Surrender

A bright ten year old, encouraged to feel stupid, I gave up when my mother died. I’d just turned 11, optimistic over the significance of the twin digits, but only for three weeks. It would be more than a lifetime later, I would find optimism for any thing.

Now I remember what hopelessness feels like. I look at our great nation, so divided (the Civil War forgotten) and I wish and pray for Peace, but may not see it in my lifetime.

Only a reformed pessimist can preach perseverance. Only the formerly bereft can speak of empathy. Only the ones who gave up on every thing and survived, can understand surrender.

LBM 9/10/2020

birthday portrait, 2020, photo credit husby (fortunately was optimistic about him, and I was right!)