Essentially, all is well with me... so far as my very simplistic life goes. With almost every fiber of my being, I love my husband...we do well on most days. My Sadie dog is awesome....most of the time. For a soon-to-be 68year old, my health is wonderfully well....except when it's not. Financially, all is semi-well...for now. I have majorly awesome friends who keep me afloat more that they can ever know. Also, I'm blessed with a truly awesome sister... and I wish every woman I know and love could have one just like her. And, two brothers who love me and I love them and I breathe all the better just because they're in my life. I am truly, truly blessed to have an incredible son who is my true hero and there is never a day in my life that I don't thank the greater beings for allowing me to be his mom. My grandchildren are, of course, perfectly and incredulously outstanding in every way.
As we go down the line of priorities...I live in a house...six blocks from the beach and we can hear the ocean in the wintertime and we can feel the breeze, watch the majestic pelicans, and listen to the chattering of the sea birds all day long. This was my dream, ever since my family left Miami when I was 12. I still remember getting on the plane, heading to NC, with my mom and baby twin brother and sister and telling my sad and terrified self that someday, I will get back to the ocean. So, yes, all is well with me and my, very self-centered life. There are issues, to be sure, but for the most part, all is well.
But...is All well? How can I answer this in the positive when I know these things:
As most of you know, I volunteer in an inner city elementary school in Wilmington. This is the last week of school. On this last week of school, I've learned some things about a few of the children in my class that have left me feeling... just plain raw.
One girl lives with her great-grandmother (think about that) because her mom is in prison and no one seems to know anything about her father. She has other siblings...I hate that term...sisters or brothers seems so much more real... but this great-grandmother could take care of only one, so her sisters or brothers live in a foster home. This little girl is sweet, smart and ever so huggable, and her great-grandmother is doing the best she can, but, needless to say, her funds are very limited. Now that school is out, where can this child go? Who's going to take care of her non-physical needs this summer and make sure she reads and continues to learn?
She is the one who tugs at my heart and the one who left me sleepless last night. The tragedy is that she is just one....one of the thousands of children who will be left behind because no one cares enough to make sure she has a place in our American society. She doesn't count as a human being and her crimes are ...being poor...and being black.
And there is another child...a little boy...cute... sweet and sad beyond anything we will ever know. His dad is in prison and he (at 7) is the oldest of 4 children. The mom, uneducated, lives off the government. But, there are those who think abortion is amoral and sex education is up to the parents, etc..etc..etc. So, we make them have the babies, but we cut off all help from the government to help them survive.
Is all well? No! Hell, no! Because, as happy as I am with my family and friends and beach house, I cannot erase the fact that we're all connected; like it or not...believe it or not...WE ARE ONE. Until we can accept that and live that ...maybe we need to rethink our answer when someone asks...is all well? Maybe we need to learn to speak up for ALL of us. Hell no, all is not well. What can we do make it better?
Awesome Lynn! Very moving post! Yes, we are all ONE and your voice here brings us into the union of this truth as we read your words. Thank you! Jalene
ReplyDeleteYes you are my Mom and I'm proud to read these words as they reveal the soul of a true humanitarian. I do think that this is a question that I need to ask myself frequently so that I stay on track. When one questions the "why" it's baffling. Why are some born into circumstances such as these and why are they imprisoned to the same cycle of life over and over again? Why were we born with the fortunes that we have? The love between us is richer than anyone deserves in a lifetime.
ReplyDeleteI tell myself that we have many lifetimes and in some of those we suffer more and that's what brings our wisdom. Everyone is on a journey and you can't judge the current circumstances as if it's the whole story, it's still being written. I think the fortunes we have accumulated in this lifetime should infuse our joy and passions so that we can inspire and help others as you're doing.
All you can do is be a "ray of light" in someone's life, I remember the "rays of light" in my life and their influence on me has been immeasurable.
That's what you're doing for these kids.
Anyway....very moving.
Thank you being so honest.