I really want to bring you up-to-date with all of the stuff I experienced during lockdown in Germany. However, I can't contain myself any longer and I've got to talk about the Biden/Harris win, our crazy/lying president and the political issues that occupy so much space in my head.

The thought of voting "against" tRump crushed my already fragile faith in the democratic system. I was happy to vote for Biden because he selected Harris as his running mate. I can only hope that together they will accomplish more than Obama was allowed to and conquer challenges brought on by the COVID epidemic, systematic racism and global warming to name a few.

Our already questionable democracy took a beating during the tRump administration. "Draining the swap" was the joke of the century. 

The breaking down of our civil liberties, the condoning of violence, the disregard for the law, the nebulous obscuring of the truth, the manipulation of the media, and the control of the judicial system are only a few of the pernicious attacks successfully perpetrated by the tRump cartel on our country.

Biden will inherit the problems that tRump has left behind - a pandemic, 

a massive budget deficit and a faltering economy. How much more damage could he have done to American institutions and elections with another four years? 

And now, this spurious imitation orange Cheeto refuses to concede the election. He and his comrades have done everything they can to divide the country. 

Appointing Amy Barret to the judiciary is only one indication of tRumps attempt to guarantee the continuation of his corrupt legacy. tRump has energized violent militias to do great harm across America making it possible for hate-based and extremist groups to continue after his presidency.

tRumps focus on revenge against Joe Biden and FOX News is astounding. His refusal to cooperate with the Biden transition team is an obviously deliberate attempt to prevent the new administration from succeeding with any plans for change or solutions to our countries problems. 

The Republicans will make no compromises. The Supreme Court is dominated by conservatives. Just as the Republicans did to Obama, they will focus - with tRumps guidance - on preventing this democratic administration from making any real changes to the reprehensible deeds of the tRump administration. The corruption of the GOP will out live tRumps presidency.

In a 1996 interview with Mike Wallace, Louis Farrakhan stated (if I may paraphrase) that America is the most corrupt country in the world. That statement holds true today and the tRump administration is the proof. Trying to overturn a legitimate election is not only an abomination but puts the health and security of our country dangerously at risk. 

We are not a third world country. We cannot let this happen. Every American needs to denounce this attempted coup. Hands Off America!

STRANDED - PART 5

HOME AT LAST - PART 5

By the time I got to Oldenburg my entire tour had been canceled. Okay, I thought. This will give me some time to visit friends while I search for a reasonably priced return ticket. Little did I know how quickly everything would change.

The first few days after I settled into my lovely, temporary home I walked to and from the city center which was about 30 minutes from my location. Of course, everyone was concerned – if not scared – of contracting COVID. Self-quarantine was urgently recommended and seriously adhered to in Oldenburg.

Bus drivers wore masks and the drivers seat as well as first three rows were blocked. Passengers where no longer allowed to enter the bus through the front door. It didn't matter that there was less seating. People were afraid to be in closed spaces so for the most part the buses remained empty.

It was eerie to see the streets completely deserted. The sun was shining so beautifully, the temperature was perfect, yet there was no one to be seen. The scenario reminded me of the “last man on earth” movies where a lone person walks the streets of a beautiful city searching for a sign of life.

I kept thinking this can't be real. Watching the news and listening to the Don's commentary - “It's one person coming in from China and we have it under control”, “One day, it's like a miracle, it will disappear”, “We're doing a great job. Just wait. It will disappear”, “a very contagious virus...but...we have tremendous control over it”, “The 15 cases within a couple of days is going to be down close to zero”.

The U.S. had not yet taken COVID-19 seriously and neither did I. The president was defying every recommendation from the CDC and medical community and encouraging U.S. Citizens to do the same. Quarantining and the travel ban would come much too late to save the lives of tens of thousands of people who would die during the first months.

I was in the safest place I could possibly be in. I was disappointed because Rey could not be with me in Germany, but he was in the next safest place, self-quarantined in the rural village in Mexico we'd chosen to make our home months before the public was made aware of the deadly virus.

I concentrated on remaining happy and healthy until I could get a return flight to Mexico. Then the Don announces a travel ban. Americans must return to the states by March 13^th. Borders between Mexico and the U.S. were closed and Mexico restricted non-essential travel from Europe. A return ticket would now cost over $2,000. I needed to earn money to purchase my ticket. I missed the deadline.

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Sincerely yours,

Empress

© Copyright November 5, 2020

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