20 Comments
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Dianne slater's avatar

I can relate. My heart is more broken than usual. I feel powerless. Like Cheryl Strayed’s mother used to say, “remember to put yourself in the way of beauty.”

Even now, or maybe especially now.

Hugs 🤗

Kathleen Reimold's avatar

I don’t know! I haven’t reached the end yet! 😩

Bill Southern's avatar

Escape! That’s why I watch Dick Van Dyke Show reruns, almost exclusively.

Lucy Murray's avatar

We are all binge watching shows to escape the horrors of the criminal regime running our beloved country. It is time to speak out. I keep writing letters to the editor, engaging in protests (what little good it does...but makes me feel better). Today there is an ICE OUT protest nearby. My heart broke the other day when my grandson, who is 25 said he doesn't see a future for people his age. He said he is scared.

Cindy Eastman's avatar

I just came from one of my writing groups and we all wrote about this past week in some way. We decided that the act of writing itself is protest--we're using our words and our voices to acknowledge what we're seeing. And in that action, we are able to take another stop forward and not hide our heads. It was a really inspirational session today.

JOANN BARTHELMESS's avatar

Escapism is a necessity in order to stay grounded these days. Especially when we are stuck at home on snowy days. It keeps my ever spinning brain from going off the rails. Your words help remove some of the guilt that I feel when I’m binging two or three episodes of any streaming show.

Cindy Eastman's avatar

Happy to help! ;) Thanks for your comment--I appreciate it. xo

Julie Brekke's avatar

Fictional horror, although horifying, is far, far less disturbing than the the terror that occurs each and every day now that the monster in the White House has taken over. He and his billionaire buddies demolished our republic in record time. Benjamin Franklin was right, we weren't wise enough to keep it. All of this destruction and we still haven't seen the Epstein files.

Cindy Eastman's avatar

It's relentless and it's astounding to see how many people are still supporting and defending him. It is a horror show.

Heidi Durig Heiby's avatar

My little family and I are horrified and saddened, too. We have been doing escapism by watching baking shows. It's hard to know WHAT to do. Saturday we take our daughter back to Washington, D.C., where formerly she adored the district and college there. She still loves college, but my blood runs cold when I think of leaving her there now. The epicenter of so much that is destroying our country. Her little student apartment is near the KENNEDY CENTER, where she can use inexpensive student tickets and where she and her friends went to see wonderful cultural shows and concerts. Before. No more. She'll be o.k., but will we?

Cindy Eastman's avatar

I think it's a strong statement that she's going back. And it's a good sign that we'll be okay. I don't know when, but I think we will be. xo

Heidi Durig Heiby's avatar

I do too. Just hard right now. Glad to have community like this one to lean on.

Brooke Warner's avatar

So relatable, Cindy. I just finished Stranger Things last night and was wishing we could go back to 1989. I realize there were problems, but still... pre-Smart phones, pre-AI, pre-Trump and all this madness. Escape from reality indeed! Joining you in despondency and trying to look for spots to do something, anything...

Cindy Eastman's avatar

It was interesting to watch a show with 14 yo protagonists...as I sit next to a 14 yo and wonder how he'll deal with the world to come. If it were only the 80s again! But I agree with you that there are spots to be found where action can happen.

Laura L. Engel's avatar

I just finished reading Station Eleven. Not my usual type of read but recommended by a friend. The entire time I was reading it (about the end of the world as we know it) I felt a deep sadness that all of the things in the book could really happen. I never would have believed that until this last year that has left so many of us depressed and distraught as we watch what is happening here in our country. As always, I appreciate your words Cindy.

Cindy Eastman's avatar

Thank you, Laura. I think these posts and comments help keep us connected. We don't know what to do, but we know we're in a community of others who feel the same. And that's a step forward, I think.

Jo Carnevale's avatar

Beautifully said. It’s so true.

Cindy Eastman's avatar

Thank you, Jo. I appreciate your comment. xo

Gabi Coatsworth's avatar

I've been watching The West Wing the same way and for the same reasons...

Cindy Eastman's avatar

I have West Wing in my queue...and Scandal, too.