Blogroll…

#BLM

Yesterday, we visited the Lee Statue which has, for the past three weeks, been the site of protest, and yes, graffiti.   It was quite moving. As I walked around it, with the memory of all the news reports over these last weeks and months and years, I realized that this was a symbol of grief unspoken (or at least, unheard) for too long.

The black community has tried to tell us there is something wrong with our world. Colin Kaepernick tried to do it quietly, respectfully. (I’m Catholic, you spend a good bit of time in church, on your knees. Kneeling is respectful. You kneel to propose, you kneel before a king or queen). But, we told him, NO! You can protest, but not THAT way, either.

So, spray paint it is. Loud, boisterous and sometimes vulgar. There was, first, the anger. Those first few days of protest got the raw emotions out around the country. What are the five stages of grief? It has morphed, now, here, into a place of memorial, and peace, fellowship — free water for anyone who needs it, under a tent, People to discuss issues with at hand, available informally like docents in museums– JUST START TALKING to someone you see, and you can’t help but learn something–and activism (Register to VOTE at one tent while you are here).

Surrounding the statue, every 10 feet or so encircling the base are laminated sheets of paper, with the stories of loss.  There are the names we all know– Trayvon, Amadalu, and so many other voices that were silenced.   We went on a Thursday afternoon. I was thrilled to see such a variety of ages and colors and physical wellness in those who were visiting. There were so many young people, using this as a backdrop for casual portraits, there was a young black man standing halfway up the pedestal, reading poetry he wrote while a friend recorded him.

It was supposed to feel so very sad; to be forced to see all the evidence of death, of police brutality. But it really felt so very positive to have the mom with her two little blond girls, going quietly from photo to photo, reading and learning — saying their names. We have a long way to go, but removing statues of people who fought against this country and lost would be a great first start.  (I am editing this on 4/2/21 to NOTE— I read through this blog today and was struck by—-There was FREE WATER BEING OFFERED TO THOSE WHO CAME TO VISIT, yet, GEORGIA has said NO WATER TO THOSE STANDING ON LINE FOR HOURS TO VOTE)

https://www.rteest42.com/StatebyStateTravelog/Virginia-is-for-Lovers/Lee-Statue-BLM-/ See my entire gallery.

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR…

OTHER than being forced by the big, bad government and the fines they impose for non-compliance, WHY do you-

Wear a seatbelt.

Stop at intersections, stop signs, etc.

Drive on the correct side of the road.

Wear a shirt into a supermarket.

Not reach into open cash registers and help yourself to money.

Stop at cash register to pay for things you want.

How inconvenient do you find these restrictions on your id? On your desire to HAVE that candy bar, even if you have no money?

The answers should go something like this:

(Remember, we took away any of the the “it’s the law” or “they made me do it” excuses)

1-Even though I AM A GREAT DRIVER, and have NEVER even been pulled over for a broken tail-light, I have no control over all the other people on the road. I can’t control road conditions or the fact someone else is driving impaired, or sudden brake failure. I wear a seatbelt because it is less inconvenient and costly than a week in the hospital, or someone having to go to my kid’s school and tell them I died in a wreck.

2. I am not the only car on the road. If I want to get to my destination safely, I need to rely on the kindness of strangers who are also looking to the left and the right before driving through where I want to put my vehicle– only one of us can safely occupy that space at a time.

3. What are the lines for anyway? Does it even make a difference, if I want to be closer to the other side of the road? I mean, it’s more comfortable to me, the way my brain works, to be on that side.

4. Who decided is not considered sanitary for the general public to be parading around with their unwashed, uncovered bodies in the produce aisle. Why would someone think it’s not socially acceptable to be letting us all have to bask in the glory of your beer belly, your six pack or your lack of lingerie. Come on, man, freedom!

5. The answer really is not—I don’t feel like working for money or I work harder than I should for less money than you anyway, so I am entitled to helping myself to what I need. I think money a false social construct. But, they say money makes the world go round, so I will just help myself to some of the money in that register while you aren’t looking.

6. I will pay for the candy bar with the money I took in 5, thanks so much, I wanted a SNICKERS a LOT. I get that SOMEONE ELSE will ultimately pay for that candy bar, but I was HANGRY and low on cash…

JUST WEAR A MASK. BE INCONVENIENCED. DO it for other people. Act kind of like you are a part of a society that is reliant on each other. LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF, (mark 12:31) even.

No one knows if you had COVID-19 that you can’t get it again, or that you are or aren’t contagious.

NO ONE. (your friend the pet groomer’s opinion is no substitute for the entirety of the CDC or WHO)

If you are walking around without a mask, no one is aware that YOU (think) you had it, and therefore YOU THINK you are invincible. They think you are an inconsiderate lout who doesn’t care about other people.

But– IF you are so bulletproof, hie thee to a hospital and volunteer to help COVID-19 patients in any way you can non-medically because they are overworked and stressed–without a mask, of course.

Becoming

I just finished listening to “Becoming”, by Michelle Obama.

I am not typically an audiobook person for THE FIRST time around, I should clarify. I love to listen to well-worn tales that I can zone out on for a bit without having to rewind wondering WHAT just happened??? So, I will often re-listen to 100 Years of Solitude or Hitchhikers Guide or Outlander.

However, the wait list at the library was months long for both book and audiobook, so I put both on hold, and the audio arrived first.

9781524763138_p0_v6_s550x406-1Read it.  Listen to it.  Play it during the to and from school commute with your children. Any child should know that THEY have space in their world to BECOME ….

It is gentle, funny, inspiring and so truthfully told.

It starts at the very beginning, a very fine place to start, and it made me think back on my childhood, my recollections and wonder at how many things, if I REALLY thought about them, influenced me in ways I am not aware of, until I start to think about them carefully.

Can I recall tales like these? Or ike the absolutely hysterical recollection my husband has of getting on his bike and running away to grandma’s house because of…. yeah, HE  will have to tell THAT tale 🙂

Probably. I can, if prompted, and not required to put a date on things, tell all sorts of tales. Tales so similar to those that Michelle Obama tells of her 4 year old self…

There were many places I wanted to stop and write down a quote, and I didn’t… because, well, driving. So, on a little Google search, here is a list of some of them… Not  necessarily the ones that were the things that I had wanted to note… because some of them were more introspective in the margin kind of things…

I am sure I will read or listen again someday, but in the meantime I know that there is a whole list of library patrons waiting, so I sent it back early.