Hi all - since Twitter is like (a very crazy) family, I wanted to let you know my mom, Joan Brauer, died yesterday. She was 90 & in her typical blunt way, let us know it was her time. We’re a tight family & we’re sad but supporting each other. I’d like to brag about her a bit. /1

2/ My mom was a Long Island girl, daughter of a working woman who worked as an editor (at the UN!), a librarian, a legislative aide & helped coach writing in the Des Moines schools. She was political af. Basically everything you like about my Twitter comes via the X chromosome.

3/ She was an OG feminist who NEVER put younger feminists down (if you know, you know) & ALWAYS supported her daughter-in-law’s & granddaughters’ ambitions. She was a wonderful peasant cook who inspired her son & grandson to cook - because we couldn’t bear not eating her food.

4/ She was also a TIRELESS opponent of bigotry & a TIRELESS champion of the underdog & she (and we) are SO PISSED she can’t vote against Trump on last time. Here’s a thing she wrote a few years ago that gives you the vibe. So if you’re at all inspired by her ... (con’t)

5/ … I have a fitting way to memorialize her. Call a political party, candidate, or cause that fights hate & bigotry and ask for a phone shift, a text shift, whatever! It may seem scary but this voter contact is basic organizing & it works! The DFL link: https://www.mobilize.us/mn2020victory/ 

6/ She was only a recently a Minnesotan, but the Mn medical system took excellent care of her & is still taking care of my 92-year-old dad, who is bereft without his partner of 63 years. If you’ve read this far, here’s a photo of them saying goodbye for the last time … U all!