Remembering January 6 (On My Daughter’s twentieth Birthday)
I used to be on a primary date on January 6, 2020, strolling on Stinson Seaside with a beautiful artist who I wound up happening 5 dates with earlier than he determined he wasn’t into me. We had been lower than an hour into our date, marveling with some unhappiness at an array of lifeless blue jellyfish sprawled on the sand, when somebody from my household texted me in regards to the rebellion.
“Is it an indication?” my date requested. I wasn’t positive if he meant the lifeless jellies or the assault on our nation’s Capitol constructing, however I might inform from his voice that he didn’t interpret it as a good signal.
It was additionally my daughter’s 14th birthday. She was born on 6/6/06 at 6lbs 6oz. My very Christian mom was frightened she may prove a satan child. However her angelic sweetness reassured us that the sixes had been only a coincidence.
Once I realized that her birthday would go down in infamy in our historical past books, the way in which September 11 has, I felt unhappy for her. It’s already type of a shitty birthday. The climate is at all times dismal and it’s so near Christmas and New 12 months’s that her birthday typically will get misplaced in busy vacation life. Many individuals try this factor of giving her one reward for each Christmas and her birthday, so she at all times will get somewhat ripped off, although she by no means complains about it.
We celebrated her birthday on January 4 this 12 months at Harbin Sizzling Springs as a result of she flew to Portugal to spend the second half of her winter break from faculty along with her father, who has expatriated to Portugal. So she misplaced 8 hours of her birthday on a flight from San Francisco to Lisbon, falling asleep on January 5 and waking up on the eve of her birthday, Portugal time. As soon as once more, she bought somewhat ripped off.
I miss her…the nest is empty once more. However much more so than that, I really feel each the gratitude of her delivery and the melancholy of remembering that fated January 6 when these of us who’re democracy-loving realized our nation had taken a darkish dystopian turn- and half of our nation was okay with that.
Now, issues have gotten darker with the invasion of Venezuela and the kidnapping of its President and his spouse with out Congress’s authorization solely 3 days earlier than the six 12 months anniversary of January 6. That frightens me and makes me scared for the way forward for not solely Venezuelans, but in addition freedom-loving Individuals, in addition to these in Greenland, Canada, and different international locations Trump has his eye on. The return of American imperialism just isn’t one thing I want to have a good time on my daughter’s twentieth birthday, though many in my nation appear to be cheering on the “may makes proper” Donroe doctrine Trump and his cronies are spouting off about.
However within the midst of all this darkness and concern, I’m additionally conscious of the returning of the sunshine. Every day for the reason that Winter Solstice, the solar is setting only a bit later, so I can stroll my canine on the seaside because the sky turns lavender only a bit longer earlier than they lock the gates. Every day for the reason that Winter Solstice, I really feel the stirring of spring just a bit bit nearer, because the narcissus and daffodils bloom right here in West Sonoma County. After seven straight days of pouring rain and widespread flooding, the solar got here out at present, on January 6, leaving steaming puddles within the meadow throughout from the barn I simply moved into. It looks like a day for galoshes and stomping in puddles, with care to not squash any worms or salamanders.
So there it is- the darkish and the sunshine, the hopelessness and the hope, the rain and the solar juxtaposed into the rainbow I noticed over Harbin Sizzling Springs on the day we celebrated my daughter’s birthday early.
With that juxtaposition at coronary heart, I’d like to share two poems by one of many writers from our author’s group The Author’s Calling, Ok L Aspden. She wrote them for the Winter Solstice and browse them in Monday’s gathering on Zoom. We had been all blown away. When you love what you learn, you’ll be able to observe her on Substack at http://safespaceforwobblyhumans.Substack.com and study extra at her web site www.klaspden.com.
And when you’d like to affix us for our subsequent gathering of The Author’s Calling on Zoom, we welcome all writers of all expertise ranges. We now have fairly just a few new members this month, so we’ll be serving to welcome and combine the brand new of us. Be a part of us right here.
Northern Hemisphere
By Ok L Aspden
It’s the darkest day
and all just isn’t misplaced.
We nonetheless have candles in our houses.
It’s the darkest day.We’re forlorn
apart from the faces
who look out from their home windows,
meet us in a gesture of recognition.
It’s the darkest day.
Don’t depart your greatest outfit
within the wardrobe
hanging on for that special day.
Dress your self in delicate, elegant cloth.
Put jewelry round your neck, your wrist,
pin it to your clothes.
Sparkle nonetheless you’ll be able to.
It’s the darkest day.
Nobody can steal your dignity.
Nobody can rob your glimmering gentle.
Nobody can take the values that shine
by your translucent physique.
Maintain on.
It’s time for us to collect, to shine from our corners
earlier than nightfall falls.
Maintain on
and hope
for morning.
The Morning After the Darkest Day
By Ok L Aspden
Issues will develop brighter
you’ll see.
Slowly at first.
Issues will develop lighter. Heavy coats
will slip from shoulders.
Boots will probably be kicked off. Steps
will discover their spring once more.
Outdated canines will sniff at doorways to stroll their lengthy walks
as a substitute of curling up of their beds.
Snowdrops will peep out from the mud.
Kids will go searching for fairies
within the wooden. Neighbours will chat
over backyard fences. Curtains
drawn in opposition to the chilly will probably be opened.
Hearts will probably be flung extensive. Heat rays will come and go
from the skin.
Folks will start to belief once more
to unlearn the language of concern
to shine
and never be afraid of the darkish.