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Plans interrupted.

A school concert postponed indefinitely two hours prior to start — after 3 weeks of precariously scheduled school-wide rehearsals, all the sets finally fully painted, 300 programs sitting still warm from the Xerox machine.

A fourth grade overnight field trip to the mountains cancelled outright — many of the students would be visiting a wilderness landscape for the first time in their lives, teachers and parents having fundraised for months to ensure that every student could participate.

Districts full of students left without the stabilizing influence of a regular school day (and regular meals) for at least three weeks beginning Monday.

On the eve of her fifth birthday, this isn’t the reality I dreamed of for my child. I mourn the loss of what I expected. And it feels like I’ve been mourning for at least 4 years now, one specific night in November of 2016 coming to mind. But as Hannah notes, it may be time to realize this is the new normal. Maybe it’s time to let go of expectations, and start to look for the deeper meaning in not knowing what comes next.

It could be awful, but our responses could hold beauty.

History has shown that we are a difficult species to hold down. We may find that our children are able to rebuild on a steadier foundation than we ever had, realizing that their preceding generations only experienced the illusion of security and equality. Hannah gives me hope that she and her peers will see through the false facades we have erected, and start from scratch on something sturdier and more meaningful for us all. My hope is that it will ring of unequivocal inclusivity, because it has never been more apparent that NONE of us will be free until ALL of us are free. But I also realize that it’s her job to find the hope, and that it’s my job to pave the way for her, imploring my generation to follow her lead.

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I write from the comfort of my home overlooking the river, my husband of 49 years and I just returned from Whole Foods who opens early for the elderly.

I have long wondered and truly been grateful for the place we find ourselves in. Both of us had very impoverished beginnings, Bob became a Barber, I went to local Community College when our 2 daughters were adolescents. I was fortunate enough to be able to walk to School since we did not have a second car at the time.

I graduated Nursing School in 1986 , tuition was approximately $5000.00 entirely! We sent one of our daughters to college and we spent $85,000 for everything.

My heart has weighed heavily on me as the entire world seemed to shift and I watched my nieces and nephews and their parents go heavily into debt for the same education we received. I watched as Colleges, Hospitals etc became money making institutions.

I could go on, but I think you have a pretty good sense of me.

My hope and prayer as we navigate these perilous times is that truth will rise to the surface, “we are all in This together “ has been stayed time and time again. We have always been in this together!

Pitting us against each other needs to end. Each of us has something to share: let’s do it.

I hope and pray that all systems reset, Government, Education, Financial, Commercial, Entertainment, Spirting

And we truly become a Country/World based on the best for EVERYONE

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I love this explanation of what we'll lose when we socially isolate ourselves for the greater good. I went to grad school via distance courses, and while I did get all the info I needed (including communications, scheduled and otherwise), I had to really get creative and persistent about finding the casual connections that are the deepest sparks of learning. Everything was so deliberate, and that was good up to a certain point, but I wanted more chances for accidental discovery.

https://melanietheconstantreader.substack.com/

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founding

She captured it so beautifully

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