A few years ago this memory flashed into my head while making coffee. Now my first cup of coffee always has a little cinnamon in the grounds. And most mornings I think of this man and hope he’s doing ok. Today is one of those days. Thanks cinnamon coffee guy!

Sure!

I don’t have anything clever to say in closing, just that I’m tired of feeling this way. If you are, too, tell me about something that helps you feel joy, beauty, or awesomeness so we can both have a little boost today. 🩵

And the chaos of the past couple of weeks in our country is bringing this to a head within me. I hate that powerful people prey on our fear to divide us. When we are divided, we look for things to be mad or scared about instead of looking for joy, beauty, and awesomeness. ⬇️

I’m now realizing that I’ve spent much of the past couple of decades living like the father in that situation. I’m so afraid of what could happen in this chaotic clusterfuck of a world that I miss out on the joy, the beauty, the awesomeness of day to day life. ⬇️

And I remember the peaceful concentration of the mother, the doctor, and the nurse. The delivery was the only thing in their control at that moment. When that perfectly healthy baby emerged, they expressed joy and excitement over the birth. The father tried to be joyful, but it was strained. ⬇️

I can still feel the fear wafting off of him. How could he protect her and their child from whatever was happening across the country? Was it going to happen here next? ⬇️

I vividly recall watching a baby being delivered while the muted television in the corner showed horrific news clips. The dad was holding his wife’s hand, his eyes bouncing between her and the TV. ⬇️

Arriving on the labor & delivery unit, I quickly realized it was real. My classmates’ faces were as white as our uniforms. The nurses began stoically hustling us to work. It didn’t matter what was going on outside those walls. ⬇️

I sat in a hot Arizona parking garage listening to radio reports of the tragedy unfolding on the east coast. It was so confusing - was this really happening? ⬇️

Glad I didn’t take that bet. I’m wracking my brain and can’t think of a single one!

Oh my gosh, I imagine so! I’d have to hang it from the ceiling in the middle of the room to keep my beast away