Wouldn't that be the reason for the rant?

These are ripe times for ranting & I consider it at least partly a result of grief too huge.

Every one of us owns a bite of it. Some certainly hold a larger platter of it.

I confess that I am a dedicated follower of salonletters--sometimes I can even distinguish which

Anonymous I am reading. There are regular posters here I read because I want to know what you think. You are

my "social connection" I have some choice about. I don't have to behave if someone pisses me off.

Some days all the vitriolic commentary is just shaming. It seems necessary to me though.

We're all 'processing' and nah, not possible to always be pleasant.

In a lighting catalog that arrived in the mail yesterday, I came across the following quote from

George Washington. I think it's appropriate here:

"We ought not to look back unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors,

and for the purpose of profiting by dear-brought experience."

That's my candle, whatever it's worth.

Extraordinary powers vested in a president who's only proven extraordinary in his consistent incompetence. I don't know. It's all like that dream the next morning where you shake your head & say to yourself, "who were those people?" & "whew, just a dream." This bad dream isn't ending. I tried being optimistic but brain interfered -- as long as I'm thinking I'm still glad to have one.

I've voted Democrat for 30 years & I will continue, but where are we going? Why do we lack a leader?

I don't find an obvious answer.... only the depressing evidence. The only optimistic people I have encountered lately are the ones who still have their W stickers proudly displayed on the SUV--the ones I have spoken with can say, without a doubt in their eyes, without flinching, that "this country is stronger than ever." I just want to weep. But I kind of counted on these political types to not just curl up & close their eyes. Something has to begin to brew that is some powerful antidote. I don't see anyone in the kitchen.

Lily Tomlin said, "no matter how cynical you get it's almost impossible to keep up."

Looks like we're keeping up & losing at the same time.

By these ill-defined standards, are we a leftist "group"??

I only made it to about page 4 when I got to the "mean letter" from the doctor. I have encountered such pomposity in doctors.....but that letter really pissed me off. How helpful your comments/your judgments, anonymous dear. Sometimes what we know about restraint as individuals can spare others enormous amounts of grief. What a shame if you really "help" in this manner on a daily basis.

This was an amazing letter & I wish I could read Cary's mail to read the whole "rant" as well as the other communications between the two of them. I encourage the LW to work on that book as a means of exercising control, not to mention the ultimate gift to others it could be. I understand though if she doesn't really care enough to create that gift....part of that is already done here in this column.

I wish for this person whatever it is she needs to find & that the hell of it won't be her life.

When my dad was dying it was very, very hard to let him be....to remove my needs from the balance & just care for him. I moved in with him during the last 9 months of his illness & the issues & my response to them changed regularly. Many people told me I was doing it wrong, but he told me that he appreciated the respect. I will always be grateful for the experience gained, equally, I will always miss the presence of him in my life. I suspect that the LW's friends have a hard time understanding the costs involved in the constant battle--but what a tremendous communicator the LW is---I have to encourage her to try harder to keep those who matter close to her, while knowing the energy to do so just isn't there.

I really, really hope to hear from this young woman again. What wonderful spirit.

Doesn't that just sum up the entire "efforts" of the current administration?

Fine writing---that last paragraph I want to copy/paste & send to everyone who reads & comprehends. Thank you AJ for saying it so well. As with Garrison this morning--yelling at the walls & scaring the cat---I feel that my voice has been heard without ever opening my mouth. So, it's a good day & helps with the belief that things just might get better, that is, when done getting worse.

Hard to avoid seeing the contrast---there, a journalist who died brutally for telling the story that had to be told....here, journalists selling their souls to avoid telling the stories begging to be told. It's very sad & I'm sure the evaders of responsibility are taking notes.

maybe, after all, it's a thing to celebrate that it's just a better day today than yesterday. Hope--it's gotten hard to believe.

I admire Pelosi & am glad to be part of this history, but what an enormous dung heap there is to be worked through....it's all quite depressing. I am just going to cheer quietly in my head now.

....i think, on what your definition of "killed" is.....