I took a break from raking leaves this afternoon to watch Julia blow bubbles in the driveway.
All the nation’s cultural and political tumult swirling around her, and she’s simply concentrating on getting the most bubbles out of one breath.
I’m tired today – and it’s not just because of the leaves that never seem to stop. It’s been a tough 10 years – especially the last two.
I wrote about that here, here, here, here, and here.
Nonetheless, I love that we can give her a life where she gets to be blissfully unaware of the polarization and acrimony.
Julia has the uncanny ability to see through all the cultural crap and make a friend, no matter what – be it the appliance repairman that came to fix our stove or the gender fluid receptionist at Jocelyn’s hair salon.
But for me, I am glad to know that there might be a quiet majority of the country that isn’t hostile to Julia simply living her life and where we are all a part of getting her the help she needs to make the most of it.
Because she doesn’t stand a chance in a world that understands and values only economic productivity and brute power. In a culture where the strong get what they can and the weak suffer what they will, and sees those who can’t keep up as waste, fraud, or abuse, she’s toast.
And in the end, the world truly is better in immeasurable ways because she’s standing in the driveway, blowing bubbles. 
3 Responses
A lovely and simple Julia moment that means so much more because of what it takes from all of us to ensure it, and benefit by it. Thanks for capturing and amplifying these reminders, Chris, through your art and writing.
We all just need to look for the good I. One another and practice kindness and tolerance. That’s it. That’s all of it.
Beautiful reality check, Dad! She’s blessed to have you and her mother! I’m blessed to have the opportunity to have a glimmer of her life and person through your heart of words!
Blessings!