John,

OK. I confess! On Wednesday, I did something a little crazy — but it was totally fun and worth it.

Who would have thought any aspect of what I did would seem remarkable? 1. I took a taxi. 2. I flew on an airplane. 3. I left the state of Oregon.

It all felt kind of new, but also familiar. After all, before March 2020, I was traveling frequently. Yes, life is different now, and while I will admit to some nervousness around being (even masked) in busy airports — and flying in the middle seat in the back of a full plane — I savored every moment of my travels yesterday, because they led to the simple, joyous pleasure of hugging my 34-year-old son on his birthday in San Francisco! (And, yes, we are both fully vaccinated!)
 

On this Memorial Day, I truly hope you, dear friends, are having opportunities to enjoy simple pleasures of your own — and that you feel you’re beginning to get your lives back. I also hope the holiday weekend will provide you opportunities to get together with people you care about and with the freedom (thanks to these miraculous vaccines) to enjoy them at closer range than has been possible over other holiday weekends this past year-plus.

For my part, I will be glad to stay home with the family dogs, Banksy and Happy, while others in my "orbit" plan to travel — some near, some far. There's lots of work for me to catch up on, and there's always my political-side as the statewide elected AG, which is as much of a 24/7 assignment as I can imagine.

Which brings me to the "ask" part of this message. Fortunately, it's an easy one: Could you make a donation today? If not today-- before you heat up the grill on Saturday, Sunday or Monday, think about clicking our donate button and making a contribution to Ellen for AG. You are the key to my ability to do this work, and I will be thinking of you this holiday weekend.