Nope.

Where’s My Oxygen Mask?

I started the week off well. Monday was a work holiday; I ignored social media and the news and wrote.

Since then, it’s been one variation after another of this meme.

I think the original 30 Rock dialog was “What a week, huh?” “Lemon, it’s Wednesday.”

I understand that the intent of those currently in power in the United States is to overwhelm us all. To layer shock upon outrage upon revulsion until we are all unable or unwilling to react.

My husband has a US green card, but I still worry some overzealous cop or, heck, even a grocery clerk, will eye him with suspicion and bring down the ICE hammer on us. I’ve been teaching how to react to—literally—unwarranted questions with responses like:

Do you have a signed warrant?

I wīll remain silent until I can speak to an attorney.

Am I being detained?

Am I free to go?

Everyday he has come up from his desk, asking me if I’ve read the latest, seen the latest, heard the latest.

The firings. The roundups. The hearings. The traitors to the Constitution.

But I think I’m more frightened than he is.

Frightened for him, for us, for our friends living everywhere on the rainbow, for family.

And so I need a few more days before I can share some Japan travel myths with my subscribers. I need a few more days with my oxygen mask on.

Photo by Mockup Graphics on Unsplash

And if you’re feeling the overwhelm too, leave a comment.

I’d much rather be in community with you all.