Virtually Gina

We arrived in the City of Lakes around Thanksgiving, settling into our new home just in time for the ICE occupation (although in my mind it felt more like an infestation) of this frozen metropolis. The tension was brewing even before two citizens died trying to defend our immigrant neighbors. That tension now, in February, is still palpable, and quite frankly my nervous system is bordering on frazzled. At the same time, I’m so proud of my fellow Minneapolitans. I see how they care and how so many of them are willing to stand up to federally-sanctioned bullies in the fight for justice. This is the America I love, and the one that I’ll continue to defend.

The Bruce Springsteen song penned for the occasion, whose name I used as the title of this post, and many other songs have been keeping me going during this time. (Click the Spotify icon in the top right corner of the page to see the ICE Out playlist I compiled, admittedly with a little help from the algorithm, as well as my own intuition and musical preferences — and Prince because, well, Minneapolis). The structure and routine of my workaday life has kept me going, as well as feeling the love from friends and family both near and far. I know we’re being seen and that our efforts are not in vain.

I will admit that nearly every day, I long for the Big, Beautiful Obituary and yet I know that even when it comes, there will be plenty more work to be done. I hope that I will be ready for the clean-up that must inevitably follow all of this turmoil. I know that I won’t be alone in my efforts — we stand together and we will never forget.