Tonight's picture was taken in October of 2003. Mattie was about a year and half old and as you can see was multi-tasking. Something Mattie did all the time! This was classic Mattie. On the TV was a children's video playing in the background. This was how Mattie watched TV. Meaning he was co-processing what was happening but also was actively doing something else. The something else in this case was going through all his videos in the TV cabinet, checking them out, stacking them, and overall playing with them.
Quote of the day: Hang on to your hat. Hang on to your hope. And wind the clock, for tomorrow is another day. ~ E.B. White
Like many Americans today, I too was glued to the continued coverage of the Kavanaugh hearing. Hearings that involve allegations and questioning of professional behavior interest me. Most likely because of my own role as a licensed professional and having to preside over many ethical violation hearings of counselors in the District of Columbia. As such, it is hard to weigh evidence and to come up with a fair conclusion. I am not writing about this hearing today because this brings up all sorts of feelings on both sides of the aisle. Feelings which have no place or merit on this blog.
But what instead is of value to me as it relates to this blog is the power of social media and the ability for others to follow along even if something is not personally happening to them. I would say that all America is invested emotionally in this hearing today. The constant coverage enables this! To me my personal analogy was Mattie's cancer diagnosis and our public expressions about our daily journey. When I first started writing the blog in 2008, I did it to update our community and to keep family and friends posted on the daily occurrences, surprises, nightmares, and joys Mattie experienced while undergoing treatment. I know many people would tell me that they felt like they were going through this with me each day, while reading my words. In fact, people who I never met before would tell me that they felt like I was their friend because they got to know such intimate details of our lives.
Despite my candor about Mattie's treatment, I do admit that I did not post 100% of what was happening to us. I felt that some things were too personal, or could be construed as hurtful by my readers. Especially those who wanted to support us and thought that visiting us in the hospital and talking to us would help ease our isolation. Or at least this would show they cared and were providing support. The problem was I understand my perspective on this and I could understand theirs as well. But at the end of the day I realized that I had a child who needed protection and also we needed a community to rally around him. I felt like I walked a fine line every day. Walking this fine line has consequences on one's nerves, energy, and attitude on life and people.
I mention this because I have great sympathy for the family members of both sides portrayed in this hearing today. Having the courage to talk openly about one's beliefs and character as a person is not easy, but doing so in such a public forum, allows for all sorts of social media commentary. Commentary that has ways of hurting family members. Permanently. Regardless of what happens in this hearing, my feeling is that both sides have lost and lives are forever changed. Which brings me great sadness.
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