I couldn't vote until I was 21. I did love Judy Collins and the entire genre of folk music from the '60s.
One song has remained with me until this day.
It is how I felt about my Dad who I adored as a young person then realized his flaws. Lots of promises but no results mostly. We were oil and water -- both the same personalities sadly. And then
he taught me to fish -- 3 years before he died. He taught me to cast in the back yard and when I nailed it -- he was thrilled.
We took a morning to a mudpit called Corona Lake in CA (apologies to all who know it). The morning passed like sails into the sunset but it was only noon. I asked him if we could rent the pontoon boat longer. Best look of happiness I ever saw towards me.
We fished in Diamond Lake in CA and then Galway Bay (where half his ashes were tossed) and caught nothing. Best fishing ever in my life.
Sometimes promises can make us pity ourselves but other times can be truly great moments. Sometimes promises can't be fulfilled because of other shite -- but, depending on the person, the promise was either crap or sincere but far reaching.
Our country has a system -- it involves government and politicians. It is strangled by big money now thanks to SCOTUS. It will always involve people. We need to remember that and no matter what our preferences -- we need to fight those who are fundamentally racists, homophobes, misogynists, xenophobes, fuckheads. They are our enemies -- not our folks who have flaws but are not hateful.
One thing my Dad and Mom taught me other than a thousand be a good girl stuff -- vote -- no matter how imperfect your choice might be. I always do. And I always have voted opposite from them but that's not the point. I vote because I know I'm a relatively good person and imperfect and will accept someone as imperfect as I am as long as they are not trying to get ericlewis0 or slksfca as their boyfriends. I do have my lines in the sand.
Blessings to Sandra Bland, her family, friends, BLM and all who suffer for no reason at all.