Friday, March 29, 2024
36.0°F

Today, together, we can move forward into the future

| January 18, 2022 1:00 AM

I find myself reluctant to look at the morning news because I don’t want to feel helpless or hopeless again today. Instead, I watch the snow fall and listen to the quiet, muffled sounds of life. My neighbors will soon bring out their shovels and snow blowers and plows. We will wave at each other, or maybe stop to talk about how much we need the moisture. If someone is ill, their driveway will likely be cleared for them. There will be help if your car slides off the road or you fall on the ice.

Backgrounds, politics, and beliefs range across the spectrum on this street. At neighborhood gatherings, goodwill is sometimes only maintained by a deft change in the subject. Today, however, we are joined by our human commonalities. We will reach across the divides of assigning blame or making general assumptions about each other. The how and why of our situation does not matter, and anger will not dig us out.  We will bring out the shovels and the snow blowers and the plows. We will check on our neighbors and we will do what needs to be done.

When the snow melts, will we remember this day? Did it matter whether everyone agreed on the best way to move the snow? Will we stop shouting and listen? Can we work together to clear a path forward for us all?

Today, I see that we can.

BONNIE JAKUBOS

Sagle