You are always able to express so eloquently what I am feeling. Reading The Black Place reminded me of what you wrote in 2020.
“I don’t believe I hope. I believe in facts and history. I believe my own eyes and ears. I believe the American people deserve the truth about what happened to their country.”
Appreciate the quote from Sarah. I don’t believe in hope either. When I finally gave up hope, there was a sense of freedom I didn’t expect. I could live Now instead of hoping I could live in the future. I felt free to act.
Even when reality is uncomfortable, I find it way more interesting. And way less work than trying to maintain the fairy tale we refer to as “The American Dream”.
& "everyone (in power) Knew" & were willing to sell the country for 30 pieces of silver-- in this case GOLD; in this case REAL Gold from Ft Knox & replace it with "VIRTUAL" (meaning FAKE) Gold... A ballzy move even for the Republican Party & everyone is "MEH".
Has Covid (Which can cause neurological impairments) broken everyone's brains?
The media has twisted people's brains into skeins so tight they double back on themselves. There is little quiet anywhere these days because quiet is stalked and killed by microphones and video cameras.
Thank you. This one really connects. I’ve painted at Ghost Ranch a few times. O’keefe was a truth teller, like you.
And she painted lots of bones. And bones don’t lie.
I appreciate your integrity. A rare gift. And a high card.
My brilliant daughter was leading 27 scientists developing new cancer treatments until last month. Her division was shut down by Musk’s shutting off NIH. Her heart is broken.
I have no words yet to clarify my rage. I’m thankful for yours.
Thank you for your kind words about the article. I’m upset to hear about your daughter and her research. Upset doesn’t really cover it. I don’t talk about this much but my father has terminal cancer and was given a short time to live in 2023 — until he was entered into a clinical trial and given a new innovative treatment that has extended his life. The situation is still dire, he will die of this cancer — but he got more time, less pain, and the treatment gave my family hope. The work your daughter does means SO much. I’m putting it in present tense because there are so many furious people who understand the value of what she does that I’m not accepting that this battle is over. Anyway please thank your daughter for me. Maybe she worked on the trial that helped my dad. She certainly changed lives and that’s a remarkable thing; it matters greatly to every family with a cancer patient, and it will always matter. We are grateful for scientists like her.
So sorry about your Dad. My daughter’s specialty is multiple myeloma and similar cancers. She was monitoring the progress of hundreds of people in treatment. As I understand it, some of that monitoring is continuing until the NIH grant runs out next month.
No. We cannot accept this. I will never stop fighting for my daughter and her pioneering work. But we need to find a way to jump beyond the limitations of our media to reach people to make them understand what they and their families are being robbed of.
The worst cancer is in charge, and the country did it to itself with destructive habits and complacency. I hope your daughter will find another challenging and rewarding position, but she is a scientist and will always bear the weight of a task unfinished.
Complacent. A fitting word for way too many of us. And, I think, something our economic system promotes to keep our minds off the serious issues we have. Although I find Trump, Musk, Bannon, Miller, the Ghoul, et al to be absolutely repulsive, it may be what we need as the ice water for jolting us out of complacency.
I know the White Place intimately -- not a metaphor, I actually live close by and go there for walks when I'm in need of a silence that pierces the heart.
Thank you for your journeys to the dark and light, through heaven and hell, and your courage to share them with us.
Thank you! Someday I hope to return to the White Place when it's not nearly 100 degrees (and with a better sense of direction!) It was really beautiful despite our troubles. The beauty was why we got lost!
I'm not a religious person but I always think of this Bible quote at times like this:
“Son of man, say to the Israelites, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?"’
-- Ezekiel 33:10
And I often wonder, after reading your books and hoping like Hell we could pull out of this, how indeed, can we live now?
Sometimes the depression is too overwhelming for me. I tell people, at my age (62) I may be looking back with rose colored glasses, but watching what is going on now is like watching a loved one die.
Sarah, you are and have been (unfortunately) so right. I read your warnings and listened to them on Gaslight Nation. I have missed listening to you. Take care.
Barack Obama coined "yes we can." But we didn't. Too late but keep on, keep on. A voice teacher once told me he thought the most powerful word isn't love. It's yes.
Once upon a time, I tried to be like you. Visionary, artistic, knowing. But I got arrested and put on probation. Fear took over and I didn't want to see the truth anymore. I morphed into the establishment until I realized that death is not far away anymore. Now, I'm struggling to make up for lost time.
Sarah, thank you! I found your books back in covid times. For years I'd been feeling alone on a hill watching the sky darken with this approaching storm. It seemed like everyone around me was facing opposite direction, blinded with hopium. "What storm?!" "Don't be so negative!", I was told.
Reading your books was like having a friend come to stand next to me. But not only did you give validation for the foreboding that kept me up at night, your brilliantly accessible writing based on your decades of study, travel, research and reporting, all grounded in your courage and love of this land was the greatest gift. In spite of the grim facts that your work exposed, somehow there was relief to be found, along with the strength and resolve that comes from knowing the truth. Largely because of your books, although the current news is horrifying, I am not surprised by what has been happening. Every day brings something gut-wrenching and disgusting, but knowing the backstory that you so carefully laid out, the denouement is almost predictable. The storm is now upon us and thanks to your work there are more and more waking up to it and congregating on this black hill. If there is such a thing as hope, I think its wellspring is in darkness.
Whatever happens, it's good to feel amongst friends, and do what we can to create true freedom for all, together.
Thank you! If my books make you feel like a friend standing with you, there is no higher compliment — that’s what I want and I’m glad if it happened. I am glad if people feel less alone. Lord knows I needed books to have my back, especially growing up!
I loved this: For years I'd been feeling alone on a hill watching the sky darken with this approaching storm. It seemed like everyone around me was facing opposite direction, blinded with hopium. "What storm?!" "Don't be so negative!", I was told.
Sounded all too familiar, something I'm sure Sarah heard all the time.
Hope you don't mind, but I'm going to use "hopium" as a term when necessary. Cool coined word!
Even as a child I knew that Earth was a special place and watched the dishonour with which she was treated with sorrow, foreboding, and, I admit, rage. Having books and meeting places such as Substack has given me a sense of not being alone. I feel so much of the time as if I live among the walking dead…and they do not want to awaken….in spite of my efforts.
I traveled in many parts of the world when I was still able to do that. What a marvelous planet this is. People who are enamored of technology and whatever else they think the “modern” world has provided for them cannot even imagine the magic they have missed.
Thank you. I have preordered your latest book and am planning on reading it before I head out on my own road trip. Knowing I want to share as much of the land as I can, I am planning a spring break trip in April with my kids and granddaughters to see the National Parks in Southern Utah. I am terrified that this might be some of the last times we will see this beautiful country. Another cross country road trip is planned for June. I'm worried it wont even be possible by then. I will be making notes from your book and doing my best to see the hills to die on. Thanks again for your writing.
Thank you and good luck! I feel the same way. But I think so many people love and want to preserve these lands that stealing them will be one of the toughest battles of this regime. Conservation is a cause that crosses political boundaries, particularly when it comes to national and state parks and other beloved shared outdoor spaces.
I was in Zion just a couple weeks ago and the spirit of protest was strong. I don't care much for signs that resort to name calling and what-have-you but I have to say my favorite sign was the one that read, "Elon Musk Hikes the Narrows in Jeans!"
Bleakly pointed as ever but can’t help but notice the vital ingredient of hope is fading fast , tone wise, from this piece. Some of us still look to you for some element of that, even now. Andrea soldiers on admirably, vitally. But you are missed
You capture the depth of New Mexico. It's called the land of enchantment for a reason. There is a relentless saturation that happens to a body and mind that lives in NM. I know because I lived in Albuquerque for 40 years. Last August we moved from Taos to Columbus, Ohio so I could receive better medical care for my growing list of chronic ailments that come with old age. One ailment was chronic mountain sickness which is the depletion of oxygen due to high altitude. We lived in Taos (7,500 ft) for 12 years. The second day of our trip to Ohio, John looked at me and said, "I feel like we escaped." And it was true. People are always swept away by the cerulean sky, red sunsets, sweet air, the wafting sage, but to live there is hard. Very hard. It's one of the poorest states in the country. There are many artists who went to NM to quiet their insanity (Agnes Martin). But in reality it's a devastatingly gorgeous open air asylum that leaves every one as dessicated as a Georgia O'Keefe skull. I love New Mexico but this is the first time I don't ache to return.
I love New Mexico, it’s my favorite state to visit and I write about it a lot in my new book, The Last American Road Trip. (NM was my first American road trip!) But I also understand what you mean — I didn’t move there, because it overwhelms me. I feel like I save it for when I need it. When I go, it’s special, but I don’t know how that would translate to everyday living. And yes it is a difficult state to live in; though so is mine, with my favorite regions here, the ones that feel magical, being among the poorest. That’s one of the shared tragedies of America. New Mexico though holds a special place in my heart.
I was born and raised in New Mexico, and came back in 2020 to live here after 18 years away. I truly appreciate your writing - your deep reverence for this land is palpable. The land of enchantment is also known as the land of entrapment- for many, it is much harder to leave this place than to stay. For me, leaving made me ache for the clarity of sky and dirt here, and returning made me bow in deep appreciation to the slow erosion that shaped my early years. So much is raw and untouched. The harshness is the social harshness of a desert ecosystem- plants do slowly grow, but they are likely to stay isolated amongst the rocks and dirt, not able to find water ways to connect with each other. But in that isolation, it makes it possible to spend quality time with the vastness of the beautiful, ever-changing sky, with something profoundly larger than ourselves. The enchantment.
Thanks as always for your words. I can’t wait to read your new book!
Your love for this country as a place rather than a nation or an idea is very moving. Thank you.
Thank you for reading! And yes my love runs deep
You are always able to express so eloquently what I am feeling. Reading The Black Place reminded me of what you wrote in 2020.
“I don’t believe I hope. I believe in facts and history. I believe my own eyes and ears. I believe the American people deserve the truth about what happened to their country.”
Thank you! And thanks for remembering
Louise,
Appreciate the quote from Sarah. I don’t believe in hope either. When I finally gave up hope, there was a sense of freedom I didn’t expect. I could live Now instead of hoping I could live in the future. I felt free to act.
Even when reality is uncomfortable, I find it way more interesting. And way less work than trying to maintain the fairy tale we refer to as “The American Dream”.
Well said
& "everyone (in power) Knew" & were willing to sell the country for 30 pieces of silver-- in this case GOLD; in this case REAL Gold from Ft Knox & replace it with "VIRTUAL" (meaning FAKE) Gold... A ballzy move even for the Republican Party & everyone is "MEH".
Has Covid (Which can cause neurological impairments) broken everyone's brains?
The media has twisted people's brains into skeins so tight they double back on themselves. There is little quiet anywhere these days because quiet is stalked and killed by microphones and video cameras.
Ouch! But man this sounds right on.
I remember this too and thanks for reminding me again.
It bears repeating.
Thank you. This one really connects. I’ve painted at Ghost Ranch a few times. O’keefe was a truth teller, like you.
And she painted lots of bones. And bones don’t lie.
I appreciate your integrity. A rare gift. And a high card.
My brilliant daughter was leading 27 scientists developing new cancer treatments until last month. Her division was shut down by Musk’s shutting off NIH. Her heart is broken.
I have no words yet to clarify my rage. I’m thankful for yours.
Thank you for your kind words about the article. I’m upset to hear about your daughter and her research. Upset doesn’t really cover it. I don’t talk about this much but my father has terminal cancer and was given a short time to live in 2023 — until he was entered into a clinical trial and given a new innovative treatment that has extended his life. The situation is still dire, he will die of this cancer — but he got more time, less pain, and the treatment gave my family hope. The work your daughter does means SO much. I’m putting it in present tense because there are so many furious people who understand the value of what she does that I’m not accepting that this battle is over. Anyway please thank your daughter for me. Maybe she worked on the trial that helped my dad. She certainly changed lives and that’s a remarkable thing; it matters greatly to every family with a cancer patient, and it will always matter. We are grateful for scientists like her.
So sorry about your Dad. My daughter’s specialty is multiple myeloma and similar cancers. She was monitoring the progress of hundreds of people in treatment. As I understand it, some of that monitoring is continuing until the NIH grant runs out next month.
No. We cannot accept this. I will never stop fighting for my daughter and her pioneering work. But we need to find a way to jump beyond the limitations of our media to reach people to make them understand what they and their families are being robbed of.
The worst cancer is in charge, and the country did it to itself with destructive habits and complacency. I hope your daughter will find another challenging and rewarding position, but she is a scientist and will always bear the weight of a task unfinished.
Judith,
Complacent. A fitting word for way too many of us. And, I think, something our economic system promotes to keep our minds off the serious issues we have. Although I find Trump, Musk, Bannon, Miller, the Ghoul, et al to be absolutely repulsive, it may be what we need as the ice water for jolting us out of complacency.
I know the White Place intimately -- not a metaphor, I actually live close by and go there for walks when I'm in need of a silence that pierces the heart.
Thank you for your journeys to the dark and light, through heaven and hell, and your courage to share them with us.
Thank you! Someday I hope to return to the White Place when it's not nearly 100 degrees (and with a better sense of direction!) It was really beautiful despite our troubles. The beauty was why we got lost!
Yeah, that would be brutal! Next time you're in the area, feel free to reach out. I love helping people connect to the extraordinary beauty and culture of the Tewa homelands. You might appreciate this -- https://postcardsfromnewmexico.substack.com/p/may-5-lilacs-and-querencia
I'm not a religious person but I always think of this Bible quote at times like this:
“Son of man, say to the Israelites, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?"’
-- Ezekiel 33:10
And I often wonder, after reading your books and hoping like Hell we could pull out of this, how indeed, can we live now?
Sometimes the depression is too overwhelming for me. I tell people, at my age (62) I may be looking back with rose colored glasses, but watching what is going on now is like watching a loved one die.
Hang in there and continue loving those near you. It matters and you'll feel better for spreading and sharing your heartfelt YOU.
Sarah, you are and have been (unfortunately) so right. I read your warnings and listened to them on Gaslight Nation. I have missed listening to you. Take care.
I’ve been both places too, geographically and metaphorically. Such beautiful, heartbreaking writing.
Barack Obama coined "yes we can." But we didn't. Too late but keep on, keep on. A voice teacher once told me he thought the most powerful word isn't love. It's yes.
And sometimes, Steve, the most powerful word is “No”. It’s discernment that helps us choose the appropriate one.
Once upon a time, I tried to be like you. Visionary, artistic, knowing. But I got arrested and put on probation. Fear took over and I didn't want to see the truth anymore. I morphed into the establishment until I realized that death is not far away anymore. Now, I'm struggling to make up for lost time.
Sarah, thank you! I found your books back in covid times. For years I'd been feeling alone on a hill watching the sky darken with this approaching storm. It seemed like everyone around me was facing opposite direction, blinded with hopium. "What storm?!" "Don't be so negative!", I was told.
Reading your books was like having a friend come to stand next to me. But not only did you give validation for the foreboding that kept me up at night, your brilliantly accessible writing based on your decades of study, travel, research and reporting, all grounded in your courage and love of this land was the greatest gift. In spite of the grim facts that your work exposed, somehow there was relief to be found, along with the strength and resolve that comes from knowing the truth. Largely because of your books, although the current news is horrifying, I am not surprised by what has been happening. Every day brings something gut-wrenching and disgusting, but knowing the backstory that you so carefully laid out, the denouement is almost predictable. The storm is now upon us and thanks to your work there are more and more waking up to it and congregating on this black hill. If there is such a thing as hope, I think its wellspring is in darkness.
Whatever happens, it's good to feel amongst friends, and do what we can to create true freedom for all, together.
Thank you! If my books make you feel like a friend standing with you, there is no higher compliment — that’s what I want and I’m glad if it happened. I am glad if people feel less alone. Lord knows I needed books to have my back, especially growing up!
This is why I like the audio versions, but I end up getting the real books for “research”. Thank you for your wise presence.
Well said, I feel the same way and it's what I often tell people when I recommend that they read Sarah's works.
Hey at Brab,
I loved this: For years I'd been feeling alone on a hill watching the sky darken with this approaching storm. It seemed like everyone around me was facing opposite direction, blinded with hopium. "What storm?!" "Don't be so negative!", I was told.
Sounded all too familiar, something I'm sure Sarah heard all the time.
Hope you don't mind, but I'm going to use "hopium" as a term when necessary. Cool coined word!
Ditto Brab.
Even as a child I knew that Earth was a special place and watched the dishonour with which she was treated with sorrow, foreboding, and, I admit, rage. Having books and meeting places such as Substack has given me a sense of not being alone. I feel so much of the time as if I live among the walking dead…and they do not want to awaken….in spite of my efforts.
I traveled in many parts of the world when I was still able to do that. What a marvelous planet this is. People who are enamored of technology and whatever else they think the “modern” world has provided for them cannot even imagine the magic they have missed.
Thank you. I have preordered your latest book and am planning on reading it before I head out on my own road trip. Knowing I want to share as much of the land as I can, I am planning a spring break trip in April with my kids and granddaughters to see the National Parks in Southern Utah. I am terrified that this might be some of the last times we will see this beautiful country. Another cross country road trip is planned for June. I'm worried it wont even be possible by then. I will be making notes from your book and doing my best to see the hills to die on. Thanks again for your writing.
Thank you and good luck! I feel the same way. But I think so many people love and want to preserve these lands that stealing them will be one of the toughest battles of this regime. Conservation is a cause that crosses political boundaries, particularly when it comes to national and state parks and other beloved shared outdoor spaces.
I was in Zion just a couple weeks ago and the spirit of protest was strong. I don't care much for signs that resort to name calling and what-have-you but I have to say my favorite sign was the one that read, "Elon Musk Hikes the Narrows in Jeans!"
Beautiful. I thank you.
Bleakly pointed as ever but can’t help but notice the vital ingredient of hope is fading fast , tone wise, from this piece. Some of us still look to you for some element of that, even now. Andrea soldiers on admirably, vitally. But you are missed
You capture the depth of New Mexico. It's called the land of enchantment for a reason. There is a relentless saturation that happens to a body and mind that lives in NM. I know because I lived in Albuquerque for 40 years. Last August we moved from Taos to Columbus, Ohio so I could receive better medical care for my growing list of chronic ailments that come with old age. One ailment was chronic mountain sickness which is the depletion of oxygen due to high altitude. We lived in Taos (7,500 ft) for 12 years. The second day of our trip to Ohio, John looked at me and said, "I feel like we escaped." And it was true. People are always swept away by the cerulean sky, red sunsets, sweet air, the wafting sage, but to live there is hard. Very hard. It's one of the poorest states in the country. There are many artists who went to NM to quiet their insanity (Agnes Martin). But in reality it's a devastatingly gorgeous open air asylum that leaves every one as dessicated as a Georgia O'Keefe skull. I love New Mexico but this is the first time I don't ache to return.
I love New Mexico, it’s my favorite state to visit and I write about it a lot in my new book, The Last American Road Trip. (NM was my first American road trip!) But I also understand what you mean — I didn’t move there, because it overwhelms me. I feel like I save it for when I need it. When I go, it’s special, but I don’t know how that would translate to everyday living. And yes it is a difficult state to live in; though so is mine, with my favorite regions here, the ones that feel magical, being among the poorest. That’s one of the shared tragedies of America. New Mexico though holds a special place in my heart.
I was born and raised in New Mexico, and came back in 2020 to live here after 18 years away. I truly appreciate your writing - your deep reverence for this land is palpable. The land of enchantment is also known as the land of entrapment- for many, it is much harder to leave this place than to stay. For me, leaving made me ache for the clarity of sky and dirt here, and returning made me bow in deep appreciation to the slow erosion that shaped my early years. So much is raw and untouched. The harshness is the social harshness of a desert ecosystem- plants do slowly grow, but they are likely to stay isolated amongst the rocks and dirt, not able to find water ways to connect with each other. But in that isolation, it makes it possible to spend quality time with the vastness of the beautiful, ever-changing sky, with something profoundly larger than ourselves. The enchantment.
Thanks as always for your words. I can’t wait to read your new book!
“No matter what happens, rocks stay the same. Rocks don’t let you down like people.” Amen, Sarah.
Amazing. Stark. jarring and real. Thanks for writing & sharing.