My Year Of Creativity (June 2025)

Unedited

In early June, while the “Big Beautiful Bill” was on the minds of many, I packed in anticipation of leaving for Canada in the middle of the month. While I packed, the audio version of The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer, played through my AirPods; this is a fictional story, of a catholic Polish family during World War II and a modern-day family in America. I was immersed in this story; the small pieces of history that were mentioned about the Nazi takeover of Poland reminded me of some of the things happening in the country of my birth.

During this period in June, in the car, I listened to the news: the anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles were taking place; federal guards were sent to LA; and Alex Padilla was forcefully removed from a press conference; this was a pivotal moment in my eyes….

“If federal troops can deploy to Los Angeles against the wishes of the governor, the mayor and even local law enforcement, they can do the same tomorrow in your hometown,”. “This is a fundamental threat to the rule of law nationwide.”

-Senator Padilla

….it felt like our nation was dangerously self-destructing before the eyes of the world.

At night, while still at home, I worked on my only creation for the month: a birthday present for my daughter. This project was planned last fall when attending a small gem and mineral show, where I found Burmese Rubies. Knowing nothing about color and clarity, I purchased them with the intention of making a necklace for my eldest who was turning 25 in July. Rubies are her birth stone. Much of this ornamental chain was made during those for two weeks of June.

On June 14, I attended a No Kings rally. Like the other protests I attended, it was peaceful. The only disturbance were the counter protesters, in their MAGA truck, blowing exhaust into the crowd. This gathering seemed even more important when I learned the “targeted shooting” in Minnesota (broadcasted in the news earlier in the day) killed a lawmaker and a senator.

Three days later I crossed into Canada, at a very empty border. I arrived at my family’s summer lake home on June 17th and was alone on the property for the first time in my life! The week and a half that I was here by myself, was spent unpacking, organizing, and attending to cottage matters.

While I did my work, another audio book began: We Were The Lucky Ones By Georgia Hunter. By chance, this story also took place in Poland during World War II; this was about a Jewish family and at the end of the book I found out it is a true story. Like the previous book, there were things written, that felt familiar to the current situation in the United States. Each tale (one fiction, one fact) told a story of courage, resilience and hope.

My summer routine of walking four miles, almost every day, began the morning after I arrived. Never having been up quite this early, flowers that I didn’t know grew on our property and the surrounding areas were seen; they made me happy:

Swimming wasn’t on the the agenda for the first little while, as the pollen coated the top of the lake around our dock.

My third day at the lake, there were immense rains. The ruby necklace was almost completed the day of the summer downpour, but remained untouched for another week and a half. Each night after working all day, I went to bed too tired to work on the necklace.

Saturday June 23, when I was winding down for the night, my son sent a text to the family “We just bombed Iran. Idk if you heard yet but. Whatever happens happens I guess.” I was worried that the U.S. was going to war, but after a few days it seemed like it was a non-event.

While working on things around the property, I pondered the history of Nazisim. Since I did have some down time, web research was done. I needed a clear understanding on how this regime took over a large part of Europe. AI generated this succinct definition and a simple analysis for me:

Although the circumstances in the United States are different from Nazi Germany, there are many similarities. Read the AI synopsis carefully and see if you can make comparisons.

By my second week in Canada, the idea for Alligator Alcatraz, in my home country, was announced: “an immigration detention center with cages”. The facility was to be located on the edge of the Everglades, not in the national park, but with the same untamed surroundings. If for some reason, you have not been paying attention to the news, you can learn more by clicking this link:

https://www.npr.org/2025/06/24/nx-s1-5443268/alligator-alcatraz-florida-everglades-migrant-detention-center

The national park itself has vast beauty and wildlife amid the sea of grass…

Pictures taken during a trip in 2023 to The Everglades National Park

…but it isn’t a place for people to live.

As friends and family began to trickle into cottage country,over the next week, I was able to express my dismay over the disgusting things our country is doing to people with black and brown skin. Finally in the 20th hour of June 30th, I finished my daughter’s necklace.