The Good, The Bad and The Ugly or? November 8, 2016

It has taken me a minute to try and digest what happened on November 8, 2016.  My mind is still spinning with thoughts of "I'm having a bad dream"  and "This is a joke, right?"  But alas, it was not a bad dream and it was not a joke.  It was real.  Is real.  For the next four years our next president of the United States will be A.REALITY.SHOW.STAR., a successful business man if you will, but
A.REALITY.SHOW.STAR nevertheless.  And I still don't get it.  Why would half of the country want a man like him to lead our country? Why? 

The day after the debacle election, everything seemed surreal.   The weather matched the mood of the majority of the people I encountered as I went about my normal yet, not normal work day; Cloudy, grey, sad. 

I work for the city government and normally, politics, affiliations and the like, are frowned upon in our office.  But that day, Wednesday, November 9, 2016, no one really gave a crap about being politically correct.  Everyone was walking around like zombies, heads down, each lost in their own thoughts.  Small groups of people gathered around the break room, hallways, or even on the streets, having discussions about what had just happened the night before. 

I myself, am still mourning.  I am still licking my wounds.  I don't know that I will "get over it" anytime soon, as some of my friends/colleagues and good ol' Facebook has suggested. I mean, I get it.  She lost.  Our party lost.  Dreams and hopes were shattered that night.  Let us have whatever time is needed to bounce back.  To take a breath and say, "Ok, so this is our reality (heh, pun totally intended)" 

What I am most upset about is that this entire election has brought out the ugliest of the ugliest in people.  Hate, shaming, name calling, insulting, racism, vandalism...What the fuck America?  Seriously.  What the fuck?  This is what I don't understand and probably never will either.  How can anyone want an individual that is so full of crap and bullies his way to get what he wants and has no regard for consequences at all,  how can you want him in office?  This is what baffles me.  But the people have spoken.  Half of them anyway.  And that is who they wanted.  And so now, the other half needs to swallow that bitter, bitter, pill and accept it.  I get it.  We're pissed. We're despondent.  Indignant at our current situation.  But guess what?  This is what democracy is all about.  There was an election and one candidate won and the other lost.  That is how this works.  Forget all that starting riots and burning our flag noise.  Just stop.  Accept what happened.  I am not fan of the Orange man, believe me. But it is what it is. 

I shudder to think what we would have done if we didn't have Social media.  How would people know how distraught or euphoric we were?  How indeed.  But come on, it's over.  Go unhide those people you had to hide, go friend whoever you unfriended due to heat of the moment tempers.  I promise it will be ok.

I am a proud, American.  I love this country and will for the rest of my life.  The president-elect does not define me. 

So friends, start loving more, being kinder and respectful of each other. Our country is a melting pot of individuals from all over the world.  Isn't that amazing?  I think it is.  Sure, we're a little unsettled right now because of this most weirdest election I've seen in my lifetime, but we'll bounce back.  We always do.  Do your part to steer back in the right direction.

As President Obama said a few days ago, "No matter what happens, the sun will rise tomorrow"  And it will.  And it did. 

Now go out and kiss your lover, your kids, laugh, hug, count down to Spring training or dance your ass off.  Just go do it.  Go live. 

-Peace.