Ways to stay (slightly) sane in post-election daze

Holding signs of solidarity at the Islamic Center of Western Massachusetts

There is so much to get upset about during this post-election season. Did you ever say a word over and over again until it doesn't make sense? Like the word irked? Some of it is extremely upsetting and some of it is a nagging IRK.

I have kept pretty quiet around the people who watch my dog, but for the first time the other night when I went to pick her up I just couldn't control myself.

Attorney Tahirah A. Wudud gives situation update

"How do you like your guy's cabinet picks?"
"How do you like the way he bullied that nice union boss?" (Chuck Jones, who called out Trump's Carrier deal.)

Answer: "We voted for him and he's our president and you Democrats have to get over it. The country couldn't be any worse than it's been for the past eight years." Huh?

During the election, when we had one brief discussion, I mentioned that the unemployment rate was way down and got this answer: "You people believe what you want to believe." So it is a dead end and they are super nice people and they love my dog and I couldn't do what I do without them so I know I have to keep quiet.

I really need them when I go to Boston. I don't actually need them that much otherwise except that having Maddie go there is a win win situation. They love her and she loves to go there so much that when I open the car door she runs up to the house. If I tell her she's going to stay home she gives me that mournful look. (Who's the boss?) When I pick her up she goes over to each one and says goodbye.

Yesterday I told them that I was going to a mosque. I didn't finish the sentence with the reason I was going to the interfaith gathering at the Islamic Society of Western Massachusetts. It was of course to stand up against the hate incited against Muslims and Jews by the President Elect.

It was a cold dark night but I was glad I went. The spirit was amazing. I talked to a lot of people in the standing room crowd and signed up for something (not sure what) on a sheet where people stated their desire to help. There were more than 200 people, and we all got served a delicious dinner. One of the members of the mosque was a student of mine at The Literacy Project and she took me into the kitchen full of brimming platters and told me to make myself a plate. (Others were doing the same.) So, dinner tonight.

I found out about the event through the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts. I would like to do more. It fits into number 1 on a 10-part plan of not losing my mind or harming my health over this insanity.

1: Do something (i.e. get out of my head).
2: Donate to more causes within my means. It was hard to chose but I picked: ProPublica (journalism in the pubic interest), Environmental Defense Fund, Anti-Defamation League,  and, drumroll...Planned Parenthood.
3: Talk it over with like-minded people.
4: Pet the dog, walk the dog, talk to the dog.
5: Exercise (TENNIS, yoga, spinning).
6: Write.
7: Limit TV news (bye-bye Morning Joe, one MSNBC program and no more at night).
8: Read about something else.
9: Plan a trip (I'm going to Florida!)
10: Do something nice. I got my dentist and his staff an edible arrangement made of fruit. Because he is so nice to me and gives me the best price he can and because the staff is so friendly. Kind of like my "Cheers"...sigh.
11. Watch and rewatch old and new Gilmore Girls episodes. Because.

Quarters from heaven

Having been to a seder on the second night of Passover, I hosted my own yesterday.

Technically, it was still Passover, and although it's traditional to do it on the first or second night, we figured it's OK to do it later if that's the only time people can come. It also happened to be Easter, making grocery shopping a potential problem.

I set out to do most of my shopping during the week, but I needed more things on Saturday. The store was packed. I ended up on a long line and started to feel very stressed, anticipating all the work that needed to be done. Hostessing does not come easily to me. I had just come from a yoga class, but the calm did not carry over.

Then I looked down and saw a quarter directly in front of my cart.

I have this feeling that my parents send me quarters to remind me that they're here...the inflationary equivalent of pennies from heaven. It's because they always stocked up on quarters to feed parking meters and ride the bus, and when I was in New York they helped me out when I ran short. So now they are helping me out with this sign.

I felt like it was my mother saying, "Calm down, you can do this."

I bought a 20-pound turkey to serve 12 people (with leftovers), so that I wouldn't have to roast two large chickens. I opened the packaging Saturday night around 9:15 to prepare the turkey, and I thought it didn't smell right. Katie came in and said it smelled like eggs. Yuk.

I called Big Y, the local supermarket, and a manager who answered said they were closed. I explained the situation and said I didn't want to sicken a bunch of people with this turkey; he said he only had five 13-pound turkeys left, but if I could be there in 15 minutes he'd make a switch. So I rushed to the store with the rotten turkey and was met in the empty store by my contact, who gave me two 13-pound turkeys, called the deal even, and rushed me out the door.

Here I was once again facing turkey trouble, a different kind but reminiscent of the near-fiasco on Thanksgiving when I decided to clean the oven and the door got stuck shut until at the last minute Jim (my ex-husband) pried it open, only after Joe had ripped off the handle.

Two of my new turkeys would be too much, but one might not be enough. I only had one roasting pan, so I put Turkey #1 in it and crammed Turkey #2 into a disposable lasagna pan.

On Sunday, all three kids were here, and through a team effort, we got ready. The turkeys were cooking nicely, although Turkey #2 ran into trouble when the pan sprang a leak and I fumbled it while trying to get it out of the oven to put foil underneath. I kept it in the pan, but the dog was very happy to discover that most of the drippings had escaped onto the floor.

Anyway, peace descended when we all sat down at the table and the seder began. I lit the candles, and Diane and David, in keeping with tradition, led us through the reading of the Haggadah.

We had our usual guests, my friend Deb and her daughter, Charlotte, who are like family, and special guests Bob (my cousin) and his wife, Lynne. Bob is famous for his rendition of "Go Down, Moses."

We alternate readings, and ever since my illness Diane has given me the one about how Passover is not only about celebrating the exodus of the Jews from Egypt but also about identifying the mitzrayim – the tight spots – in our own lives and in the lives of others and seeking liberation from them.

Having gotten out of some major tight spots, yesterday I got out of a minor one.

Everyone pronounced the turkey my best one ever. The second one was relegated to leftovers.