On The Edge of Calm

 2020 has been a year of complete chaos.  Wouldn't you agree?  From the beginning we witnessed the demise of one of basketball's greatest athletes, Kobe Bryant, and if that wasn't enough, just a few short months later we learned that a deadly virus had affected a few Americans and if contained would not affect the rest of us.  We know now that over 50 million worldwide have contracted this virus and over 1.25 million have died.  Because of this, we were forced to be shut down here in the US as they were all across the globe without interaction with our co-workers, our friends and our family members outside of our immediate households.  Grandparents were separated from their grandchildren and businesses were closed leaving some people without a job.  Lines to shopping centers became almost non-existent but lines for food and bare essentials stretched for miles. Essential workers made our day by keeping some of our favorite restaurants open and delivery services going strong.  This at least gave us some hope that things would return to normal.  But what would normal look like and how soon would we see it.  The chaos continued with the death of Rayshard Brooks, Daniel Prude, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd and so many others killed at the hands of police officers who had no regard for their lives.  Protestors took to the streets to voice their anger and outrage and to make their voices heard.  Our new heroes were healthcare workers.  We saluted them for their undivided attention to our loved ones and their sacrifices to be there for a world that was slowly fading away. 

We listened to a President who spoke words still of division and discord that awakened those who already had a hate for people of color.  Our country became divided not only by race but by political affiliation and our core beliefs.  The President's words gave right winged organizations life while others were silenced and made to feel insignificant because they cared or were marching for their rights. Nature too had a hand in our chaos with it's fires and hurricanes, explosions, tornadoes, earthquakes and mud slides that left people homeless, businesses leveled and others dead.  Our kitchen tables, bedrooms and living rooms were becoming offices and work stations, daycares and classrooms, gyms and recreation centers because our places of employment, public gyms, restaurants with indoor dining and schools closed because of the pandemic.  News anchors and reporters were working from home trying to decorate our days with current events and keep us informed of new developments in our now changed world. Drive ins and drive bys took on a new meaning and instead became the norm for graduations, birthdays and celebrations of life and love. Human interaction became stagnant and many watched life happen outside from their windows. The word lockdown became a part of everyday life and was no longer just associated with criminals who were on house arrest.  Chaos was our middle name and was becoming a way of life until there was a glimmer of hope.

That glimmer was Joe Biden who had decided to run for President.  At that moment we who were down trodden and full of despair...we who were grieving the loss of our loved ones who had succomb to Covid-19 and to the loss of our jobs.  We whose bank accounts had decreased substantially because paychecks were no longer given rather stimulus checks were expected...had hope. There was hope for family interaction again and jobs being restored if we could get someone in office who may care about our health and the well being of our country.  If we can get someone in office who may respect the opinions of expert health officials and scientists.  If we get someone in office who may show more compassion and empathy for people who are suffering and hurting; for people who witness their loved ones being killed for no apparent reason;  someone who will show support for those in office who have passed away no matter their party affiliation or beliefs then, I believe our chaos will change to calm.  We are truly on the edge of calm now that Joe Biden has been named the President Elect.  We are truly on the edge of calm now that women, and women of color can see themselves in one of the highest offices in our land because of Vice-President Elect Kamala Harris. We are truly on the edge of calm because we hear from Joe Biden words that should bring us together and make America not only great again but safe as well.  This calm is no small feat and I know it will take months if not years to get us back to a place of unity but it can happen one person at a time if we all put aside our differences and come together to make America strong again.  It is that American strength that will get us through anything the world or nature can throw at us. Until next time...