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| “Fence Line Gallery” in Roosevelt, NJ |
It was the most lovely weekend – low humidity, cool breezes, sunshine. I spent yesterday afternoon visiting my children’s godmother and great friend. It was so nice to spend an afternoon with another adult female. Especially one who appreciates art, loves books and nature. Her new little home is adorable, and has so much potential. Her front garden is full of flowers and whimsical elements, it must be such a safe haven for her. Her neighborhood is charming and her neighbors a delight. Her sisters’ homes are in walking distance – not so close as to be intrusive, but close enough for comfort. Her little community is full of artists: painters, composers, actors; and full of quirky, interesting people. Like a college campus for adults. A little part of me was envious. I will be visiting regularly.
Tomorrow is high school graduation. I’m vacillating between pride and melancholy. My babies are soon to be young adults. We’re living through chaotic and confusing times; we are quite literally on the brink as a nation. The pandemic will have made an indelible impression on these people coming of age in 2020; the social unrest, the awakening of the country’s conscience – and the groups who refuse that awakening. It is a time when all that has been ignored has erupted, good and bad. The ugliness of humanity and our society is unveiled for all to see; but as with yin and yang, people’s innate capacity for compassion, understanding and desire for good has also been awakened. The pendulum is swinging yet again. It is true that you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone: how we did not appreciate leaders who were articulate, intelligent and seemed to operate from the basis of the greater good; how we did not appreciate that our very neighborhoods and communities required protection and investment; how we did not understand how important human physical connection was until we could not do it; how we did not know that technology is a poor substitute for sharing space with other people.
And where does this put these almost-grown people? Making hard choices about whether or not to commit to a summer job that is decidedly unsafe, and figuring out which friends can be trusted to be safe to be around. It is a lot.