I'm giving a very melancholy toast to President Obama tonight.

I'm late tonight because I went to another show (loves me some Sondheim!), and now, instead of going to bed so I can get up early and hit the treadmill before my kids wake up for school, I am typing on my tablet, watching Colbert, whisky in hand, privately toasting President Obama in my own way.  I think I'm afraid to go to sleep knowing what is awaiting us in the morning.

I don't want to spend time in this post with more whining and complaining.  If you have followed me thus far, you know where I stand; if not, go back and read some previous posts.  That, and there will be four years (maybe less if we're lucky) of opportunity and material; rest assured I won't stay quiet.

I just found this on Facebook from Patton Oswalt; if I am going to call myself a progressive socialist, I need to work hard to incorporate this into my life:

I don't know what to do tomorrow, either. Or the day after that or ANY of the days after that. We'll have to make it up as we go along. If it's any comfort, that seems to be Trump's plan, too.

I know there are protest marches planned for the 20th and ESPECIALLY for Saturday. And that's a great idea. I'm glad to see they're happening in "red" states as well as in D.C., Los Angeles and NYC. 

But I was thinking... 

Another thing you could do tomorrow, and Saturday? But ESPECIALLY tomorrow?
Leave your TV tuned to a channel like Turner Classic Movies or National Geographic or any channel that will have zero inaugural coverage. Then turn off your phone. Then shut down your computer. 

And then -- IF you can afford it -- go find a struggling theater company and pay to see whatever play they're putting on. Or a struggling art gallery or music club or museum. Leave 'em money and see what they're about. Go see an indie film that's got stellar reviews and no audience. Or a new restaurant or other small business that needs friends and customers. Download a new band. Go to an independent bookstore and buy something from a small press. Go to an open mike. Or see any comedian. Tip your barista or barkeep a little extra. 

In other words, do all of the cultural and aesthetic things that Trump thinks are worthless. Make a whole big chunk of existence suddenly spike in importance. And then keep doing that, if you can. 

And if you DON'T have any money? Go knock on your neighbor's door and see if they need anything. If you have a friend who's Muslim, or gay, or any one of dozens of people that Trump has sneered at or hinted darkly about, go say hi and just ask if they're okay. Tell 'em you've got their back. That they can come over any time, knock on the door, even if they just need someone to yell "FUCK" with. 

This is going to be loooooooooooong, tense four years. We elect leaders to take worry and tension OFF of our plates. We have enough of that as it is. But for some reason, we decided to put someone in charge where the everyday weight of keeping the world from cracking apart is COMPLETELY on our shoulders, along with everything else we already have to deal with. 

So if we're really going to fight back, and resist, the first thing we have to do -- and it's only a little thing, really, but it's gotta be everyday -- is an ongoing, gentle blowing on the tiny spark of sanity that's still left, to keep it glowing. 

We've got a President who bellows cold ignorance from dawn to dusk, and he could give a shit if he kills that spark. 

So keep it lit. And keep things light. And huddle up. 

This is gonna be bad. So be good.

I just can't say enough about President and Mrs. Obama.  They have done so much for us for the last eight years despite ridiculous, massive obstruction.  They have shown us what class, dignity, and integrity truly are.  Thank you and your family for your wonderful service to us and the sacrifices of your family.  We love you and you will be missed.