Should I, or shouldn't I?

A letter to "MAGA" family.

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Substack brings together so many big-hearted folks, you all have become family to me. So I’m going to get really personal because I’m in desperate need of your advice.

Normally for Christmas I send a group email to my family that is filled with love and holiday cheer. But this year being the worst in U.S. history, (topping 2016 and 2024), revealing the most vile inhumanity, something has changed.

I’ve been struggling with how to deal with my “MAGA” family members. They refuse to renounce “MAGA” even after the horrors of this past year, and I have reached my limit.

Mind you, I bailed them out after the 2008 sub-prime mortgage crisis, refinancing two of their homes, and providing financial support whenever needed, no questions asked, never asking to be repaid, even after they voted for Trump in 2016, 2020, and 2024.

They have all recovered financially and were able to refinance their homes, repay my loans, restore their credit, and are doing well. Yet they still believe the GOP is better at handling the economy than Democrats.

To her credit, my sister, a lifelong devout Christian, and political moderate, finally fiercely came out against Trump and MAGA.

But the rest of them remain in the cult. So I have decided not to send them my annual cash gift. Now I face the dilemma of how to break the news.

After the Big Ugly Bill passed in July, I blocked them on social media and went radio silent. I have thought long and hard, and decided to send their portion of my annual cash gift to one of their close family members and have them decide what to do with it.

Side note, I grew up working class poor, one of six kids, put myself through college, and worked hard to be able to support my family throughout my life.

Anyway, below is my draft email. Should I send it or not?

Do your worst. You know I have zero fucks left to give to “MAGA” so I can take any harsh criticism you can dish out. Either way, I’m sending it out tomorrow.

DRAFT EMAIL:

Dear [FAMILY MEMBER]:

As you know, every Christmas, I send out a family email wishing everyone Happy Holidays and announcing my annual cash gift. But 2025 has been the worst in U.S. history. America’s ugly inhumanity has been exposed.

As such, this Christmas, I have made the decision to no longer financially support any so-called “MAGA” family members. I have remained tolerant for too long, and I refuse to provide support to anyone who embraces this “MAGA” cult of hatred.

This has been a difficult decision. At first, I considered completely cutting off my “MAGA” family. But instead, I have decided to shift that decision to other close relatives. Therefore, I am sending you your usual annual Christmas cash gift. But I have also included the amount I would have sent to your “MAGA” [parents/son/daughter].

I’m aware of your “neutral” stance, that politics are beneath you. Well, it is now up to you to make the financial and political decision. You get to decide how much of the money I’m sending you to give to your “MAGA” parents/son/daughter.

You also get to decide how much to tell them about my decision. You don’t even need to reply to this email. It may be too divisive for you. But that is the goal of “MAGA,” to sow divisiveness and dysfunction. That’s on them. I’m not backing down.

By the way, I am also considering removing your “MAGA” parents/son/daughter from my will, as beneficiaries to my retirement funds, and my life insurance. However, at this time, it has been hard enough for me to make this petty inconsequential decision. So I will continue to meditate on that bigger decision.

All my love.

Auntie/Sister Lolo.

SPEAKING OF TMI

This fall, after getting stitches because I was rushing, I decided to finally get a General Practitioner.

My new GP ordered a full baseline physical, blood-work (urine, stool), mammogram, colonoscopy, and endoscopy. Sorry, TMI, but it’s important to discuss these things, especially now, since we may no longer have access to many of these services, even with my excellent work health plan.

On Friday, I had my final tests, the colonoscopy and endoscopy. Every one of my tests came back A+. I’m lucky to have the DNA of an old Russian babushka, I suppose.

Here’s a photo of me literally one minute after being woken up after the procedure by a hilarious male nurse, who yelled that the place was on fire. Very effective.

Before I had been put under, I heard that witty nurse messing with the neighboring post-op patient, talking on her cell phone to her husband, “Yes she’s all finished, we took her out front in the wheel chair, she’s waiting at the bus stop.” LOL. He is salt-of-the-earth in my book!

God bless all our healthcare workers. They are truly amazing.

Please take advantage of your health care benefits as soon as possible.

Happy Holidays and all my love.

P.S. SPEAKING OF ALL IN THE FAMILY

Rest in peace Rob Reiner and wife. The American President remains one of the most iconic movies, a breathtaking depiction of integrity in the highest office in the land, a paragon of greatness that Republicans are trying to destroy. We will NOT let them.

Namaste 🙏🏻💙