The only problem with birthdays is, there are waaaay too many of them; both vertically and horizontally, if you get my drift.
Vertically, the number is ever-increasing because the average longevity is ever-increasing, at least in what we choose to call the 'developed' countries. But the overall world life expectancy has also risen. According to my favorite go-to website, Wikipedia, worldwide life expectancy has risen dramatically just in our lifetime, from 48 in 1950 to 67 in 2010. Since 1900, when it stood at 31 - well, you can do the math - it has more than doubled. In short, many lives are enjoying way too many birthdays.
Horizontally, there are many more humans to enjoy this increasing number of birthdays; exponentially more. Not quite in our own lifetimes, but between 1900 and 2000, the world population increased from 1.5 billion to over 6 billion; in one hundred years an increase three times greater than the entire previous history of humanity. The graph depicting this is an amazing picture.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longevity
But I took a break from writing this and now it is November 9th 2016. The day after Election Day. Two days after my birthday, so I'm happy to say I was able to enjoy the anniversary of my birth before disaster struck.
Today I feel nauseated, have a pounding headache, and cannot stop crying. How did this terrible thing happen? I remind myself that Clinton won the popular vote, but much good that does. I remind myself that, with almost half of all eligible voters not voting, and half of those who did vote voting for Hilary, Trump voters comprise only 25% of the eligible voters of this country. But much good that does.
My next birthday will be my 75th - a kind of semi-significant milestone. I wonder what horrors will have befallen us all by then. I fear for myself, for our country, and for the world. I am not alone. My cousin in London e-mails that she is 'deep in the slough of despond' which, I reply, is a mighty crowded place about now.
Now it is Sunday the 13th. On Friday evening, Betsy and I went to the usual Friendly Friday gathering of our HOA. Officially we had ended Friendly Fridays for the year when we put back the clocks, but many of us felt a particular need for comfort this week, so planned one more.
One of our neighbors was handing out safety pins, and introduced us to the Safety Pin Movement. Here at least is something we all can do now, with minimal effort and cost, to show solidarity with each other - all of us in fear from Trump's promised oppressions.
According to a post on Twitter, here is what the safety pin signifies - the message it sends to those who see you wear it.
If you wear a hijab, I'll sit with you on the train.
If you are trans I will go to the bathroom with you.
If you're a person of color, I'll stand with you if the cops stop you.
If you're a person with disabilities, I'll hand you my megaphone.
If you're an immigrant, I'll help you find resources.
If you are a survivor, I'll believe you.
If you're a refugee, I'll make you welcome.
If you're a veteran, I'll take up your fight.
If you're LGBTQ, I won't let anyone tell you you are broken.
If you are a woman, I'll make sure you get home OK.
If you're tired, me too.
If you need a hug, I've got an infinite supply.
If you need me, I'll be with you.
All I ask is that you be with me, too.
I have never before thought of the safety pin as a great weapon, but perhaps at this moment it is.
It is at least one small, non-combative, way to begin to push back.
Otherwise, all we have is the popular misquote of Tiny Tim at the close of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol -
God help us, every one.
© November 2016
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