The Birds are Chirping

There was rioting, looting and destruction of property a few blocks away from me.  Night after night, helicopters have droned.  Across the street starting before waking hours is a construction zone adding to the din. If I went to sleep dreaming I am in a war zone, I wake up with the same dream.  Amazon, in real life, returned to sender a package that was addressed to me.  My address was "undeliverable!" given that the pick up location was boarded up the night before.   This is piled on top of the coronavirus pandemic.  This is in addition to the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, six miles away, which has led to worldwide protest.  What next?  It is easy to catastrophize.

The current situation brings me back to my past.  In 1999, a murder involving my relatives was the headline of the Des Moines Register for most of a week.  My father's wife of 25 years was murdered along with her daughter by the husband.  This was an "ordinary" case of domestic violence-- a double murder suicide creating four orphans.  My father was never able to adapt to this loss. My life was altered as the murders helped me focus on what is important.

Police brutality, racial tension, gun violence and domestic violence are all major problems we struggle with in this country.  Without minimizing the importance of firing bigoted police officers, there is much we could be marching about.  My neighbors tell me of issues we have globally- Democratic Republic of the Congo Wars and War Rape (audio, 30 minutes. my interview).  Many of us don't face these issues as children.  It was quite a shock to me to be involved intimately in the aftermath of a murder for a month of my life.  The Floyd family will be asked about their situation for the rest of their lives.

Coronavirus distancing and financial impact plus being in an area of active riots is enough to set most of us off of our day planner schedule.

Then, I walk outside and see everyone working together.  Everyone smiling.  Birds are chirping this warm summer morning.  A young white (albino) squirrel climbs the front yard tree.  Many stores are back in business.  My city and many of its residents will be stronger for this event.

Maybe our lives are altered forever.  The George Floyd family is altered.

As individuals, the changes we choose to make may enrich our lives, assuming we have the resilience to deal with the trauma.

The path I set on in 1999 led me to this beautiful day where my daughter graduates from pre-K tomorrow.

Sometimes, trauma can focus us.