FINDING OUR SPIRITS AND STAYING WITH OUR CREATIVE MUSE

I sometimes lose my creative muse. Especially during the last 100 days and starting about four months before last November 6, she goes wandering off for a few days, but she always comes home. It seems I'm in good, national and world company as the political days drag on.

A few days ago a friend reminded me to send him fewer depressing news or commentary videos about the doings of US politics now. To cheer me, he sent this funny political satire musical video. Sort of cute.

Even better was this morning's news of the filing of seven Articles of Impeachment of No. 47 by Michigan Representative Shri Thanedar.

I'm incorrigibly political--and loquacious. I took my undergrad degree in political science with my favorite high school class being social studies and second favorite college class being poli sci. My first fave class was Old English Lit when Shakespeare became and still is my favorite writer and poet of all time. And of course, there is my immersion in law for 16 years after graduation from UC, San Francisco law school (formerly Hastings). What lawyer you know does not love words?

Thus, today as always it's hard for me to ignore the good and the bad of what is happening politically. I need to commit my values to action and live them, as has Jeanette Stringham who takes to the streets as I do in support of resistance protests. So does Grace Hunemann, a retired piano teacher at the SF Community Music Center. We go together or with other friends to the Tesla or HandsOff protests. I have to discuss politics and political strategy with other thoughtful folks on almost a daily basis since I often learn and modify or inform my opinion. Thus, I'm thinking about joining Indivisible or other political group. But I also need uplifting artistic involvement and exposure.

Continuing the happy theme of my two former blogs regarding discovery of the most uplifting dance group I've seen in a long time ("The Ghetto Kids"), and an amazing multi-arts project called "The Herd" plus the possibility of the San Francisco Symphony hiring my hero conductor Marin Alsop, below are some heart-warming videos to cheer you, and one piece of personal news that recently cheered me immensely:

1. A simple harpist connects via music to a swan!

2. A lovely story about a community coming together to help a local bookstore owner.

3. Unbelievable open hugs available for anyone in Montgomery, Alabama.

4. From a month ago, Idaho 6th grade teacher Sarah Inama courageously refuses to take down her classroom sign "Everyone is Welcome Here." It was said to violate the school district's policy to be "neutral". You might consider purchasing a bumper sticker or tshirt with this slogan seen above, to support the message proudly. Purchase from the friendly Idaho printing company, Brigade Screen Printing.

5. A beneficent stranger helps another generous soul.

6. Another beneficent stranger in England surprises young twin bakers raising money to buy their mum some Mom's Day flowers.

7. Another Random Act of Kindness (almost non-existent these days).

8. After taking a zoom class on how to submit poems for online publication at writers.com, my first-ever submission of five poems to Amethyst Review resulted in the editor selecting one of them to be published online on October 18! I cannot publish it here because they solicit unpublished poems. More news to come in the near future.

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