Eleven happenings upon this day, from the big to the small, that separate it from every other.

I set the timer for fifteen minutes and started. Here it is:

One

A boy lovingly searched for a cricket. This day, unlike many, was unsuccessful in this endeavor. So he moved on to other activities. But he circle back around. He will. And another day will dawn.

Two

A trio of boys waved goodbye to their mother from the front porch, a ritual they - and we - have performed almost without fail for years. Upon this day, there was fog, and there was the bittersweetness of absence and the hope of return.

a two-year old boy prepares to devour a giant cupcake.

Three

There are heavy hearts and many conversations about Afghanistan and the phrase I have seen repeatedly: “stunning collapse.” I cannot stop thinking about the impact it is having not only right now, but the impact of a Taliban-led government over the near future for families. For children. For women. For people just trying to live and survive.

Four

A good conversation with my sister about the Taliban’s 1996-2001 rule, the role of Soviets and Americans playing proxy chicken in the 1980s, the armament and radicalization and rise of extremist groups as the U.S. moved into ‘nation building’ and conquistadored our way into occupation beneath the moral triumvirate of God, glory, gold, or some variation, under the banner of heaven’s democracy. Note: there are not easy answers. These conversations are meant to be complicated, and there are many complicit in what is happening now. It’s easy to point fingers at politicians you don’t like or respect. It’s harder to do so with ones you do. But they gotta be called out too. So what do I think should be done? Short term and long term?

I don’t know.

I know these should be difficult conversations, and they need to keep happening. Because that’s the easiest thing to do: stop having them, because they don’t affect us and they’re a long ways away.

Five

We watched an episode of The Mysterious Benedict Society. Our daughter read the series a year or two ago and loved them; I have not, but am thoroughly enjoying the (fairly) all-ages, Series of Unfortunate Events-inspired tale of children saving the world from nefarious forces.

Six

A boy - two years old plus a day - fell asleep on me, twice, and there is magic of that small beating heart thumping against yours, with all its hummingbird-lion vitality and spirit taking a quick breather before plunging back into the carnival of living.

Seven

An 11-year old who has grown to love old printing presses and 1960s jazz. This boy, this man, this person. I love who he is and the changing, morphing excitement he creates into every day.

Eight

Raced down to the Post Office by 4.59 to get our 14-year old through the doors so she could get her latest order out from her Etsy shop. The commitment to quality, to timeliness, and to restless inventiveness in trying out new techniques and styles with her accessories, jewelry, and fabric accoutrements is inspiring. Would it be a surprise if I ended up working for her someday?

Not the world’s biggest. I could see it.

Nine

Two kids. Voices. Guitar, ukulele, singing their giggly hearts out to Hamilton songs. No matter the terrible news hurricaning in from many directions, it’s hard not to feel a bounce to life hearing kids make music with joy and abandon.

Ten

Etherium camped out around $3200, Bitcoin hanging on over 46k, Cardano sitting pretty at 2.12 upon this moment. That’s the update on the crypto I care about.

Speaking of investments and currency, got to see my parents for a few short minutes this evening, as they return from jet-setting their way around the Great Lakes region of earth. My dad shared two bags of airport trail mix and my mom told us tales about a terrific wedding and her seat mate Mo who is building a city. Yep. a city.

Eleven

COVID vaccines. The whole conversation about whether they should be mandatory, whether customers/employers/employees/whoever has the right to know if someone is or is not vaccinated, or whether they should be required for travel or work or _____.

There are two things I have to say right now.

Wearing a mask should not be a political statement. It is a simple, stupid, easy thing that might help a little, or might help a lot, or might help somewhere in the middle…but it’s certainly easy, it’s certainly not invasive, and it’s certainly something that would have been nice if every American had felt a calling to actively support. Not just within the bounds of the law, but within the bounds of human compassion, empathy, and kindness in taking a step - a very, very small step - to help mitigate the spread of this thing. So, so sad that that tiny little thing became a big deal. Mask-wearing never needed to be a giant conversation. The giant conversations should be about things like vaccines.
Because vaccines are a big deal. And even to a science-loving person of faith who believes largely in their effectiveness, I am still wary and - yes, hesitant - to put them in my body. I don’t like putting things in my body that don't belong. Caffeine is my hardest - and only - drug of choice. I don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t like taking medicine unless and except as a last resort…this is me getting naked with some of my health data and philosophy to some extent here. I don’t know a lot. I trust people who have studied and researched and worked in these fields to provide some type of reliable data, as well as those who interpret, simplify, summarize, and make recommendations. So am I vaxed up on COVID? Connect the dots. Point is, I do understand to an extent why many people are reticent or hesitant or just plain fearful of doing so. And as soon as we’re talking about government-mandated anything, my hair starts to rise. Not because I’m anti-gov. But because this is a big deal, and we have to treat it like it is and not treat people like they’re idiots for having questions or concerns about it.

These conversations should be tough. And we shouldn’t run from tough conversations.

And…we should always be able to a la carte our perspectives, opinions, positions, and political stances. Because I voted for Joe Biden doesn’t mean you know my position on everything.

There are lots of things to think about right now. And feel about. Amidst everything, I hope whoever is reading this finds some baby rainbow moments in today and tomorrow.

Love ya. Bye.