Welp, we’re rounding the corner on the end of 2025, and I confess, it’s been such a nationally self-inflicted shitshow that I’m truly grateful to see it edging into the rearview mirror.
But it has not been an unrelieved shitshow, for which I am
also grateful.
Neighbors all across the country stood up and stood
together to protest and document the crimes of our home-grown Gestapo as they
violently kidnaped other neighbors who were going about the business of being
neighbors: going to work, taking their kids to school, getting groceries, keeping
immigration appointments. In addition to protesting and documenting, the
neighbors stepped up to bring food and encouragement to those afraid to leave
their homes.
Millions of people around the country (and, indeed, around
the world) came out multiple times to name the evil and protest it. Bless every
one of them—the numbers and the expression of power sent shivers all the way up
to the Oval Office, penetrating even that brain fog.
Federal judges across the country issued rulings against
the administration’s multifront lawlessness, one after the other. Illegal
firings, illegal deployment of National Guard troops, illegal operations,
illegal vindictive prosecutions, illegal appointments. In an era when
congressional Republicans couldn’t even summon the energy to flap their hands
as the Kleptocrat encroached on legislative powers, the justice boots on the
ground stood up for the Constitution and the people. Profound thanks to them
and most of the appellate judges, as well.
(SCOTUS, of course, is another matter. We need to expand
the court, institute term limits and write some enforceable standards for
malfeasance and impeachment.)
Despite (illegal) threats of withholding federal funds if
New York City elected the candidate not anointed by the Rotting Orange, New
Yorkers overwhelmingly flipped him the bird and voted for Zohran Mamdani as mayor.
The electorate in Virginia also swept Democrat Abigail Spanberger into the
gubernatorial office, where she’ll have to devote some time to burning sage to
rid the Capitol of the Youngkin foulness. I’m grateful one of those votes for
her was mine, along with the Democrat slate for lieutenant governor and
attorney general. Ditto to New Jersey.
In short—Republicans are getting nervous, and I’m glad of
that. They sowed their fields; time to reap.
I’m grateful for the Fairfax County Public Library, and for
other government services that, you know, serve. (Does it come as a shock that
government doesn’t work like a business, because it’s not?) At the other end, I
give thanks for the EU for levying fines on US tech companies for violating
their laws, causing government tools like Marco Rubio and JD Vance to splutter
about how it’s time for the EU to break up and return power to the individual
states. Watching those performances was priceless.
(Talk about having ideas above your station.)
Closer to home, I’m grateful for my friends who gave me
support throughout the year and graciously accepted my support for them. I’m
grateful for the kindness shown me, even when I was crabby; for the generosity
and encouragement. I’m thankful for my yoga instructor; for my sidewalk-salting
neighbor; for the owner of the local Viet-French restaurant, who recognizes me
when I walk in; for the dog walkers I encounter in the mornings.
And, of course, I’m grateful for the show that Nature puts
on for me every single day, without fail.
These are the things that got me through this year and give me hope for the next one.
©2025 Bas Bleu
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