were starting to fold back toward the earth. In the months ahead, the green of their skeleton will gradually reabsorb into the soil and replenish it for the seeds to be planted come spring.
Forgetting /
As my country grinds its way through the last few days of the the midterm election’s political campaigns, I find myself more exhausted than ever by the president’s lies in tweets and speeches, the general fear-mongering of his supporters, the demonizing of immigrants and refugees, the accusation that hardworking journalists are sowing discord as opposed to the leaders who actually call for violence in their overblown rhetoric. Enough. Have we forgotten who we are as Americans? What happened to the idea that we are a nation built not on ethnic identity or religious zealotry, but on an enlightened philosophy that all humans are created equal? Can we once again strive to be a shining city on a hill, a people who open our arms to the world’s huddled masses? If not, what are we? Why are we here?
Remembrance /
I am not overly familiar with the Mexican holiday that is the Day of the Dead. Like most Americans, I think, I’ve long recognized the colorful painted skulls and paper banners that are associated with the holiday, but I didn’t learn much about their significance until Pixar released the movie Coco.
Now I know this much at least: it’s a day for remembering those who have died, with the conviction that remembrance itself keeps our loved ones alive in the world that much longer.
So here’s a day for remembering some of the lives that were suddenly, brutally snuffed out in the last few weeks. There are many more who have been victims of shootings here in America, or violence and poverty in Central America, or starvation halfway across the world in Yemen, or regime brutality in Saudi Arabia or North Korea. These are just a few of the names I know.
Jamal Khashoggi
Maurice E. Stallard
Vickie Lee Jones
Joyce Fienberg
Richard Gottfried
Rose Mallinger
Jerry Rabinowitz
Cecil Rosenthal
David Rosenthal
Bernice Simon
Sylvan Simon
Daniel Stein
Melvin Wax
Irving Younger
Death /
Feliz Día de Muertos a todos hoy.