Woke! The bird, the man, and Democracy.

Dear you,

January 6, 2023, the second anniversary of the failed coup.  I exhale and remember that day.  I think about what it means to pay attention to what matters, to be aware, awake. The week's events, small and large, played out that theme.

Wednesday, annoyed by the roar of the cleaning person's blower and the image of Matt Gaetz wrecking Congress on my TV screen, I heard a loud smack, like a hammer on wood.  Alarmed, jolted out of my annoyance, I saw a strange, beautiful bird stunned on my balcony.  She had flown head first into the sliding glass door.  Her little body, black with white dots, appeared frozen.  But then I saw movement as she began to breathe. I resisted the impulse to interfere and just gave her time.  I distracted myself by washing dishes.  Ten minutes later, I went to check her status and saw she was gone!  No blood left behind.  No signs of damage.  She recovered and flew away.  She woke.

Yesterday, tracking the hoped for recovery of NFL Bills player, Damar Hamlin, after his heart attack on the field Monday, I scrolled and scrolled online looking for good news.  Yes.  Doctors on the job released statements that Hamlin was recovering, neurologically intact, and awake!  He woke. 

January 6, 2021, that event at our Capitol, an attempted insurrection fueled by lies and fear, played out "like a movie".  People died. Many officers defending the People's House survived but carry the trauma with them still.  We watched and, most of us at least, realized Democracy is not necessarily a forever thing.  We woke.

This state of wakefulness is transient. Still, we can celebrate it today. For the moment, hallelujah!  The bird, the athlete, the abstract dream of democracy are with us.  Let's stay awake too.

Happy dance.

Joyce