@theterrace

I feel a well of anger. I have not used my voice for a multitude of reasons…I don’t know where to post, who I’m even speaking to, I don’t want to offend. But I feel sick. I open the paper and I see headlines and read about issues that are so deeply wrong. I don’t care what political party one belongs to, people know what’s right and what’s not. Here’s a headline for us this morning: “Apart for nearly a third of her life after border separation.” Maria, in Gautemala, gets to see her third grade daughter in Florida only on a phone camera. They talk every afternoon, and they hang up and they cry. Find some human being with a heart who can tell me this is an acceptable outcome because that mother wanted a better life for her daughter.

Here’s another headline for us this morning: “4 Democratic senators help reject ban on sale of assault-style weapons.” What is wrong with people? I feel so angry. There is no reason anyone not in the military needs an assault-style weapon. Don’t tell me that’s infringing on people’s rights. No one should have the right to kill without pause at a moment’s whim in a civilized society. And whoever looks back to the Constitution and lays claim to unending rights should buy their neighbor a tank or give their enemy a nuclear weapon. I am no Constitutional scholar, but even a cursory understanding of the historical context of the second amendment opens bare the need for a collective protective element when the nation had no federal army. There is no way the rational writers of that document–meant to be a living, breathing document–could have foreseen nor would have condoned any and every random person being able to kill as many neighbors or strangers as they liked on a whim. That is completely illogical, and the irrational stranglehold on such a sick idea is devastating to our country.

Here’s another thing that’s making me ill this week. We all look with curiosity at Michael Bloomberg entering the election race. He seems to be saying some good things, he seems like an interesting and viable counter to the immature, self-centered, destructive force of President Trump. I was hopeful that he would be worth considering. Then I learn about him saying this about his role as a salesman: “Do you want to f***? He gets turned down a lot–but he gets f***d a lot too!” Or this, said to his colleagues: “[Computers] will do everything, including give you [oral sex]. I guess that puts a lot of you girls out of business.” I am embarrassed and angry to even have to write that in my own blog, much less that it can be read on the front page of a newspaper by my 12-year-old daughter. I am so angry. I am furious.

People in power need to stop trampling on people who are not in power. Legislators need to start making laws that respect the humanity and dignity and worthiness to live that we are born with. Executives need to stop devouring power and trying to grab more by ignoring the boundaries of checks and balances; and those at the head of branches of government need to use their muscle to preserve those boundaries.

I know some might say that these headlines or quotes are biased because of the paper they are in printed in–all media is determined to be politically skewed now–but I disagree that they are irrelevant or worth dismissing because of the name Washington Post at the top of the paper. The same would be true of the Wall Street Journal or any other news outlet with integrity. If we read them, learn things and listen to people, we can build bridges so that we can understand each other and make decisions that make sense, and work hard and humbly to lift other people up, not kill their relationships, their dignity or their bodies. I am so angry. I wish I knew what to do to make things better. I know that at least trying to find my voice is a start, even if I’m only talking to myself and possibly my mother.

My head always seems to be swirling around inside and it’s hard to slow it down without effort. Here are a few things things are keeping it moving.

We are considering sending Finn to a private school, The McLean School, which has smaller classes than public schools can offer. The public middle school here is 1,500 kids, or 500 students per grade. It’s astonishing. The schools get ranked well in Maryland, but none of our kids enjoys their days, which is sad, to say the least.

Kevin has news. HZe will be heading to Afghanistan in September. It’s a 2-year posting, and we’ll see him every 2 months or so. He will be staying in both Kabul (a compound) and Delhi, because he will also work on India. It sounds exhausting to me. I will try to keep things steady here in DC.

My work is getting busier but my hours are good for a full-time job in DC (8 am-4pm). I have to travel sometimes, which is tough at home. I’m learning a lot about rural issues, esp Appalachian, which is incredibly moving. After Roshan, I don’t every want to work again without my heart being as invested as my head.

I am dreading the summer here–11 weeks! And no Bali!

Speaking of, we are trying again with a dog: we’re getting a puppy in April. We have decided to name it Bali 🌸

Hugh turns 50, Tatum sprained her ankle and Mom is having surgery. And the milk was put away…in the pantry. But reversing the order, things should only get better from here. At least the toilet didn’t overflow, which it did last week.

As much as we liked our Saturday Thanksgivings in Jakarta, there is something awesome about a Thursday family Thanksgiving with turkey instead of a complete roasted pig. We embraced the 11- hour drive to Seymour–well, sort of– and had a wonderful long weekend with Kevin’s family.

Kevin and the children had been there in June for Uncle Bud’s funeral, but I hadn’t seen most of the family in many years. Everyone looks wonderful and they are incredible hosts.  Brooks let us stay in his hotel, which was a luxury, but being with the extended family at Kathy’s and Dwayne’s every day was the best part.

One of my favorite moments was seeing Tatum’s face transition from surprised to concerned to pained to indignant when Gary, standing in front of her in the buffet line, spooned out mashed potatoes until his plate held a mountain of mashed and the massive, family- salad-sized bowl was empty. He must be related to Kevin and Brooks.

Tatum got the last laugh, however, by winning the Dollar Game and taking his and everyone else’s money.

When life brings you raspberries, bring on the fruit tart.  Life has given Mom a raspberry recently, so Doug generously bought me a ticket to see her for her birthday. I brought my sidekick Finn too. She was definitely surprised, as in jaw dropped, hand to forehead speechless. It was awesome!

We got to see Uncle Ron and most of the Biggars even in our short weekend visit. Uncle Ron took Mom and me to a Bruce Cockburn concert in Berkeley for Mom’s birthday, we did a little Christmas shopping at McCoullou’s and the toy store in Montclair and we had a Finn-picked really fun afternoon at Robert’s redwood picnic area and Chabot science center, where we visited a planetarium and played paddleball with my three beautiful nieces.

Yay, Mom! We hope you get lots more fruit tarts in the coming year.

I would never have imagined in fifth grade that I’d be so happy to take my kids to the Bethesda library. But seriously! This makes me so happy! Finn’s reading The Great Brain is Back. Clara is reading the second in a trilogy about the Mount of Olympus or something by Rick Riordan. And Tatum has like 26 books, so I’m not sure what she’s reading. We are so lucky to live in a city with free books! Go Bethesda! (P.S. Mom, you can consider this an early birthday present.)

Acclaimed author Joanna Biggar, aka Mom, released her second novel, Melanie’s Song, in October. It’s a sequel to That Paris Year, but it can be read as a stand alone book too. It’s a mystery about the disappearance of a friend. It’s set in all kinds of familiar places, like Mendicino, Pasadena, San Fransisco and Accra. I guess that’s what we get when the author digs into the ink well of personal history.

We felt a little famous at the book launch at the Writer’s Center in Bethesda. We got photos with the author, autographed books, even hugs from the author. She did her reading of the week this week at Book Passages in San Fransisco. She has to stop dont readings because we are waiting for book number three. Stay tuned!

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Waiting for Dad to complete his epic hospital journey, and to be with him in it, left little room to keep my head above water on much else (beside caring for three little pigs and starting my new job). But now that Dad is blessedly, blissfully back home, let me catch you up on other things that happened in the meantime.

I guess one milestone would be that school started, sometime back in September (Sept. 3rd, after the longest summer ever, but no need to keep records of state wrongdoing). Tatum started 7th grade and Finn and Clara started 5th. They are not enamored, but they’re coping. The 5th grades still don’t embrace homework and the 7th grader generally finds Pyle distasteful. We secretly call Clara’s teacher Ms. Killory Ms. Killjoy.

Obligatory first day of school shots published exclusively here! A prize goes to anyone who can find Finn’s face in the group pic. Tatum’s face says exactly what it needs to say for the start of 7th grade.

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Group email from October 9.

Wow, it’s real. Dad is HOME. After all our lengthy updates, it’s hard to know what to say about Dad’s arrival back home today except it’s awesome having him back. In more ways than one. He said next he dies, he’ll do it quickly and just get it over with! But that’s going to be a long time from now.

Thank you for all of your support, prayers, calls, visits, emails, texts, understanding and humor over the last couple of months. We made it!

Feel free to contact Dad if you would like, by email or phone or visits (we will space them out to help him keep up his strength). We already know you’re with us in spirit, as you have been through this whole perilous journey. Can’t wait to read Dad’s next novel about it.

Photos attached.

Love,

Camp Biggar

5016 Hampden Lane

P.S. We agree, if you want to challenge him to thumb wrestling or Blockhead, now’s a good time.