The world has been through a lot since I wrote my first blog post — and not for the better. So now I wake up most mornings looking like this, in anticipation of the day’s headlines:

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And I try to prioritize my writing. Which comes first: The dead children in Israel? The hostages in Russia? The typhoon in the Philippines? The dead children in Gaza? The wildfires in California? The dead children in — WHAT? WHERE?!! — the U.K.??!!! Oh my God! No more dead children . . . PLEASE!!

So first I cry a little, because it’s too early in the day to start drinking, and I only know of three ways to get rid of the sorrow and the anger — and punching a hole in the wall with my fist is not a reasonable option.

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And when I’ve pulled myself together, I begin the frenzy of research and writing that defines who I am now:

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Because I can’t seem to stop. It feels important, somehow.

I just hope someone’s reading.

Brendochka
7/30/24