Remembering January 6 (On My Daughter’s 20th Birthday)

Remembering January 6 (On My Daughter’s twentieth Birthday)

I used to be on a primary date on January 6, 2020, strolling on Stinson Seashore with a beautiful artist who I wound up happening 5 dates with earlier than he determined he wasn’t into me. We had been lower than an hour into our date, marveling with some disappointment at an array of useless blue jellyfish sprawled on the sand, when somebody from my household texted me in regards to the rebel. 

“Is it an indication?” my date requested. I wasn’t positive if he meant the useless jellies or the assault on our nation’s Capitol constructing, however I may inform from his voice that he didn’t interpret it as a good signal.

It was additionally my daughter’s 14th birthday. She was born on 6/6/06 at 6lbs 6oz. My very Christian mom was frightened she may end up a satan child. However her angelic sweetness reassured us that the sixes had been only a coincidence.

Once I realized that her birthday would go down in infamy in our historical past books, the best way September 11 has, I felt unhappy for her. It’s already sort of a shitty birthday. The climate is at all times dismal and it’s so near Christmas and New Yr’s that her birthday usually will get misplaced in busy vacation life. Many individuals do this factor of giving her one present for each Christmas and her birthday, so she at all times will get a little bit ripped off, although she by no means complains about it.

We celebrated her birthday on January 4 this yr at Harbin Scorching Springs as a result of she flew to Portugal to spend the second half of her winter break from faculty along with her father, who has expatriated to Portugal. So she misplaced 8 hours of her birthday on a flight from San Francisco to Lisbon, falling asleep on January 5 and waking up on the eve of her birthday, Portugal time. As soon as once more, she obtained a little bit ripped off.

I miss her…the nest is empty once more. However much more so than that, I really feel each the gratitude of her beginning and the melancholy of remembering that fated January 6 when these of us who’re democracy-loving realized our nation had taken a darkish dystopian turn- and half of our nation was okay with that.

Now, issues have gotten darker with the invasion of Venezuela and the kidnapping of its President and his spouse with out Congress’s authorization solely 3 days earlier than the six yr anniversary of January 6. That frightens me and makes me scared for the way forward for not solely Venezuelans, but in addition freedom-loving People, in addition to these in Greenland, Canada, and different nations Trump has his eye on. The return of American imperialism will not be one thing I want to have a good time on my daughter’s twentieth birthday, regardless that many in my nation appear to be cheering on the “may makes proper” Donroe doctrine Trump and his cronies are spouting off about. 

However within the midst of all this darkness and concern, I’m additionally conscious of the returning of the sunshine. Every day because the Winter Solstice, the solar is setting only a bit later, so I can stroll my canine on the seaside because the sky turns lavender only a bit longer earlier than they lock the gates. Every day because the Winter Solstice, I really feel the stirring of spring just a bit bit nearer, because the narcissus and daffodils bloom right here in West Sonoma County. After seven straight days of pouring rain and widespread flooding, the solar got here out at this time, on January 6, leaving steaming puddles within the meadow throughout from the barn I simply moved into. It seems like a day for galoshes and stomping in puddles, with care to not squash any worms or salamanders. 

So there it is- the darkish and the sunshine, the hopelessness and the hope, the rain and the solar juxtaposed into the rainbow I noticed over Harbin Scorching Springs on the day we celebrated my daughter’s birthday early.

With that juxtaposition at coronary heart, I’d like to share two poems by one of many writers from our author’s group The Author’s Calling, Ok L Aspden. She wrote them for the Winter Solstice and browse them in Monday’s gathering on Zoom. We had been all blown away. If you happen to love what you learn, you may comply with her on Substack at http://safespaceforwobblyhumans.Substack.com and be taught extra at her web site www.klaspden.com. 

And should you’d like to hitch us for our subsequent gathering of The Writer’s Calling on Zoom, we welcome all writers of all expertise ranges. Now we have fairly just a few new members this month, so we’ll be serving to welcome and combine the brand new people. Join us here.

Northern Hemisphere
By Ok L Aspden

It’s the darkest day
and all will not be misplaced.
We nonetheless have candles in our properties.
It’s the darkest day.We’re forlorn
apart from the faces
who look out from their home windows,
meet us in a gesture of recognition.

It’s the darkest day.
Don’t go away your greatest outfit
within the wardrobe
hanging on for that big day.
Dress your self in tender, elegant cloth.
Put jewelry round your neck, your wrist,
pin it to your clothes.
Sparkle nonetheless you may.

It’s the darkest day.
Nobody can steal your dignity.
Nobody can rob your glimmering mild.
Nobody can take the values that shine
by way of your translucent physique.
Maintain on.
It’s time for us to collect, to shine from our corners
earlier than nightfall falls.

Maintain on
and hope
for morning.

The Morning After the Darkest Day
By Ok L Aspden

Issues will develop brighter
you’ll see.
Slowly at first.
Issues will develop lighter. Heavy coats
will slip from shoulders.
Boots might be kicked off. Steps
will discover their spring once more.
Outdated canine will sniff at doorways to stroll their lengthy walks
as a substitute of curling up of their beds.
Snowdrops will peep out from the mud.
Youngsters will go looking for fairies
within the wooden. Neighbours will chat
over backyard fences. Curtains
drawn towards the chilly might be opened.
Hearts might be flung vast. Heat rays will come and go
from the surface.
Individuals will start to belief once more
to unlearn the language of concern
to shine
and never be afraid of the darkish.