To say that the past four years have been nothing but tumultuous would be ignorant. Although I have found myself not watching news and/or media very often over the past few months, I still could not escape the negativity found in our world today. The divide in our nation is something that our new leadership will have the challenge of overcoming in the days ahead. As the heartbreaking days have passed, I still have hope for the future - Lincoln and FDR have helped to give me that. Both came into office with a nation divided and worked to lead our country into better days.
As Trump slinks away, I am reminded of the poor management of his legacy over the past four years. I can’t use the word leadership because he most certainly was not a leader in any sense of the word - a dictator, authoritarian, oppressor, commander, or ruler….maybe, but a leader he most certainly was not! Our country deserved better. Through his words, deeds, and actions, he has shown how a toddler interacts with the world when he doesn’t get what he wants or doesn’t agree with others. Don’t get me wrong - he will always be #45 - but record numbers have shown the world wants and needs healing and care without question.
Last week I had the unfortunate experience of attending a funeral and burial of the father of my best friend via zoom. Never in my life did I think I would experience this. Thanks COVID! This pandemic has taken away so many traditional ways of life for people who need some kind of normalcy. I couldn’t get on a plane to go back to New York to hug my best friend who just lost the man who was her everything. I couldn’t be present to help celebrate the life of a man who was larger than life in every way. For the past 20+ years he served as a pseudo dad to all of us and our loss is heaven’s gain.
I write about that experience because it has been true for so many, yet there is hope for tomorrow in the vaccines that are being provided to our citizens. I still say a huge thank you to all of our healthcare workers for the care and love they have provided to the nation. I miss my friends and I miss being able to live a normal life in getting together with those I love most. I want that back!!!
As I write this, I am watching President Elect Joe Biden, Dr. Jill Biden, Vice President Elect Kamala Harris walk up the steps of the Capitol to be sworn in as our leaders for the next four years and I am overwhelmed with a sense of hope and optimism for the future. Biden offers much of what President Obama offered back in 2009 in the sense that ambition, promise, family, and optimism will help to overturn the feelings of division, distrust, and hatred that we have seen over the past few years. Biden and Harris certainly have large tasks to complete as they have promised and represent so much to our nation. The fact alone that Harris is being sworn in as the first woman, let alone the first black, Indian woman, Vice President serves as a constant reminder that the glass ceiling has indeed imploded. Whether you agree or not, they are the future of our nation and help set the stage to bring back our true United States of America.
