Great challenge: keeping body (and soul) together…riding out the upcoming upheaval with integrity. Loved Henry Miller in Henry and June “Everything Bright and Beautiful” he would say while ruining his marriage and losing the status of lover (but not the friendship) of fellow trail-blazing writer, Anais Nin. Much racy copy! And a fantastic film, which we all can use about now. Scoping out fine diversions, especially film, as I write! Fred Astaire?

So over the Holidaze we had a party at our budding Oasis Farm, then Xmas Eve for family, then…well, FOUR cakes, TWO immense batches of cookies, potluck…we were swimming in fudge, white chocolate, kalua cake, pies! Yumm and yuck! Still a few never-ending oatmeal cookies but I don’t eat them! And just put the rich Lombardi’s bar-b-que sauce back in the freezer and chose to make a Chicken Ceasar salad instead of chicken sliders. Not all that hard to chose healthy when my tummy wants calm – like my heart and mind. So feed yourself healthy food – it DOES help. And then feed your body peace of mind even if it takes a lot of work. Yoga recommended and walks with friends.

Film classics: new favorite is Captain Fantastic – especially the Noam Chomsky Day this wild family in the woods created and the quote:

“If you assume that there is no hope, you guarantee that there will be no hope. If you assume that there is an instinct for freedom, that there are opportunities to change things, then there is a possibility that you can contribute to making a better world.” – Noam Chomsky

So cleanse, exercise, read peaceful and challenging stories, great and just entertaining literature, listen to great music…yes, and write the best possible of whatever you write (at least this makes ME happy) or maybe you just want to tap your toes while someone else makes the music.

Seems we must take care of our bodies to be fair to those we love starting with #1.

I’m getting a lot of help. Friends, family and in media, Rachel Maddow, Trevor Noah, Amy Goodman among many others – brave and true! Wouldn’t mind Gavin Newsom as President eventually but he has to be governor first. Jared Huffman (our Congressman) is still brave and strong after his great history as an NRCD attorney moving many millions from bad climate actors to the good.

The Women’s March on Washington, San Francisco, San Jose, January 21st, a candlelight march here – many friends are going to speak up for our principles. The ongoing fears pumped by those who will not be mentioned who are about to take over the reins of our rickety democracy and sour it into believing it’s untenable. Democracy, one hopes, has been temporarily waylaid but not killed.

A life with purpose – I intend to continue that no matter what. And have many great days and nights along the way.