Returnings

 Dear you,

In February, swarms of little brown birds appear at the condo complex and strip the red berries from the holly trees.  It is a thrilling sight.  There is a gorgeous holly by my balcony, so I get a closeup experience. But this year, no birds in February.  This made me sad.  I guessed the crowds and development were the cause.  But on Sunday, March 14, they finally returned!  They swept through the holly in waves and in a matter of hours, all the berries were gone.  This made me happy, the return of something beautiful.

Also returning were the spring break hoards.  This year, worse than ever.  The families are traveling in even larger packs and the teens and toddlers are even louder.  There are also very few signs of masks on the youth and forget about social distancing.  The return of something not so beautiful.  Some are trying to be civilized, but they are outnumbered by the maniacs.  Even the best are annoying.  Like the friends of the owners of the unit across the landing from me.  They checked in last weekend after midnight slamming, stomping, and screaming.  My unit shook.  I woke, went out my door and gave them the look.  I also gave them the order to move in with ease. I got the usual Southern Charm apologies and the next morning (after they woke me at 6 AM with more slamming, stomping, and screaming), they left a vase of wilted, cut flowers at my door with a note.  The note opened with these words:  “We are truely sorry . . .”   Truly with and E.  I could not read further.  I placed the flowers by their door and tossed the note.  I also avoided running into them, which took way too much effort.  They checked out today and I have PTSD.

And then there’s another return, according to an Associated Press release, “a decades old ban on yoga in Alabama public schools could be coming to an end.” They banned yoga?  For the love of god, the state of my birth just keeps rolling out the stupid.   I didn’t even know about this.  Back in 1993, the state Board of Education voted “to prohibit yoga, hypnosis and meditation in public school classrooms.  The ban was pushed by conservative groups.”  No kidding.  Because we all know how dangerous calming meditation and self-reflection are.  Now, the Alabama House of Representatives voted to lift the ban if schools want to.  It is now moving to the Senate.  Wow!  How progressive! A good return! But no. The bill lifting the ban still orders “yoga done in school would be limited to poses and stretches” and “the use of chanting, mantras and teaching the greeting ‘namaste’ would be forbidden.”

The words yeehaw, kill the liberals, and roll damn tide are not forbidden.  Namaste is.  Namaste means “greetings to you”.  It can also serve as a tribute to the divine in all of us or a form of divinity in general.  I guess that is really dangerous according to Earth 2 protectors of youth.  So much for that return.

But at least the birds returned.

I shall keep my eyes open for other beautiful returns, rare though they be.  After Moderna shot #2 in early April, I can return to the project of finding that place without breakers, prolific breeders, and yoga police. A place with plenty of birds and NAMASTES!

Wish me luck.

Joyce