After a brutal campaign
This was one of the most disturbing presidential campaigns ever. The consequences for us and the world are profound, and I’m not sure any of us knows what to expect. Uncertainty is frightening.
Yet, I noticed something very different when I took Clementine on a walk through Rochester’s city park on this beautiful, sunny November afternoon. I’m not sure if it was my attitude, or other people’s, but I felt a real sense of community.
Change
I felt it when I stopped to chat with the Arab-American father whose 10 year-old son was flying a buzzing drone. We looked into each other’s eyes longer than usual, markedly so, when we talked. After watching the son land his drone, I turned to the father with amazement, and said “You must so be proud of him.” He looked at me, smiled and told me he was.
I felt it on the Paint Creek Trail when I saw a man with a baby in a stroller, a confused-looking Chihuahua wearing a coat, and a crying toddler. He spoke sternly to his little one in Spanish, then hefted her onto his shoulder, where she happily settled in, eyes closed. “Oh, my, you have your hands full,” I said, and he stopped briefly to smile at me appreciatively and say, “Yes. I do. Have a good day.”
I felt it as I watched two mothers posing with their little girl on the bridge over Paint Creek for a photographer. Their daughter squealed when she saw Clementine, so I stopped. Clown that she is, Clemmy rolled right over, which made us all laugh. “She never gets any affection at home,” I joked to one of the women. I swear, her eyes never broke from mine as we laughed and chatted.
Hope
Today, I looked into the eyes of everyone I passed, and everyone, without fail, engaged with me. I felt a connection I never have before. It was as if each person were asking if we could get along, work together, accept each other. Sure, what I saw were small measures, and much of America is bruised and hurting, but they give me hope. I believe we can rise above divisiveness and bigotry. I’m not going to sing Kumbaya, but I believe we will weather this.
Thank you for visiting.
Linda K. Sienkiewicz is a writer, poet, and artist:
Multi-finalist award winning novel In the Context of Love
Picture book Gordy and the Ghost Crab
Latest poetry chapbook: Sleepwalker
Connect with Linda: LinkTree