Friends, I stand before you with a heavy heart, searching for words that might ease your spirit, yet finding none to ease my own. We fought with everything we had to protect this great nation we cherish, but we were overpowered. A storm is coming, two months from now, the nation we love may begin a descent into something unrecognizable. Millions who chose this darkness may one day see their error, but until then, for even as darkness falls, we do not stand alone. We hold fast, not because we expect an easy victory, but because we refuse to surrender the ideals that brought us here. My only advice, now, is to make space for this grief. Accept it. Sit with it. Feel it in its fullness, and let it pass through you. Cry if you must, but know that when you are done, there is work before us. Together, I believe we will find our way through, this, I believe. For now, I’ll be stepping away to the trails for a few days, with Zoe 🐾 by my side. I’ll be back. Rest, mourn, and gather your strength. Our journey is far from over. Much love!