A Few Things | November 4

Things We Can Do As We Keep Calm-ala & Carry On-ala

I got home from the hospital on Friday. It was so good to have the unscheduled weekend in front of me, making it easier to go slow and take it easy. I can’t thank you enough for your kind words and practical advice — the wisdom and reassurance was incredibly helpful and really affected how I handled this experience.

Another time, let’s do an ask-me-anything about my surgery — the experience at the hospital, the visits from home nurses, the cost, the English/French communication situation, the healing — but not today. Because who has energy to think about anything else when Election Day is TOMORROW?

It definitely feels like my brain is resisting any new activities or tasks until Election Day is marked off my mental to-do list, and I know I’m not alone.

---

Things We Can Do As We Keep Calm-ala & Carry On-ala

-Watch and rewatch Kamala’s appearance on SNL. The joy on both of their faces is so encouraging. Notice the long pause before they can continue the sketch because people are clapping for so long. Soak it in.

-Do something. Seek out last-minute volunteer opportunities for phone banking, call a friend who needs encouragement to make time to vote, gather a group to drive together to the polls. Post on social media about how excited you are to vote. How lucky you feel to have the opportunity to vote!

-Watch this music video welcoming new American citizens. It was made in jest but with excellent production quality — and I can’t get enough of it! It celebrates all things Americana, asks for help with America’s flaws (serious and not-so-serious), and features America’s vast weirdness, too. I’ve watched it so many times. I think it’s actually making me feel patriotic? I’m not quite sure. It’s also worth watching the whole John Oliver segment about Lee Greenwood to find out why John Oliver’s team wrote the song and made the video.

Sample lyrics: “You weren't born here, you volunteered, to join your fate to the great, and the just plain weird. So get ready for: truck nuts, and Jet-Ski tricks, Santa Con, and food on sticks, thousands of medical bankruptcies, plantation weddings, and Chuck E Cheese, Big Gulps, and LL Bean, tornados, Spirit Halloween, holy sh*t, I just remembered the coup. That stuff's American, and now so are you.”

-Bake something. This is a good time for a comforting little treat. You can try one of these low-risk recipes for two.

-Laugh at this:

-Watch something you love. I rewatched Barbie over the weekend and it was soothing to my soul.

-Read some good news from NPR: Fentanyl deaths in the U.S. have dropped faster than expected.

-Take a long walk. I’ll bet November is so pretty where you live.

-Read this quote: “What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult to each other?”— George Eliot.

Then come up with something you can do today to make life less difficult for someone else.

---

It’s 2024. It’s not 2016.

I’m not immune to the flashbacks of 2016. I remember very clearly putting on the vintage Gucci red velvet suit on election day, as I proudly prepped to go to the polls and vote for the first woman U.S. President. I could not have been more confident that Hillary Clinton would win.

I viscerally remember the physical nausea and my brain’s flat out denial as the electoral college results came in. If I’m honest, I’m still in denial.

Because of that, I understand it feels vulnerable to express hope about tomorrow. It feels too risky. I don’t want Lucy to move the football while I fall on the ground red-faced. I don’t want to experience the disappointment. And if I hold out zero hope, or have zero expectations, then maybe I won’t have to wade through those horrible depths.

But I can’t help it. I feel hopeful. SO HOPEFUL! I really think she’s going to win. If I’m wrong, so be it. But for now and I’m going to enjoy the optimism I’m feeling. I’m going to lean into it.

I’m picturing Americans voting — making time in their day to make it happen. I’m picturing them cheering each other when they have a long line, sharing snacks, being patient with each other. I’m picturing sensible employers who willingly grant time off to vote. I’m picturing secure voting locations that run smoothly and carefully, with poll workers who are treated kindly. I’m picturing little kids watching their parents vote. I’m picturing results coming in where the wins are so big, that they are too hard to fight. I’m picturing what the joy will feel like when the Kamala win is announced.

Picture it with me.

We got this. When we vote, we win. WHEN WE VOTE, WE WIN!

---

Sending you so much love.

kisses,
Gabrielle