Hello, lovely mothers of Bastrop,

It’s been a couple years. I didn’t mean to go so long without an update, but I had a baby and everything changed, especially me. I know you know exactly what I mean.

Every child is a new revelation of the self. And a new perspective on what’s important.

So, this newsletter wasn’t as important as my overall health while having a tiny baby. And that’s chill.

Anyway, there’s one thing I got really right with this newsletter the first time around and that was focusing on local community. I just didn’t really know what it meant to strengthen that, but I got a crash course this past month.

If you are connected with me on socials, you know I have been deeply involved with a group of neighbors fighting the Pacifico project in Cedar Creek. We are called Lost Pines Watch.

[If you don’t already know about the power plant Pacifico is planning in Cedar Creek, I highly recommend you dig in, because it will effect every single one of us in Bastrop County. You’re not too late, it’s been obscured by design.]

I have learned so much from working beside this group of people quietly, fervently working to stave off a multibillion dollar portal-to-hell project. But the most powerful thing is this: when shit really hits the fan, all we have is each other, neighbors.

No one is coming to save you. No president, no elected government official.

All I have is you. All you have is me. We are it.

When a DC-funded private equity firm decides to fund a natural-gas power plant that we know are monstrous polluters and stealers of health, to power a hyperscale (read:freaking giant and godforsaken) data center that will exploit the well-being and wealth of everyone within miles, the only people who will fight for us is us.

And this has been a matter of the heart—to not let political affiliations matter as we find allies. To simply be humble, and say, “I don’t know everything, neither do you, let’s see how we can work together to solve an astonishing problem.”

Left vs right? How quaint. It’s the state vs us.

It’s the technocratic oligarchy vs the common people.

Of course, this takes a shape in politics and yeah, I think Cruz and Abbott should get gone—not because I’m a democrat (I’m not anything)—but because I judge leaders and officials based on verifiable behavior and words—and they have proven their dedication to data centers and power plants at enormous personal and spiritual cost to their constituents.

So yeah, vote, but don’t like make it your whole morality. I don’t have to tell you it’s boring and ineffective.

If you are reading this, you probably already get it. You understand that all people are nuanced, infinitely complex, and seemingly contradictory. And the idea of politcal righteousness is exhausting and counterproductive to actual solutions.

So let’s start where we agree: in the wild. In the clean air of the big Texas sky, abundant water for our children in the hot heat of summer, some boisterous calves and wildflowers on our long, long drives, hyperlocal honey made by contented bees, clean swimming holes and pristine springs, weird plants, vibrant wildlife and a night sky that makes you feel psychedelically tiny.

Turns out, all I have to do is love all this stuff more than hate I anyone else.

With love,

Elise

It’s just more accurate to what you might see here. And mama was confusing to spell. I drew this logo. Cute, huh?

Our website will change to bastropwildmother.com. It may take a moment as we get it switched over.

This thing is still taking shape. But I know it’s gonna be cool.