Hope Is Where You Find It

By Joanie Juster –

There is no denying that these are dangerous times, and it is all too easy to get sucked into the vortex of despair. From troops overrunning the streets of Washington, D.C., to the antidemocratic strongarm tactics of Governor Abbott in Texas, to Governor DeSantis ordering the Pulse Memorial rainbow walk to be painted over in Florida, to out-of-control ICE agents stealing people off the street, to starvation in Gaza, to whatever the heck is going on with the Ukraine negotiations, it sometimes it feels like the forces of hate and oppression that are currently rampant in our country are unstoppable, and we have no chance of reclaiming our democracy.

I know too well what that despair feels like. I recently found myself burned out, overwhelmed, and depressed, with nothing left to give. So, I unplugged for a week: picked up a book instead of my phone, and spent a week with my husband soaking up the stunning beauty that California has to offer. Instead of watching the news, I watched waves on the shore, otters playing, pelicans soaring, towering redwoods, and the night skies. I started to breathe again and regain perspective. My soul began to heal.

But the biggest surprise came one afternoon in the Santa Cruz Mountains, when I accidentally took a wrong turn off Highway 9. GPS led us astray, up a terrifyingly narrow, rutted, steep, and twisty road. I started panicking as the road led higher and higher into the woods, with no sign of a way out, and steep drop-offs on the sides. I had no choice but to keep going forward, finally lurching up one especially steep stretch—only to find it was a dead end.

I was in full panic attack mode. I stopped the car, paralyzed by fear. The only way out was to back my wimpy little rented Corolla down that dangerous hill, and I knew I didn’t have the skill to do it. My husband (who doesn’t drive) tried to calm me down, then got out of the car to look for help.

Within minutes, neighbors appeared out of nearby houses. Larry and Peter and Mark—folks who live in those seemingly inaccessible places in the mountains and therefore have all the necessary skills to survive there—came to our rescue. With great patience and competence, they gently helped me out of the car, then managed to carefully back it down that steep hill to a place where I could safely get back on the main road. They could have scorned us city folks who got stuck up there; they could have turned their backs and told us we were on our own. But they didn’t. They simply resolved the situation, while treating us as neighbors, with kindness and respect.

And that’s when I regained hope. America is filled with kind neighbors like Larry and Peter and Mark—people who, when their neighbors need help, step up and pitch in. I will forever be grateful to Larry and Peter and Mark for not only rescuing us that day (and not treating me like an idiot for my lack of driving skills), but also for restoring my hope in our country, and our future.

Hope is where you find it.

Stitching Us Together

The monthly workshops where you can help repair panels of the AIDS Memorial Quilt have found a new home. Having outgrown their previous locations in the Castro, the workshops in August moved to the San Francisco Public Library in Civic Center, to the Steve Silver Room on the 4th floor. All are welcome, and no previous sewing experience is necessary.

Workshops are held in San Francisco on the first Saturday of each month from 12–4 pm. Additional workshops are held the fourth Saturday of each month at the Quilt’s home in San Leandro, also from 12–4 pm. They are led by the legendary Gert McMullin, known as “The Mother of the Quilt,” along with National AIDS Memorial staff and longtime volunteers. These workshops not only repair the Quilt, but they also stitch together community. They are healing, they are fun, and there is pizza. What more can you ask for? For more info: https://tinyurl.com/QuiltSFPL

For a deeper understanding of the Quilt, and Gert’s extraordinary connection to it, see the new documentary Gert’s Boys, currently showing at film festivals, and available to watch online: https://tinyurl.com/GertsBoys

See the Golden State Valkyries on September 2

The Valkyries are the hottest ticket in town this summer. In their inaugural season they seem to be doing everything right—selling out every game, their merchandise flying off the shelves, and, of course, playing exciting basketball. And they are also working hard to connect with the community. On September 2, they are hosting a Breast Health Awareness Night. As we approach October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this is a good time to schedule your check-ups, review your health history, and know your personal risk factors. And in the meantime, go see a Valkyries game! https://valkyries.wnba.com/

Don’t Give Up, Especially in Advance

Yes, it’s scary out there, but remember that they can only win if we stop fighting. So, let’s make it harder for them. Don’t give up in advance. Don’t say, “What’s the use?” Americans who love peace and democracy far outnumber those who are trying to take those things away, so please: stay loud, and stay focused. We can win, together.

Joanie Juster is a long-time community volunteer, activist, and ally.

In Case You Missed It
Published on August 28, 2025