Pat Taub
SNOW!
Portland, Maine had its first snowfall of the season last night. It continues to snow lightly and blow fiercely. We’re on track to get about 5.” Tomorrow the temps will climb into the ‘40’s which will enhance melting—a boon to those who have Thanksgiving errands to run. This isn’t a particularly picturesque snow, just a sloppy mess.
Snow scene from my second floor window
Ranked Choice Voting
Portland made history this week electing Democrat Jared Golden via ranked choice voting, beating the incumbent Bruce Poliquin, a Trump-like Republican. Liberal and progressive Mainers are delighted with the results. Golden will join the ranks of young progressives in the House of Representatives. I hope they can find a way to challenge the centrist Democrats in their party, who tend to stifle progressive change.
Jared Golden campaigning at a paper mill
A Very Worthwhile Blog
For a while I’ve been following the blog, “Time Goes By,” written by Ronni Bennett, age 77. Recently she learned that her cancer was terminal, giving her only 6-8 months to live. Now Bennett has given her blog posts over to chronicling her dying, writing with courage and remarkable candor. Bennett is making an important contribution in helping us learn how to face death.
A recent photo of Ronni Bennett, founder of the blog, “Time Goes By.”
Family for Thanksgiving
I’m looking forward to having my oldest son, his wife and two kids along with my bachelor youngest son for Thanksgiving. My only real and a little scary agenda is to talk to them about my will, my preferences for dying and then to have them identify what furnishings and art of mine they’d live to have. I’ll extend this to the two grandkids, 14 and 13. I’ll be curious to learn of all their selections.
Women’s Leadership
I’ve been heartened by the large number of young women of different backgrounds and races elected to Congress. So far they haven’t proved disappointing. This week a group of young climate activists wearing shirts, “12 Years,” which represents the number of years the earth has to address dire climate changes before it’s too late, staged a sit-down in Nancy Pelosi’s office. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the new firebrand Congresswoman from the Bronx, joined them. The majority of the protesters were young women. I continue to believe it’s up to the women to lead the way for peace and justice.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and young climate activists staging at sit-in at Nancy Pelosi’s office
