4 yr old D.

5 yr old G.

~ and myself were driving this pristine day to pick up one of their flu-ish siblings, from school.

G. was popping - her little world is opening up: "I'm happy, I like this day! I like the world, I belong to it!"

Sho nuff! That's the way it should be! We 3 were whistling dixie, grand ol day.

We pull into the school lot and approach the doors. They are all locked. "Hmmm, why're they locked?" we all wonder. I begin banging on the doors, having spied an adult thru the glass. Thick glass, too, because we both must shout, once she gets about one foot away from us.

"I can't let you in!"

"Why not!"

"Because we're in a lock-down!"

Lockdown? "Well, I have a very sick child in there, what'm I supposed to do!" [This was Dylan...this comment inserted July 22]

So we decided to drop off G. at her school readiness freakout initiation in the meantime, til lockdown was over. While leaving the thick-glass doors, I looked straight up to the bluest sky

~ same sky

~ same sun

~ same deliciousness

But altered

and didn't even know what to say to God. I am not that old! But lockdowns, there was no need for 'em such a short time ago. I had not come face-to-face w/ them before.

G. skipped off with her new teacher once we got her settled there. I approached the in-charge office patron.

"Do you practice, er, lockdowns?"

"Oh yes," she said seriously.

..................................................

Dear G,

Belong in the world, honey, not to it. Cause you don't know where it's gonna go. It shouldn't go the way of lockdowns. Everything in this day and sky begs against it. I don't know why what shouldn't be, is. But it is.

Love, Mama