A Cleansing Dawn

The TV droned on as Joe Biden and Kamala Harris landed at Andrews on Tuesday evening.  I was only half paying attention, browsing the web when suddenly my attention was drawn to the TV as they arrived at the Reflecting Pool for the ceremony of remembrance.  Suddenly it got quiet as the images on TV became compelling.

I watched as they started speaking and the images continued....beautiful, patriotic and sad images.  Then there was this welling up in my throat, my eyes, and my very essence as the tears began to come....  I couldn't stop it.  I was surprised by it, overcome by it; I tried to hold it back but it would not be denied.  4 years of stuffed evil deep down in my subconscious demanding  release, broke free and there was no stopping it.  The enormity of the loss portrayed by the lights along the reflecting pool married to the images of the Washington Monument, the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial made my soul cry out.  I wept.  I wept remembering the images of grieving families we have been seeing for a year; I wept for the bravery of the nurses, doctors and selfless first responders; I wept for all that we had lost as a country at the filthy hands of those who tried to destroy it.

 

As I looked at the facebook posts and texts from people I know who revealed that they too were overcome, I was stunned by the weight of the burden we all have been carrying, the darkness of what we all had to bear.  

 

81 million of us have been waiting for yesterday.  We counted the hours and minutes until noon 

knowing that until that moment we were still in danger.  America stood still as the moment approached and when Kamala Harris stepped up for the swearing in, the tears came again.  This moment for me was cathartic.  Finally, we can begin again.  As I watched Joe Biden take the oath, I breathed out with unexpected relief!

 

The rest of the day was blessedly free of fear.  There is still the danger from those who would steal our democracy, but now there is a new beginning and resolve-- renewing our commitments as Americans and to our Constitution.  

 

It is so liberating to be relieved of the nagging fear that no one is in control of our destiny.  Tonight we go to sleep with a new sense of hope, and like babies who blithely drift off to sleep feeling safe, we rest knowing there is a new competence in those who protect us and our democracy.  

 

It was a close call.  It is not over yet; the challenges are multiple and daunting, but there is a new sheriff in town and he and his posse have vowed to keep us safe and to take charge.

 

The page has finally turned.  We all are smiling.  Life can be good again.