Thursday January 6th.
This is the anniversary of the Storming of the Capitol in Washington, and the papers and television news are full of it. I don’t think I can bear to listen to yet another discussion or read one more article. It was horrific at the time, has divided America in half and one wonders if healing will ever begin. While it was a horrendous and shocking event, it tells the world that half of America feel unseen, unheard and uncared for by the half we consider liberals.
It is also the Twelfth Night after Christmas and the day we always dismantle our Christmas tree.
Our seven-foot beautiful tree has sat on our balcony facing the living room since Thanksgiving. It lights each winter day and sparkles at night, the silver, gold and colored glass ornaments reflecting back into the house. It has withstood battering rainstorms, warmer sunny days, and black cold nights. Never moving, always elegant and beautiful, it represents a time for laughter and joy. A time when we welcome everyone into a space made for happiness and forgive any darkness the year has brought.
Taking it down is a process, silver balls in one box, red ones in another, and so it goes on. It takes two of us to untangle all the lights and put them carefully away in another box. Finally, the tree has to be lowered from the second-floor balcony to the garden, which takes at least two people and lot of rope. The tree is still green and healthy and, for now, can be used outdoors by the firepit to screen us from passing neighbors as they walk their dogs. The tree must be happy to be properly outdoors again.
This day also represents the beginning of a new year, clearing of the decks, time to get on with what life brings. In this third year of Covid, I am not certain I have the same energy and optimism that I did this time last year as vaccines became available and were going to change our lives. Many young people seem to have decided Omicron is no worse than the flu and they should return to ordinary life; I remember those days when one felt invincible.
Once finished with this task, I am going to sweep the empty balcony then stare into the forest that surrounds us and wonder if I am up for the challenges this year might bring.
