18!

Our baby boy turned 18! This is the last time I'll add a picture to his birthday collage (sigh). I'm so glad I started doing this so many years ago – when you see someone every day, it's hard to see how they've changed. Having a single image for each year really shows how he's changed and grown (especially his hair). I wish I could revisit every one of the days these pictures were taken, and talk with him at each of those ages. 

Once again, Reed decided on a movie outing with friends to celebrate. A bit different this year, though...first, he didn't need Tod to drive (and chaperone). He drove one friend and the rest met up there - most of them have been driving a lot longer than Reed. Second, there aren't really any new movies out, but the theater had a pretty good deal. You could rent the entire theater and choose a movie from their selection, and bring up to 20 people. Most of the options were Christmas movies, but "Tenet" was a choice, and since Reed is the only one who's seen it (at the drive in, with Dad, when it came out), he decided to go for it. He had a great group of pals join the party, and since they were the only ones in the theater, they could act as goofy as they wanted to. It sounds like they had a good time.

On his birthday morning, Jennifer brought him donuts as a surprise. We are meanies and made him do school, even though he did ask to skip it (I don't think he was serious, though). He chose Five Guys for his birthday dinner (shocker!) and then we followed it with a blizzard cake from Dairy Queen and his presents. All in all, a pretty great day, I think!

We voted, we won

Huge exhale. Finally.

Four years ago, I hadn't been involved in politics at all, and in truth hadn't paid it much attention throughout my life, I'm sad to say. I voted, but that was about it.

Over this last four years since I attended my first Loudoun County Democratic Committee meeting at the Leesburg fire house in December 2016, I've become so much more aware of how my fellow Americans suffer due to institutional racism, economic equality and inequities in the criminal justice system. I know I have more to learn, but it has been my honor and my privilege to work to help elect Democrats who I believe will work to remedy these issues. 

The Women's March was my first protest of many over the last four years, and it was really life-altering to be part of an incredible moment like that. Then there was the March for Racial Justice in September 2017, the second Women's March in January 2018, the March for Our Lives in March 2018, the Families Belong Together march in June 2018, the Kavanaugh protest in September 2018, the third Women's March in January 2019, a pipeline protest in Leesburg in May 2019, the Lights for Liberty protest in July 2019, the We the People March in September 2019, the fourth Women's March in January 2020, a Black Lives Matter protest in Leesburg in May 2020, the Loudoun NAACP Rally for Racial Justice and March to the Polls in June 2020 in our neighborhood that I helped organize, all the way to the Loudoun NAACP March to the Polls just a few weeks ago. There were other events as well. It always felt good to be among people who believed similarly to me, who were willing to show up and speak up. 

I have gotten to know a whole new world of people within my community, who I've been so happy to work alongside, to protest alongside, to celebrate alongside. I'm grateful to all of them, for all they've done. These folks helped me step outside my comfort zone, reminded me that we all have different strengths and that knowing them is key. I certainly never thought I'd be a person standing outside the polling place for 12+ hours each election day, approaching strangers about Democratic candidates. It's still not my favorite thing, but I've learned not to take it personally so that makes it easier to do. I've tried my best to encourage others to join our cause, to give them opportunities that suit them, and then to always express my thankfulness for their involvement.

History has been made, and the U.S. has FINALLY elected a woman VP, and she is Black and South Asian, the child of immigrants. What a moment, I am in tears. 

Jason Isbell's "Hope the High Road" has been a balm since it came out in early 2017. It's one of Jason's reflections on his own white male privilege and desire to be a part of the solution. 

I used to think that this was my town
What a stupid thing to think
I hear you're fighting off a breakdown
I myself am on the brink
I used to want to be a real man
I don't know what that even means
Now I just want you in my arms again
And we can search each other's dreams

I know you're tired
And you ain't sleeping well
Uninspired
And likely mad as hell
But wherever you are
I hope the high road leads you home again

I've heard enough of the white man's blues
I've sang enough about myself
So if you're looking for some bad news
You can find it somewhere else
Last year was a son of a bitch
For nearly everyone we know
But I ain't fighting with you down in the ditch
I'll meet you up here on the road

I know you're tired
And you ain't sleeping well
Uninspired
And likely mad as hell
But wherever you are
I hope the high road leads you home again
To a world you want to live in

We'll ride the ship down
Dumping buckets overboard
There can't be more of them than us
There can't be more

I know you're tired
And you ain't sleeping well
Uninspired
And likely mad as hell
But wherever you are
I hope the high road leads you home again
To a world you want to live in
To a world you want to live in

Over the last few weeks "There can't be more of them than us" has been my mantra. I'm so glad that turns out to be true.

The work is not done, not even close. We will take a bit of time to celebrate and recover from four horrendously awful years of our values being attacked and America's standing in the world being diminished. And then...we will continue to work just as hard, with joy always in our hearts.