I have had a lot of time to think about all that I have, simple pleasures that can be taken for granted, food, housing, access to clean water, access to education, moving in the community as a white person, freedom from unnecessary fear. With all the changes this cover pandemic has wrought, we have had an easy adjustment because we have all we need. It is constantly on my mind that it could have been otherwise and I am constantly aware of the suffering this pandemic has wrought in terms of lost jobs, reduced access to education, increased homelessness, illness and death. I understand that this pandemic has uncovered distressing downward trends for the middle and lower classes that a rising stock market and economy have covered up for years. These several months I’ve had more time to focus on these issues and , most of the time, I feel impotent to affect change. I have become more involved in support of candidates across the country who can affect change and might have a chance of winning. I’ve gotten involved in a mailing campaign to bring out the vote in states where it can really matter, thanks to TBE. We’ve upped our charitable giving because we certainly need less, a major lesson of these times. I am working hard to stay present, to appreciate all that we have, and to reach out wherever possible to try to make a difference.
