HAPPY BIRTHDAY CATHERINE REESE!

I am a little late to getting this post celebrating Cate's 12th birthday up, but the last month has been crazy - between a global pandemic and the election of our lifetimes in 2020. That said, I want to celebrate my girl who began middle school and turned twelve this year. 

This summer Cate decided to change her mind and attend middle school at Nicholas' school, Greenhills. This was a relief because Greenhills had done such a great job in the spring. Cate seemed fairly engaged in school after it started, but that excitement, that spark seemed to be missing. I was worried that she was becoming disengaged. However, Greenhills decided to allow one grade at a time to come in for 2 days per month of in-person school. Cate came back from her first day beaming about how fun things were and how she kicked several home runs in kickball. That is the girl whom I know and love.

The pandemic has tested us all. Cate has remained positive this year. It has helped that her best friend and his younger brothers live across the street, and they play all the time outside.

Cate has also built new friendships through soccer and futsal, and she continues to excel at both. Her skills and ability to make quick decisions are really quite remarkable.

In so many ways, Cate is thriving and growing and developing into a remarkable young woman. I often find it challenging to give her the space and independence she craves because to do so is an acknowledgement that she is growing up and becoming less reliant on us. However, that is exactly what one should wish for one's kids.

So despite a difficult move and an even more difficult year, it is clear that Cate is one resilient kid. We could all learn quite a bit from her example. I for one will try to coax her out of her room when I can - to watch Jeopardy or play a game or just spend time with her. But when she says no, I'll understand. That's the age we're in.

PRESIDENT-ELECT JOE BIDEN

This blog started 12 years ago as mostly a political blog. Therefore, it was very fitting that today, Joseph Robinette Biden secured the necessary electoral votes in excess of 270 to become President-elect of the United States, defeating Donald Trump who became only the third incumbent president since World War II to lose the presidency. 

This campaign - more than any other campaign - was a war for the soul of a nation and who we are as people and who we wish to be. Joe Biden's running mate who is now the Vice-President-elect is emblematic of what this election was all about. She will become the first female Vice-President, the first African-American Vice President, and the first Indian-American Vice President. What a historic, groundbreaking achievement - an achievement that the American people enthusiastically accepted, rather than rejected.

More than any other election in my lifetime, I felt the gravity of this moment. Four years of greed, corruption, malfeasance, and ineptitude coupled with a Republican Senate and the courts that enabled him every step of the way laid the foundation for the worst four years of the nation in my lifetime. Our international reputation is in tatters. COVID viral infections are out of control. The economy has collapsed, and even before that income inequality was at an all time high. Racial injustice and acts of violence against African-Americans are now center stage and captured on film, brining to light the rampant extent of systemic racism. These are not just Donald Trump's sins; they are the sins of this nation and its broken promises on so many fronts.

Joe Biden will inherit multiple crises on day one, but I am confident that there is no one better-prepared to tackle these challenges. Joe knows how Washington and governing work. He believes that perfect is the enemy of the good, and he will re-assemble a civil service comprised of well-qualified men and women who will bring stability and solutions to government.

For this presidency to succeed and for our nation to succeed, Joe will not be able to turn things around himself. He will need all of our help. Count me in! 

I said several times leading up to today that I would never ask for anything again if Joe won and Trump was defeated. I meant that, and I will never take for our freedom or the fragility of our democracy for granted. I hope you feel the same. 

CASTE

Inspired by the Black Lives Matter protest, we recently started a Diversity and Equity Book Club at work. The first book selection was Caste: The Origin of our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson. It was a fitting first book because it charts the history of casteism in the US and beyond, including the country with the longest and most-engrained caste culture - India.

Not to be undone, the United States has taken caste to a whole new level, and those who are black and brown are relegated to the lowest rungs of our society.

Casteism is different than racism because it is not just based on one's race. It is based on the belief that even those who are black and brown and educated or seemingly accomplished should remain in their place. No ascension is possible if one comes from the lowest caste, to which one is doomed by one's skin color and the history of one's ancestors who were the original members of the lowest caste.

The authors describes that the caste system does not come about by accident. Rather, those at the top of the caste system diligently work to keep those in the lowest caste in their place. This includes both wealthy whites, who are at the top of the ladder, but also poor whites. The latter group may not be economically superior to those in the lowest caste, but they feel superior because of their historical origins in the U.S.

Caste is not an easy book to read, but it is an urgent book. You will read no book this year that makes you question how unfair that country has been since its founding and that hopefully motivates you to do something about it. 

SWINGING INTO WINTER

We are fortunate to have a wonderful neighbor behind. Her kids are a few years older than us, and she knows this town like the back of her hand, having grown up here. A few weeks ago we spent a few hours in the backyard sharing a socially-distanced bottle of wine.

Fortunately, she also has a swing in her backyard that her kids no longer use. No worry because our kids - especially Cate - put the swing to very good use.

On a rather blustery day that felt like the first day of winter, the kids decided to break their Sunday indoors hibernation and partake of the swing.

Fun was had by all, especially when a frisbee was thrown into the mix!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

The pandemic has affected nearly every aspect of our lives, and Halloween was no exception. 

Fortunately, there was still trick or treating, though it was different this year. We and others placed candy in small plastic bags at the end of their driveway. For the kids, it was candy, nonetheless.

My little one went as Maverick from Top Gun! Pretty darn cute, if I do say so myself! Happy Halloween!