Relief

Amongst a thousand other feelings, it is a great relief to not have to keep trying to explain the inexplicable to friends in other lands when they ask, “WTF, America?!!!! How can so many choose to shoot themselves in the foot—again!— and then wonder why they have to limp through a decimated land?” Of course, I’ve had no easy answer and have been exhausted from trying to analyze and make sense of that which makes no sense whatsoever. Beyond the great effectiveness of Fox News brainwashing and propaganda that make the old Russian techniques seem like child’s play. 

 

But I do always point the camera away from the news my friends abroad get to the news they don’t— the extraordinary numbers who turned up for all the No Kings Rallies, the courage of the Minnesotans, the reality that just about every single person I know personally—and that includes the thousands of music teachers in every state— have been aghast as they are. And a little reminder that the people are not their government. As my friends in Turkey, China, Brazil before a few weeks ago, Venezuela and beyond are well aware.

 

But now. How proud I felt to re-enter my land at the Washington Dulles Airport, with my U.S. passport in hand without shame, a land I can now re-claim as something worthy and indeed, inspiring. We stood up, spoke out, organized, showed up to vote— and the result is spectacular. The air we breathe feels refreshed like it is after a thunderstorm and everything feels different. The bad guys—and gals— are on retreat and though we can’t relax, knowing they will regroup to cause more havoc, we are prepared. 

 

And who knows? Maybe some of them will finally realize that it’s more fun to love than hate, to be kind than cruel, less exhausting to keep all the walls up and fears flowing than just relax and welcome each other. We can’t be naïve, but we can hope to bring them around. 

 

Meanwhile, it’s 4:30 in the morning at the home of my lifetime buddy and colleague, Rick Layton and even in the slight fog of almost 24 hours awake last night, such a delight to catch up. This morning off to my 43^rd Orff Conference and looking forward to the embraces with old and new friends to share the relief and exultation. Life is sweet.