Just Wanna Talk

10/16/2023:

Dear Mama,

I’m not sure what I want to talk about, today. I just want to talk.

For the last few days, I have found myself looking at this new generation of kids, thinking back to my childhood and remembering when I thought YOU were so old! I’m at least 10 years older than you were at that time. Perspective is quite the patient teacher.

I remember the innovations of my youth, and think about how my kids and their generations were born after the advent of the computer revolution. To watch these kids, who know technology as intimately as they know a parent, or McDonalds, or a Cheez-It…..it’s phenomenally fascinating. Where I still have to study these things to figure out how to use them, for them? It’s as easy and intuitive and natural as talking.

Besides taking nostalgic trips through my memories and wondering what kind of magic these newer generations will bring to the world (Can you imagine? Can you imagine what they are gonna DO?), I’ve been listening to a lot of music, and singing again, and DANCING! And even though those memories aren’t quite as nostalgic, even though my voice isn’t as beautiful as it once was and I can hear you telling me to cut that out and not to be vulgar every time I tried to move my body to the music of my youth—I am enjoying moving my body again now. It makes me happy.

So on today, day 5,203,833 of the pandemic-apocalypse, I am checking in to say: I’m okay. How are you?

Love,

************************************************************************

Dear Me,

Not day 5,203,833 of the pandemic-apocalypse! LOL!

I am so glad the pandemic is over. Kinda. Sorta. For most of us. It is good to be able to walk about freely again, hug friends again, see everyone’s face again. Have you been able to get out of the house much, yet?

It’s also lovely to indulge in nostalgia where those good memories can float to the surface and remind us that there has always been joy, somewhere. Sometime.

I’m so sorry mama made you feel bad about dancing when you were a little one, because dancing is so FULL OF JOY! And singing. 🙂 The things this world does to us makes us move from fear and try to keep our kids safe by oppressing them. It’s our work, as adults, to remember we are safe and do those things that bring us joy even if someone else might judge us for it. Or try to stop us from indulging lest the violence find us and snuff that joy out.

Keep singing. Keep dancing. Keep being happy. Never stop, not for anyone or anything.

Love,

Mama

ps: I am doing well, thank you for asking. I’m not dancing much these days, but I take a lot of walks in nature, which makes me happy, too. 🙂