The Grand Finale
Is-ness and was-ness
Facebook memories reminded me of this today.
A 4th ofJuly in a not so distant past that also seems distant past.
I rarely post from the archive but this one hit.
This year’s Independence Day post… The Puppet Paradigm.
xx b
Wow, last night at the fireworks.
In the sky. But also in the humans.
We were standing by a family.
The Little Boy said
I can't wait for the Grand Finale!
The Mom asked:
Why don't you enjoy the ones
That are happening right now?
They were both very sweet about it.
Not whiny and bossy
Like they might have been.
He, with his excited anticipation.
She, who seemed to have been in his shoes
Plenty of times in her own life.
We were standing on a random street corner
Where we happened to find parking.
Close enough
To the Radford fireworks.
But before we could even think about walking towards them
We looked up
And we were in a perfect spot.
I'd been edgy all day.
About future stuff.
The Grand Finale.
Why don't I try
Enjoying the ones
That are happening right now?
The gentleman whose house
We were standing right in front of
Pointed out
The house across the street had been torn down.
It would be rebuilt by next year.
Two stories.
Next year the fireworks
Would most likely be impossible to see
From this quiet little corner
Away from the crowds.
Next year, no.
This year yes.
Sad for them who own the house with the view.
Happy for those whose house is being built.
Maybe.
Why don't we just watch the fireworks
That are going on right now.
Next year there will be a new President.
And a two story house on a now empty lot.
And two stories about the new President.
At least.
I didn't used to enjoy fireworks.
They seemed too violent.
War like.
Now I see the beauty.
The surprise.
This year there were happy face fireworks.
I'd never seen that.
It seemed too literal to me.
But they disappeared so quickly.
And the ones I like better were back.
I let go of preference and watched.
I took in the joy.
The exploding heart of love.
Why not just watch the ones
That are happening right now?
And then the Grand Finale!
Our little temporary group
Exclaimed and applauded.
As we turned towards our separate ways.
I didn't feel edgy anymore.
I heard the boy ask:
Did you record the Grand Finale Dad.
And Dad assured him he had recorded it.
But really who will ever watch?
And Dad knew this.
But he obliged his son.
Maybe someday.
Someday the mom and dad will tell the son.
This was 2016.
When you hadn't yet learned to be here now.
When you wanted the Grand Finale so badly.
And you wanted to watch it again after it happened.
And look at you now.
Here in the moment.
In the present.
So fully.
They seemed like a family that could happen in.
Happen for. Happen with.
I can't remember the Grand Finale.
But I can remember the feeling.
The beautiful exchange of isness.
The exploding of muchness.
The glorious surprise.
That giant yes.
A second story.
And not feeling edgy as we drove back home.
Infintely Yours,
xx Beth