Gosh what a year it’s been. None of it has gone the way I expected.
Way back in January, my family and I got out of town for MLK weekend. While staying at a cabin on a pond, I watched fat flakes drifting through the trees and felt at peace.
That was January 19.
On January 20, we packed up the car and drove back to DC. As we pulled onto the highway around noon, the snow started again, and for some reason, it now felt oppressive and ominous.
A week later, my job and career had effectively ended, along with that of my spouse and most of my social circle.
I’m sharing this now not to try to add to the many other voices who have spoken out about the end of USAID. I waited this long because I wondered whether it was even safe to do so. I’m just sharing it because it happened to me, and that was supposed to be what this blog was about, and I don’t know how to continue without acknowledging that it happened.
But the truth is I don’t really know how to talk about it. I worry about coming off as angry or bitter. I’ve gotten past those feelings. In true dad form, I’m not mad, just disappointed. I wish things had gone differently.
We’ll find a way. There’s still plenty of things left to fix in this world.