
44 Thoughts I Had Today
The air feels lighter. Is the air lighter?
Who will I talk to first on the day that Barack Obama became the president?
I’m going to cry today. A lot.
Where are my tissues that I used to keep in my purse?
What’s my dad doing today?
Oh, crap. I just missed a sappy phone call from my oldest sister.
She’ll call back and weep into my ear and I’ll wish I could hug her.
Where’s my calendar? I hope it’s under all these papers on my desk.
Do I really have my gynecologist appointment today? On the day of the inauguration for crying out loud?
I will be getting my girly parts checked out at the exact moment he’s sworn in.
That was a terrible thought, Kelly!
No. That was pretty funny. I’m going to write that down for later.
I need some paper.
Now that I’m writing things down I can’t see through these tears.
We’re not yet the melting pot that we, as Americans, keep calling ourselves.
I’ve talked about race with perfect strangers today.
Melting pot came up twice.
We’re not really a melting pot, though.
We are, really, more like a salad.
Lots of separate pieces that don’t mix to change the substance.
Staying our separate selves, our separate shapes, our separate tastes.
Even though together? A salad is pretty good.
A melting pot changes the chemical compound to create a more savory flavor.
Wonder what Barack Obama tastes like?
Simple words today made me weep. Words like:
“the 44th President of the United States”
“repairing the things in need of repair”
“take out your pencils. begin.”
“God will not leave us alone”
“Let all those who do justice and love mercy say ‘amen’”
Amen.
I looked at faces of my students today and I smiled at them all.
My cheeks hurt now.
It’s a good hurt.
History. History. History.
My granddaddy was so light he “passed”.
Hell. I pass.
Never in my lifetime did I think to see this day.
I’m ashamed of my pessimism.
Today I will change that.
Today is now my Everyday.
Let’s melt, America.
Let’s meet.
Satisfied.