It’s Saturday morning.
I saw DO THE RIGHT THING last night. It felt as timely and relevant as ever. It’s wild to see how young Spike Lee was when he made that film - I feel old! - and yet how he was so beautifully able to write and direct the entire community of all ages. I connect with the older characters now, the Mayor and most especially to Mother Sister. Her anguish at the killing and violence in her neighborhood. If I wasn’t sitting next to George, I might have cried more openly with her. But also the two quotes at the end stopped “my feels” in a way I hadn’t fully appreciated before. Was that Spike Lee intentionally demanding the audience not indulge their feelings but “put their thinking cap on” and now read and think a bit, please?
Especially on the eve of “No Kings Day” / Trump’s 79th Birthday & Military parade, I hope everyone reading this is using the tools and spaces available while they still exist, showing solidarity for the vulnerable among us and staying safe.
Blaze declined to go with me to Art from Scrap to make the signs, so I went alone. George went to work out, where he made me guess who he saw. “Oprah.” I said. Nope. “Ellen Degeneres.” Nope. “Come on,” I told him, “I hate guessing games.” Keep going, he says. I swear to God, sometimes I wish I could crack open his brain and get him to understand. I do not like guessing games. Like, I hate them. Like no fun. Like, just say the thing. Or play them with someone who actually likes guessing games because I hate them. But no. “Keep going.” Maybe it’s my fault that I do. I just want it to stop. “Meghan Markle.” “REALLY CLOSE,” he said, excitedly. DON’T CARE, I’m thinking.
“Harry?”
“Yes!” he says, with delight. I still don’t care but at least it’s over. He then tells me how tall Harry is. Taller than you’d think. I think to myself that I have not once in my whole life thought about Harry’s height until this very moment. What I do think about is what he thinks about our crazy country right now – and also if he’s bored, like me, in this sleepy beach town.
Blaze doesn’t think she’ll attend the protest today. Blaze is hard to understand. I hope she will change her mind. George wouldn’t normally attend either but his 90-year-old father wants to go so George will likely take him.
Our local movie theater is really nice. I’ve only been once before but now I want to make it more of a thing. If I don’t go on a road trip and get out of town, I will be going more regularly from here on out. It’s entirely my fault I haven’t been going there more often. I’ve been waiting for other people to be willing to join me. I remember begging Blaze and George on Mother’s Day to come with me but they were too pissed after a shitty meal and I thought, if I don’t have anyone to go with me, I’m just going to stay at home.
It gets complicated because I am the primary person to care for the dogs, and the exclusive person to take care of Sparky who drives everyone crazy because he pees on everything. Like I told George last week, I have no problem cleaning out cages. Cleaning up after animals and people is my day-job. The past week, I have embraced that role more fully than I ever have. I don't have to deal with the confrontation when I ask, “Will you take care of Sparky for a while?” Because it usually results in, “Why?” Or “Did you just take him to pee?” Or “I’m about to go out!” Or “I’m about to get in the bath!” Or “Just put him in the crate!” And if anything happens while I’m gone, it’s somehow my fault. He peed in Blaze’s room after Blaze ignored him barking on her couch - MY FAULT. Whatever. I am starting to realize that I would much rather deal with any Sparky pee if I am responsible for where I left Sparky.
I am starting to see a trend. Do not ask. Do things on your own. Don’t trust people who don’t like dogs (or kill puppies). Do the Right Thing, even when you don’t know what that is exactly but at the moment, it feels like standing up to brutality, protecting the vulnerable and holding the powerful accountable.
More movies at the movie theater from here on out.
We joined 12,000 on Cabrillo Blvd. in Santa Barbara yesterday. The town did not feel so sleepy after all.
I love Judy's sign!