17 Comments
User's avatar
MelissaKeane's avatar

… the America we knew is gone. Truth.

John Keane's avatar

Yes, I do love the rhythm of the piece.

I fear the Republican new world will be neither brave nor kind.

Hannah Raquel's avatar

New here, love your writing. The end gave me chills.

Dan Keane's avatar

Welcome, Hannah! Glad to have you here!

Susan N's avatar

I just followed you on bluesky (snickster). Our family spent a lot of time in NZ in 2020-2024 (thru now). Was in Auckand, now in Wellington.

Dan Keane's avatar

Followed back! Nice to see you here! These have been stange years anywhere, maybe a bit less so down here...

nora keane's avatar

as you know, big brother, i am NOT A RUNNER. but still - we're gonna keep running our intervals over here. exhilaration and exhaustion, starts and stops, slow then fast then slow, coming home and looping back out again...

Dan Keane's avatar

Amen, sis. Thanks for this. You're a runner in all but the running part. Loops ahead, for sure. I'll follow you. Funny how even just a few days later the spooked-out halo has settled. I took the kids to school. I went to the gym. The wheel turns. Abrazos!!!

Susan Elliot's avatar

Love your avoidance tactic, So very beautifully written - thank you.

I turned off the technology and maintained radio silence until 11:30 am the next day when a friend sent a single word text 'Commiserations'

Inevitable I guess. Running a smart woman of (any) colour against a misogynist, old ,rich (so many more adjectives possible) white man was never going to be a winner - and so sadly it's still the America I knew.

Dan Keane's avatar

Thanks, Susan! Still avoiding the news here myself. RNZ all the way...

Zach Dodson's avatar

This is the best election response I have read. We were at the beach at Makara, also: moving, being.

Cathy Casey's avatar

Dan, I also love the pace of your writing; great visuals always pop into my mind when I read your work. I just walked the lake with your Mom; good medicine for these frightening times.

Dan Keane's avatar

Hi Cathy! Thanks so much! Wish I could've been there by the lake with you guys. Water helps, I think. Water just does its thing. Onward we go. Big hugs from NZ!!

Brad Weekly's avatar

In 1989 I ran the Portland Marathon, completing it in 3 hrs, 54 minutes. I was 3 years out of undergrad, in the best shape of my life with pretty much zero responsibilities aside from a job which, though I happy to have, did not really challenge or inspire me. Haven't really been a runner in the years since but haven't ruled out running entirely. I walk a lot now, and at the gym do enjoy a brisk uphill on treadmill. Best habits I have adopted recently include drinking less alcohol; going to bed early; intermittent fasting 17-20 hours most days and the aforementioned visits to the gym.

Agreed exercise comes with many benefits, not least dealing with anxiety and the pain living brings. Still, Wednesday night I reached for the brown bottle because I did not want to process what was happening. Today I remain in shock but moving toward grim acceptance and am resolute in my stance to never, ever concede an inch to those who have highjacked democracy.

Dan Keane's avatar

Running is whiskey for the soul! Kind of? Whiskey...is also whiskey for the soul.

Rachel Shenk's avatar

I always love the rhythm of your writing. It helps, in this case, that I am a runner…

Dan Keane's avatar

So you know! I'm only just getting back into it again. God it's hard...but good for the head...