Faking Joy

Living in the New Not Normal

Now is the summer of our discontent.

My favorite season of the year is happening against a global and local political panorama that ranges from unspeakably evil to heartbreakingly grim. In an attempt to cope with the tsunami of sorrow, rage and fear, every conversation I have with friends begins and ends with “We can’t let them take our joy.” And so, off we go on a grail-like quest each day to find such joy, though it often feels forced. We do the normal things to have fun, but a bit of our hearts aren’t in it because how could they be?