I’m sad and I’m glad
It’s the turn of a year, and I’m sad and I’m glad. Sad for our planet. Sad for the ways we harm and another. Sad for the fact that it seems so much work to get things done right: enough hospitals, enough transport, enough food. Enough peace.
And I’m glad…
Glad for the extraordinary marvel of my child, now an adult, as they find their way in the world.
Glad for the wonder of an orchestra, workmanlike, and yet so extraordinary.
Glad for the green and golden lorakeets that drink at the bird bath.
Glad for the singers and the songwriters who speak to the details of our ordinary, wonderful, lives.
I listened to this sweet podcast from the NYT “The Daily“. The program is about Taylor Swift, whom I’ve enjoyed, but haven’t really taken seriously enough. But also it’s so lovely that the woman interviewed is in her 50’s, and is such a Swiftie. Sometimes, an artist can describe human experience and connect people across generations through shared experience, and shared song.
Introduced to Taylor by my child, I too enjoy the connection we can make though the music, listening together as we drive here and there.
And when the woman interviewed described the story about this song (The Best Day), I cried. I’ve been there. I am that mother to my child, and they are that child to me.
The story: the girl -Taylor, apparently – tries to find a friend to go to the mall with her. They are all “busy”, so her mother offers to take her to the mall. When they get there, all the friends are at the mall, together. Who hasn’t had that kind of experience (even more now with social media)? Who hasn’t watched their child have that kind of experience? One we would gladly save them from?
So the mother says “Come with me. I’ll take you to a better mall.” And the song is the daughter’s thankyou. That despite the bitterness of the rejection, she had the best day ever, being loved by her mother.
We mostly can’t swoop in to save our children. But we can be there, to listen. To witness. To care. To help them recover.
So I am glad for the love of every parent for their child.
In this world, where so much needs fixing, take heart: the world needs your resilient, smart, powerful, creative child. And they need you, and want you, even when it seems otherwise. Your work is worthy.
Please stay safe, well and connected over the Holiday Season. Hope to see you in the New Year.
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