Welcome to The Grieving Room .  

( From exmearden's diary)

A special welcome to anyone who is new to The Grieving Room.  We meet every Monday evening.  Whether your loss is recent or many years ago, whether you have lost a person or a pet, or even if the person you are "mourning" is still alive ("pre-grief" can be a very lonely and confusing time) you can come to this diary and process your grieving in whatever way works for you.  Share whatever you need to share.  We can't solve each other's problems, but we can be a sounding board and a place of connection.

This link will take you to past editions of The Grieving Room: http://www.dailykos.com/...
Here is the schedule for upcoming weeks:

July 28 - filled by Beegee Kochav
August 4 - filled by AJsDad
August 11 - filled by Dem in the Heart of Texas
August 18 - filled by bigjacbigjacbigjac (bigjac - please confirm!)
August 25 - OPEN
September 1 - OPEN
September 8 - OPEN
September 15 - filled by NewDirectionsMom

Please contact  smnytx at yahoo.com to volunteer to host an upcoming week, or respond in this diary.

A year ago, I embarked on a dark and frightening journey.    I began  monitoring the Free Republic and Little Green Footballs, two of the more well - know right wing blogs.   I felt like Frodo, unsure of what Ring Wraiths or other dangers I might encounter.  Would I emerge as the political equivolent of a Stepford Wife?  Would my ‘97 Buick suddenly sport a "Freedom isn’t Free" bumper sticker?  Would I inexplicably develop an affinity for jingoistic country songs?    Maybe this was a bad idea.  I’m a bleak sort anyway, and who knows how long my Klonopin prescription would shield me.

In the infamous Salem Witch Trials, all the victims were executed by hanging except for the only man killed, Giles Corey.  He was pressed to death - heavy stone after stone was piled on his chest until he died from an inability to breathe.   His death always especially horrified me.  Such a slow, deliberate, tortuous way to die; it seemed particularly malicious.

Having returned from the Chicago anti war rally encouraged but unsatisfied, I was thinking that instead of the group of many excellent but legion speakers, a rally featuring one truly remarkable speaker, someone who could crystallize progressive values, inspire others to take real action, give voice to the voiceless and generally give some version of the "I have a Dream" for today might be just what the progressive movement needs.  

I am a member of a social action committee at a Reform synagogue.  In the past, I would have comfortably described my synagogue as progressive.  One of our rabbis is a gay woman, living with her partner and their child.  On most social and economic issues,  I am very comfortable with the views of most of the members.  Our social action committee has done some excellent work, locally, nationally, and internationally.

My day wasn't filled with titilating scandals or exciting breaking revelations.

I went to the dentist.  Not for work - I can't just walk into a dentist and have work done.  Lacking dental insurance and the ability to pay for most procedures, and having a poor credit rating as a result of running a small business (our bills get paid when we get paid - and we're a CPA firm specializing in small businesses, not doing well in the Bush economy), dental problems are an enormous and ongoing crisis.

"When I was younger, so much younger than today,
I never needed anybody's help in any way,
But now these days are gone and I'm not so self assured,
Now I find I've changed my mind I've opened up the doors.
Help me if you can...." (Lennon/McCartney)

Charity.  Compassion.  Generosity.   Solidarity. Whatever you call it, the whole notion of "help" is loaded with complicated emotions.     My parents were part of the World War II generation, and it sure didn't seem like they needed much of it.  Mortgages were cheap, jobs with benefits were plentiful, and saving was possible, When that proverbial 'rainy day' arrived (even if it lasted  months), they were inevitably ensconced in a secure,  waterproof shelter.  They seemed to me utterly immunized against vulnerability.  And I grew up expecting, at least on some level, that I would lead the same life.

The recent revelations about Ben Domenech being a plagiarist (and not merely a racist  wingnut, traits which were overlooked and given a nod and a pass by the Washington Post) have once again brought a harsh light to shine on the practice of homeschooling.  Many progressives picture all homeschoolers as denim jumper -wearing bible- embracing science-rejecting medievalists.  Not true!  There are many of us on the progressive side of things who homeschool.  It doesn't mean that we reject the value of public education any more than choosing an alternative form of medical treatment means one rejects allopathic treatments.  Having found myself on the defensive regarding my choice to homeschool frequently of late, I wanted to explain what brought me to that decision, initially.  I have changed my son's name for privacy reasons.

Eavesdroppers, Rhett Butler told Scarlett, often learn very instructive things. 

It's true.  Some of the most interesting, puzzling, and frustrating things I've learned lately have come from the impolite art of eavesdropping.

Elizabeth is at the DC rally, I understand, and asked me to do a WYFP diary in her absence.  I've never done a diary before, so apologies in advance for any errors I make.

So - W IS YFP?