blooming

Every year I go to see the D.C. cherry blossoms that encircle the Tidal Basin. Every year, I have to dig around for something pink and appropriate to wear. Not this year!

All month long, I’ve been planning for the joy of seeing this ephemeral delight, which is an especially precious experience given how little joy there is around in the Washington DC area right now.  I bought a preposterous pink hat.  I bought a sparkly pink sequin blouse.  I made a sign.  I was prepared.

I've been thinking a lot about joy and humor in the midst of the consuming and pervasive pressure of the "hostile government takeover."  That song--it makes me laugh.  It keeps me grounded.  Also, I watched Conan O'Brien's acceptance speech of the Mark Twain prize, which was powerful partly because of the expectation that he would make light of the times.  Reviewing Twain's career, he argued that humor is a vital tool to combat oppression.

Arriving before sunrise, I wandered from tree to tree past the assortment of visitors.  Peoplewatching is one of the pleasures of the yearly pilgrimage.  I met up with some friends, and together we marveled at the fluffy blooms.  Some strangers took my picture.  (One of them even sent it along to a friend of HERS who turned out to be a friend of MINE!)  Many people complimented my sign in solidarity.  I did have to explain the meaning of "blooming" to several folks, which was a bit of a challenge without using profanity.

It was a happy morning in the midst of a terrible time.