51 Comments
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Rita Ott Ramstad's avatar

I'm always on the verge of tears at those kinds of gatherings, too. This past year at least. Thanks for being there, and for sharing this.

Wendy Wolf's avatar

It’s a lot, isn’t it? The fact that we have to do it. The fact that so many good people show up. It’s always an exhausting day for me. Thank YOU for being here with me. x

Dustye Muse's avatar

Oh my. When I saw your drawing, I thought you must have cried making this. I cry looking at it.

I love so much that you compared it to a prayer.

We have to march. I know this. I feel it in me too. Even if my life is in danger. We have to do it. I'm with you.

Wendy Wolf's avatar

I love this kind comment. I read it out loud to my husband. I’m so glad you’re here. That you’re with me honestly means so much. x

Laura P's avatar

Beautiful drawing of Rene. It is so heartbreaking and frightening. Any police department would have put the shooter on immediate leave and investigated. Every Republican, so called administration, and the Supreme Court are complicit.

Wendy Wolf's avatar

Thank you, Laura. And yes, they are.

Wendy The Druid 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🌈's avatar

Her name was Renee Good. We should never forget

Wendy Wolf's avatar

Never. ❤️💔

Irena Smith's avatar

You already know how I feel about this piece, but I wanted to tell you here as well: thank you for showing up and for your quiet courage and for saying "I'm scared, but fuck this shit." And for your radiant portrait of Renee Good. And for all the things.

Wendy Wolf's avatar

Thank you. I’m so lucky to have you in my universe.

Lynn Kay's avatar

Wow! Just watched the video!!! Yes! My mom always said I marched to my own drummer and I did …joined now in 1977 and marched for the ERA. It’s our time now!!

Thank you Wendy! I’m sure I’ll find my note in the ethers…?

Love the pie reference!!!

Wendy Wolf's avatar

Thank you, Lynn! Yes, it’s such a powerful video and song. Thank you for marching back in the 70’s! I wasn’t an activist yet, then, so you marched for me, too.

Michelle Francois-Walsh's avatar

Oh friend - yes, all of this. I vacillate between a cycle of : wake, pray, cry, drop my kid at school - scream I love you out the window, hike, cry while hiking, then comes RAGE. Fury, screaming, yelling my car, punching my punching bag. Then back to crying. All of this. Yes. And you already know how much I love this song. love you bug

Wendy Wolf's avatar

Thank you. ❤️

Carol Johnston's avatar

Thank you for honoring Renee Good and for marching. We have to keep fighting and remain brave.

Wendy Wolf's avatar

We do. Facing it is our best hope. Thank you for being here.

Deborah Witte's avatar

Wendy, I just reread this post again as I was overcome with my own grief upon my first reading. Your art as a prayer put everything in perspective for me too, a new way to honor, and remember. I agree, I'm not ready to die yet either, but if itust be , I want to be kicking and screaming with like-minded souls around me, not hidden away. Let's continue the fight together. xxx

Wendy Wolf's avatar

We will. I’m so glad you’re here with me. I’m grateful for your friendship. ❤️

Deborah Witte's avatar

And I yours, Wendy. ❤️

Mary Beth Rew Hicks's avatar

Thank you, Wendy. I'm with you.💜

Wendy Wolf's avatar

Thank YOU Mary Beth. ❤️

Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

Even though the words are finding their way to the pages, and yours here are just exactly perfect, and the grief is evolving into something more like resolve--I feel like I'm walking into a burning building with weights around my ankles and smoke in my lungs. And yet, I know I don't know the half of it. I read a piece some time ago by Marcie Alvis Walker about how Black Americans are coming through this time differently than some of us, because this is all they've ever known, because they've never been able to trust our government. While there was a lot more nuance to her piece than I'm capturing here, I appreciated that perspective. It's our time now. Thank you for writing this, and for your beautiful portrait of Renee. Thank you for standing up for those who can't. Thank you for standing up at all.

Wendy Wolf's avatar

Thank you for standing beside me. Grief into resolve…yes. I’m exhausted. Ohmygod, E, exhausted. But I have more safety and support than many others, so I will continue to show up. I think often about how people of color are viewing this. The erasure of history, too… When people say: This isn’t MY America! Well. Yes, it is. The rot that empowered this administration has always been there, and maybe it was invisible to a vast majority of white people, but it was painfully visible to others. If you know which article that was, I’d love a link…

Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

After an unsuccessful search, I reached out to Marcie. She says she'll share the link with me if *she* can find it. :)

Wendy Wolf's avatar

Thank you!

Rhea Groepper's avatar

Really beautiful, heartfelt post and gorgeous portrait of Renee.

Wendy Wolf's avatar

Thank you, Rhea. That means so much coming from you. ❤️

Holly Starley's avatar

“If I’m going to be massacred, I want to be standing next to people like that when it happens.”

Oh, my friend. So much love your way.

💕💕💕

Wendy Wolf's avatar

Thank you so much, Holly. Sending love right back. Bunches of it.

Eileen Dougharty's avatar

Your words. Your art. The Solnit quote. Perfect. Thank you for being you ❤️

Wendy Wolf's avatar

Thank you so much. I'm awfully glad you're YOU. ❤️

Cindy Maddera's avatar

On the verge of tears is how our bodies are handling the overwhelming despair of what is happening and then placing ourselves within the community of others who share that despair but still have tiny flames of hope. There's power in putting all those tiny flames together in one place. You're doing good work.

Wendy Wolf's avatar

Thank you, Cindy. There is overwhelming despair, but so much love, too. It’s a lot to hold. So it spills out. I appreciate you. ❤️

Lilian Nattel 📚🚺🌏's avatar

To have an impact the protests have to be every day not just weekends. They have to be disruptive. Willing if necessary to turn to a general strike. No one with any power cares until it affects their stock portfolio.

Wendy Wolf's avatar

I agree, largely. I think they do care, just not enough. The optics have been enough to make small adjustments. We need more.