Chocolate Covered Therapy...

 

Okay, I know, more baking...

So this week has been less than stellar for a myriad of reasons, some of which I'll touch on, some of which fall under the category of 'not my story to tell.' 

Feeling a bit helpless, sad, angry, and frustrated, sooooo..... baking.

Chocolate-covered peanut butter cookies, s'mores bites, and apple cobbler, not a bad morning's worth of therapy. 

Personally, I don't have much of a sweet tooth, but thankfully my hubby does, and things can be frozen for when we can have company and feed people again. 

So, on to the things I'll touch on...

I can't wrap my head around the fact that yet another white man felt entitled to walk into some buildings and kill people. He walked into salons, a few different ones, and just killed people. Female people. Six of the eight he slaughtered, female people of Asian descent.

The "reasons"?

1. Fed up with the virus, had a bad day, and this is what he did. 

2. Has a sex addiction and was ridding himself of temptation.

This guy was legally able to purchase a gun.

Somehow, at the time of these writings, these murders have yet to be called a hate crime. 

With the horrible explosion of violent, racially charged incidents aimed at the Asian community since the beginning of the Pandemic, thanks to the hate speech of the Asshat that formerly resided in the Whitehouse, the fact that this was a hate crime is a no-brainer. Anyone with any semblance of common sense can see that. 

He's fed up with the virus? So? Aren't we all?

Sex addict? This one is so lame, so ridiculous, it doesn't even deserve a rebuttal. 

If this guy skates, they better not be surprised at the backlash that will inevitably follow, and rightfully so. 

Another thing I'll touch on...

I received some responses to last week's ramblings. 

Some, from women wanting to tell their truths, share their stories, searching for a way to reclaim their power.

A few responses came from men. Decent men, trying to educate themselves, trying to understand.

The majority of responses though, came from an all-too-familiar type of man. The fragile, 'not all men' guys who want to put the onus of women's safety on women. On women. Not the men who attack them, follow them, stalk them, harass them, assault them, no, not them.

To those men...

Instead of trying to dictate how we dress... talk to your buddy who leers.

Instead of telling us to stay home at night, why don't you stay home? What, you don't like having the way you like to do things dictated to you? Hmmmmm

Instead of telling us not to drink, maybe you should stop being predatory toward women who are out just trying to have a good time. 

Instead of telling us to be polite, remember politeness doesn't require our phone number, a smile, a conversation, or anything else. We owe you nothing. 

Instead of telling us all the tips to keep from being attacked, stop attacking us. 

We know the tips and tricks to stay as safe as possible. We've had to learn because of you. 

The point is, we shouldn't have to. That's it. Full stop. 

We do all of the things. It happens anyway.

It has nothing to do with what we wear. where we are, what we are doing, or what time of day it is.  Women who are attracted to other women don't do what predatory men do regardless of clothing, location, activity, or time of day. 

Another thing to touch on...

Please get vaccinated. Consider yourself lucky if you live in a place where a vaccine is available. Consider yourself even more lucky if you have it available to you for free. Understand your privilege and don't crap all over it. 

There is no logic behind not getting the vaccine. 

Yes, it's new. But so is the virus. At one point the polio vaccine was new too.

Yes, it was quick. Thankfully the science and technology exists to help make vaccine research, development, trials, and distribution way faster than it used to be. You're not trying to run your computer with a processor from 1997, are you? Neither are they. Think about how your own personal tech has evolved. When you do, it's easier to understand how they are able to do what they do with the resources available to them. 

The vaccine is the fastest way to the other side of this thing. There have been enough casualties of this particular war, the vaccine is our best way to ensure that there will be no more. I don't know about you, but the mere thought of needing to send condolences to one more person who has lost someone to this virus makes my soul ache.

Too many have been taken. Shouldn't we do everything we can to stop it from taking more? 

The shortest route from where we are to where we want to be is through vaccines.

It's not too much to ask. Get the vaccine. Whichever one is available to you. Please. 

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Until next time...

For dear friends mourning a casualty of this war.

May you hold on to the best of him, wear it like a sweater to keep you warm.

May the tears wash your soul of the pain, leaving the serenity of the calm after the storm.

May you find what you need to carry on in a way that would make him smile.

May you find the time to sip some homemade wine, play some cards, sit a while. 

May he be in peace, a full life, well-lived, he's earned his right to rest. 

May he do so knowing that as a man, as a dad, as a human, he was one of the good ones, one of the very best. 

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