Happy Clair Cameron Patterson Day! And Less Environmental Lead Pollution Day.

You won’t see this every day but making sure the system cannot proceed unless women have a seat at the table is the best possibly thing you can do in a place of privilege.

EXACTLY!

This paints such a beautiful picture

I look down over the edge of the thin ledge as I attempt to scoot along it. I can't see the bottom. I ponder whether I really love her quite this much. Going to hell and back sounds easy compared with following this goats' path across this cliff face where anything by other than good luck will mean certain death. Especially the comforting "and back" bit. I'm usually so sensible. How on earth did I end up here?

Don't look down. I close my eyes.

I press my back and hands harder into the cliff and slide my right foot a little further along. Then my back. Then my left foot. I peek over my right shoulder. Only another 5 metres.

Right foot. Back. Left foot. Right foot. Back. My left foot gets caught on the uneven terrain. For a moment I wobble, and my stomach lurches (not helping!) I press myself back harder against the cliff and lift my foot over the obstruction.

My therapist would be so impressed with how much I'm living in the moment right now.

I continue until my right foot hits a rock. I try to look down at the rock but the lighting is bad and I can't quite see it. I scoot my left foot over and then trace the rock out with my right. When I come level with my left foot I expect to find more of the ledge, but it's not there. Lowering my right foot further, still no ledge. I raise it again and balance my right foot on the rock. I look further to the right. I'm only 1-1.5 metres from where I need to be. Just out of reach.

I try harder to see if I can see where the ledge resumes. I think I see it, just one stride away. I pull a rock out of the cliff behind me and toss it. I see and hear it bounce off the ledge before falling, falling. I don't hear it hit the bottom.

I mentally rehearse my next moves. I'll bring both feet onto the rock. I'll swing my right foot wide and hopefully hit the ledge where it continues. If I miss... Well, better I don't think about that. My stomach churns and I want to pee. My hands feel clammy. My head starts spinning. I am surprised by how loud my breath sounds. I try to relax, despite pinning myself to the edge of a cliff.

I hate heights.

I breathe deeply and then start enacting my plan. I hesitate one more time, before swinging my foot over the distance. Then commit. For a moment my foot swings through empty air, even as my weight shifts. My stomach lurches again and I wish that I believed in a higher power.

It's an eternity before my foot comes down on the ledge. I pause, straddling the gap, heart beating in my ears. I wiggle my back a little to get more comfortable. I scoot my right foot over just a bit more, then, placing all my weight on it, I swing my left foot down from the rock and over the gap to where my right foot first landed.

Two more steps and I'm off this ledge.

When I reach the bridge, I climb over the railing and fall to my hands and knees. I sob and my whole body shakes with the after effects of the adrenaline. I contemplate curling into a ball. I breathe deeply.

I check my pocket, there she is, still asleep. Unaware of the trials her adventure inspired. My heart melts.

"Get a kitten", my therapist suggested. "It'll help you stay present." Sure, a kitten. But no more outside exploring for you.

Writing Prompt

There was a very brief moment – where it was unwelcome and far too late – where he wondered who managed to talk him into this.

It really is wild that some politicians can stand there and say "yeah we're getting rid of a program that keeps quite literally millions of people alive specifically so we can cut taxes for people who are already richer than god" as if it's a normal political stance and not so cartoonishly evil I'm legit shocked perry the platypus doesn't break through the nearest wall the minute the words leave their mouth.

I think a lot about how, if the glorious violent revolution happens, every kid with significant medical needs in a hospital where power gets cut will die.

You can decide you're willing to sacrifice your own life, but you don't get to tell everybody else on the planet that they're acceptable collateral damage.

Hey, married women: Go apply for your passport.

The SAVE Act has passed in The House. It makes it illegal for a woman whose last name does not match her birth name to vote as a "citizenship verification measure." The main way around it is being able to present your passport at the polls since that proves your citizenship.

Look up your Senators here and raise hell on their phone lines about this blatant attempt to disenfranchise millions of women:

https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member

The breed standard for Persian cats is extremely bad for the cats.

Image and much more detail in the below. https://thelittlecarnivore.com/en/blog/persian-cats-is-it-too-late-for-the-breed

The breed standard for modern Persian cats calls for the nose and mouth to be in “vertical alignment” with the eyes 😭

I really do think he’s gonna declare martial law on Easter. Things are ramping up.

Aw

Remember this viral post? Wanda and Jamal and her husband Lonnie are the most wholesome people, this story brought tears to my eyes originally and I am crying once more learning from Jamal's social media that Lonnie has sadly passed away.

Rest in Peace, Lonnie :(