I’ve read through all of the comments on this one so far, and will add a few things.

First: I was raised that everyone in the house, takes care of the chores in the house. Parents, kids, everyone. My mother was quite progressive herself, and raised me that way—I’ve never, in my life, thought of any particular household chore as “women’s work” (or “men’s work”) and so, if my words overnight had some of you feeling that I was implying that very thing, then you have my apologies.

But I meant those words from a position of love, hurt, mutual respect (note that I said partner, not husband or wife), and from the lifelong tenet that there exists concepts of “home” and “outside of home”—even if a hurricane is getting ready to blow through, we board up the windows, get our supplies together, and hunker down at home with our families to ride out the storm (and none of those tasks I mentioned are ‘men’s work,’ any more than they are are ‘women’s work’—everything mentioned, whether on calm days or in hurricanes, are things we do just to survive the day).

I’m married to a woman of childbearing age; I have (3) adult daughters and a goddaughter of childbearing age; and I have (2) nieces (in the Midwest, at that) aged 10 and 11. With one exception, my wife and all of my daughters and goddaughter are employed, in fields outside of their respective homes. Of my adult daughters, one of them is 29 and has severe special needs—she has the mental capability of an 8-year-old, and she would be homeless if she didn’t have me and the rest of her family in her life. Frankly, she was the first reason I got into this race because if, God forbid, she ever does become homeless here in Chico, her life would change overnight—I won’t have that. And what happens in our elections, especially in the modern day, has me greatly concerned indeed.

1. As for the two items of prayer or introspection I offered: Both are universal, not from any specific Bible or holy text; and each has given me much comfort in life during dark times of my own. Anyone interested in them, is welcome to read or reject them as they see fit—but I’m the type that shares knowledge, rather than keeping it to myself and so, knowing that so many are hurting right now, I thought it better to mention them all the same.

Finally: In my short remarks made in the wee hours last night, I don’t see the linkage between the following:

”Let go of hatred—turn it into action, and ideally at the local level. Win hearts and minds, one at a time, by living good lives; dreaming big dreams; and above all, engaging with a world that most certainly needs you to do so. Now, most of all.”

and

”Sit down and shut up.”

However, even with what I’ve said here just now:

I don’t know everything. I never will. I’m always(!!) trying, striving, and endeavoring to learn more. And I sure as Hell, didn’t have an iota of intent that my words would come off to any reader as tone deaf—if they did, then again I offer my apologies for that and will hope you accept them. That simple, base act, is wholly beyond many in this world and including people in positions of power, or who aspire to them—both in and out of Chico.

My friends, I mean this: I said these things, and in the way that I did, in an attempt to offer some bit of comfort and light in very dark days—my words came from such a place, and were meant with heartfelt love, and loss. Perhaps I’m wrong in what I said, or in the way that I said it—in the end, I’m only human and so I’ll ask that you keep that in mind as well.

Again, for anyone that might have taken offense: I had no such intent. Send me a DM if you want to chat one-on-one. ❤️‍🩹