Letter to my children: This is not normal

Dearest Beloveds,

I was calling as a volunteer for the Harris campaign the day before a rally. Our job was to tell people who had signed up for the rally three pieces of information: where the rally was taking place, when the doors were opening and closing, and that an email would be sent to them with more details. The email was going to be sent out within 24 hours of the rally. The email with directions, shuttle information, ADA information, etc etc etc.

When one of the volunteers asked why this information was being shared so last minute with the participants the answer was succinct. “Security concerns.”

Everyone understood - because “security concerns” have become normalized.

Two days later we were at Bean’s soccer game and I smelled wood smoke. I look up and there is an orange plume in the sky.

Ah yes, the forest fires that are happening because it hasn’t rained in weeks. WHY ISN’T ANYONE TALKING ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL?

The group of parents barely looked up from the game - the plumes of smoke were only in a partial part of the sky. Normalized.

We have the choice to elect someone tomorrow as our President who honors the system of government in our country. It has become normal for her opponent (and his followers) to state that he didn’t lose the last election. That it was stolen from him.

I don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow. I hope the election is calm and peaceful. I don’t want it and whatever after effects normalized by the outlier zietgiest of the moment.