Natural disasters. National disaster.

I'm over here building an ecosystem out of native plants and a home to withstand as much as possible, to provide what shelter I can, and fighting back against this shortsighted kleptocracy. I want to deliver a verdant world that outlives me.

Sometimes, it all feels really feeble. But, I've made a commitment to a tiny baby, so I carry on trying to build a better world for him, his cohort, and beyond.

There will be more than enough suffering even without that of our own creation. I can't even read about Scott Pruitt's gutting of the EPA without raging, thinking that Trump's base voted the way they did because they wouldn't live long enough to see the awful results. The ultimate, ignorant selfishness.

I've lived through major floods. I've been reminded of how small we are against storms. Shredded environmental protections deepen our misery when we are already so vulnerable to the power of this planet, and every cut we inflict upon the natural world rains pain down upon us.

We can choose something else.

I'm going to keep planting these trees, keep building the bees a place to hide and the hummingbirds a patch to protect. This little Eden will stand in contrast to the fiery Hell awaiting those who turn their back on stewardship of this Earth.