#NewThisDay Writing From My Photo Stream
In the Wetlands
“The party of swindlers and thieves is putting forward its chief swindler and its chief thief for the presidency. We must vote against him, struggle against him.”
I woke up at 6:15 to my alarm, feeling very happy and cheerful. Sun was blazing through the windows of the quiet house. Then I turned on the news and heard that Alexei Navalny is dead. Devastating loss. I supposed that he survived as long as he did in Putin’s prisons is amazing. The man’s bravery––his vision, his willingness to take on Putin no matter the cost, is the definition of courage. Imagine, how every single day, ever single moment of his imprisonment, how he must have moved through each day knowing the fatal blow could come at any moment. Maintaining a sense of humor and humanity and love. And the sacrifice of his wife and children is unimaginable. What a loss. I went for swim and thought of Navalny, and thought of him all through the day as the news went on about it. Walked Charlie in the wetlands, met with my client and held the Play Lab debrief, which was very rewarding. A day of packing for tomorrow’s trip. And my dear friend dropping in to say goodbye, amidst all the chaos, and Wave coming home from school. When I told him that Papa and I are going away on a trip he asked, “Are you going to get married?” I said yes. Sure. For some reason, the rest of the night, he keeps connecting the idea of us going away on a trip together and getting married. We also played pickle and had a lot of fun, even though my energy was lagging about getting there. I got a second wind, and it was fun to have a chance to play for the first time with all three of our kids playing together too. We have become a pickle ball family, for sure. And my brother played, and that was my first time playing with him, and his son, my nephew, and his wife joined us and came back by the house for pizza. Whew! A whirlwind day and Frank and I depart tomorrow. And once we’re there I will be so happy to be there; but it’s always hard to leave all of them. Especially the one who will miss us the most. Well, him, and Charlie too. How wonderful that Navalny lived in this world. How tragic that he is gone.