This was a big week for many reasons. Here's what I'm still processing...
Whether you're disassociating or you are the definition of boots-on-the-ground, a lot of information too quickly can stun anyone. Me included...
“Well, it’s Groundhog Day… again.” Yep, I remember this same day in 2017 and thinking to myself that we’re up for a long haul of Groundhog Days. It’s hard to understand how in this week we’ve seen a plan crash in the USA, the CDC being restricted, law makers asking for gay marriage to be reversed and a wild amount of immigration stories and issues happening. It’s hard to be a human who cares about other humans right now.
Remember how I said that I was going to just keep my mojo going by rolling with the “fake it to make it” approach. Here’s what I said last month: “I’m faking it to make it. Yep, I fully embrace that I am going to be in a continual state of denial for quite a while. I believe that there are enough good people in positions of power and that enough has been done to safeguard the USA, so until I see that being clearly NOT the case, I’m going to put on a smile and not let the injustices of the world throw me into a non-functioning state of being. I’m trying to focus on what I can control and I am STILL having the uncomfortable conversations and calling people out on their crap. But I’m not letting it all tear me down.” Well, this is harder than I thought.
I still have happy and travel things to share though, so don’t give up on me yet!! Today we had skimmers back on our beach, which means spring is coming soon!!!
What’s new on the Blogs
Before I get into all the hard parts of life, I have been enjoying my work this week. I’ve been working on ski stuff from our awesome Winter Park Resort trip last month, I’ve been publishing fresh road trip and National Park plans for summer time, and I’ve really been digging into our Florida Keys website. This is my welcome distraction. So here’s what’s new on the blogs:
And then when it comes to the Florida Keys, and this is what I tell everyone who asks about planning travel down there, the hotels are the most expensive part of planning and especially if you’re visiting in summer, you do spend a lot of time at the hotel property either cooling off or recharging between activities. With that, I’ve been focusing on writing about hotel picks in the Keys, with more on the way this week.
This week I’ll add a few more hotel reviews and hopefully some more info on tours and kayaking throughout the Keys. We’re heading back in April so I know there’s going to be a whole lot more to share! We’ve already got plans to visit Dry Tortugas National Park and I know we’re staying at the Casa Morada, which is going to be lovely, so that’s very exciting.
Upcoming adventure: the Big Island and Maui
In less than two weeks I’ve got an exciting (and fun) work trip. My bff/assistant and I are heading back to the Big Island of Hawaii and then over to Maui. We’ve got a jam packed schedule full of hiking, cultural experiences and seeking out endemic bird species on the Big Island. I’m really looking forward to our day out with Hawaii Forest & Trails, whom we’ve explored with before. Last time it was for hiking on the Hualalai Volcano, which was astounding. This time we’re going to be doing an epic waterfall adventure on the north side of the Big Island. I can’t wait to share!
When we get to Maui, it’s going to be a very different type of trip. We’ll be camping at Haleakala National Park for our time on Maui, hiking and birdwatching. We’ve got some really cool farm tours so we can see how agritourism on Maui is doing post 2023 fires. It’s going to be beautiful and fun, and oh so different from our Big Island trip. Stay tuned because it’s all going to be live on MyAlohaTrip.com! PS: if you’re not yet following our Hawaii account on Instagram, you should, because it’s about to be full of flowers, birds and humuhumunukanukaapuaa.
Current state: We all told you so.
I remember a very specific conversation I had with another person in our HOA who I thought was very much aligned with me politically. I shared how scary the different elements of Project 2025 were and she retorted that FOTUS wasn’t a part of that and that it was just a Dem talking point that I was falling victim to. She said that T-bone would never align with it, despite me sharing with her how he surrounded himself with people who were a part of its creation… And now here we are.
One of the most visible things happening right now are the attacks on immigration, birthright citizenship and naturalization. I’m no longer in a job where I’m working daily with both legal and illegal immigrants, but I have before for years. Thinking about those friends right now and how they must be feeling as they wait to see what happens across the country, that’s terrifying. If you don’t know an immigrant, either first or second generation, and you have an opinion on immigration and its impact on America, you should just stop talking. You don’t know enough to have an opinion. You are not in a position to understand what it took for those people to come here and how hard they work for their families and just a sliver of the lives we take for granted.
And eggs. To the people who said it was about the price of eggs, “I hope you’re happy. I hope you’re happy now.” In addition to prices going up in general and now tariffs happening all over (and yes, I’m educated and know how those work), there is an insane outbreak of bird flu which the administration is actively working to keep the public ill-informed of. The CDC and WHO are such important groups that help to keep America safe and healthy, and here we are trying to pretend like they’re unimportant and unnecessary. I call BS. And look at that, disease is currently making your freaking precious eggs expensive, if they’re even available.
We are for sure in the beginning stages of “we told you so.” We told you about the economy and the brash actions. Here we are. We told you that the people full of hate would feel empowered with 45 back in charge, and they sure do. Pardoning J6ers and legislatures calling for the end of gay marriage, this is just the beginning. It’s hard to keep hope when the opposite of good is happening. I hope on behalf of our kids who are going to have the leftovers to sort through when this is done.
Tips for the Future in the USA
I shared this last week and I’ll share it again. As the government begins to target more people and communities, remember these things:
if you’re being asked about if you know any immigrant or transgender people, no. No, you don’t know anyone. Keep your mouth shut to allow people time to protect themselves from the persecution in store.
if your own health or healthcare is impacted by changing policies and purges, find a doctor who takes their Hippocratic oath seriously.
if you see your friends and neighbors being threatened and treated poorly, including drastic measures that many of us fear, do not keep silent about it. Yes, there is safety in silence… and often silence is complicity.
I’m still hoping for a miracle that sees the leader we need placed into the position she was voted to be in (yes, I think things weren’t cool with the election. It’s my turn to be that person). I’m hoping my family can continue to exist without being watched and questioned, but I just don’t know.
That’s all for this week. I have big dreams of having a newsletter that’s completely lacking in politics and is only good news, but while our lives are currently inundated with this mess and the potential problems, it’s just where I’m at. ← note that I ended with a preposition and IT’S FINE.
I hope you all have a great week and that we all stay safe and healthy. Enjoy the winter sun, go for walks when you can, and when you find opportunities to make the world around you better, do it. Making things better looks like picking up trash on the beach, making a donation to a GOOD political candidate, offering a heartfelt kind word to a stranger, or taking me out for coffee. Wait what? How did that suggestion get in there?
Take care, and I’ll talk to you next week. Love to all y’all!!!
I feel like this past week has been a decade. I look forward to your emails weekly knowing that they will be filled with places I want to visit along with making me think about my role in helping the people who are being marganilzed right now.