Corona Virus Quarantine Day #50: What’s going on? May 8, 2020:
First, an update on Gaga. They did so many tests on this poor woman today, she was exhausted. The only thing we know as of now is that the tests from yesterday show a spot on her pituitary gland in her brain which could explain the headaches and some of the hormonal stuff. They found some cysts on her ovaries and as of right now her heart and lung tests look good. All of this information is leading to more tests. They did an ultrasound on her ovaries today to get a closer look and took another picture of the pituitary gland in her brain. They also did an extensive lung test and some more heart work ups to try to explain the shortness of breath. Again, to be clear, she does not have covid. All we can do at this point is wait and pray. I am hoping tomorrow will bring more clarity and provide us with some much desired answers and solutions. Thank you to all of you who have reached out via email, text or called. While she doesn’t much feel like chatting, she loves the texts she’s been getting, so please send away!
Now…on to the Dorsey Shenanigan’s today…
It was a busy Friday in the Dorsey household. I had a lot of meetings today and all were productive. My 1st hour today was a bright spot. Fletcher came into class to have me smell his breath so I could make sure he brushed his teeth, Fiona came in wearing her full First Communion ensemble and someone else came in crying because something in the homeschool schedule wasn’t working quite right. At least if the kids aren’t learning anything from me they are getting a taste at what real motherhood looks like. Then my mom’s doctor called in the middle of my 1st hour so I had to take that call. I apologized to my class for the insanity of our morning and one of my students did the sweetest thing…as everyone was signing off of class, she stayed on to tell me not to worry about all those interruptions that they weren’t a big deal.
Is that the sweetest thing? I was so impressed by her kindness and maturity. It really made my day and I made sure she knew that. What a thoughtful 16-year-old girl. She said “Mrs. Dorsey…it wasn’t a big deal, or at all as bad as I know you are imagining it was”. My heart. Such sweetness. It truly is the little things that make the day brighter and easier.
All day today all I’ve been able to think about…besides my mom, is this 25-year-old young man that was gunned down by a father son duo in Georgia. Ahmaud Arbery was his name. He would have been 26-years-old today. So people around the world decided to run 2.23 miles in his honor today. 2.23 is representative of the day he was gunned down for running down the street.
I’m going to be honest, I didn’t sleep much, woke up early to work out with teenagers, worked all day so I didn’t much feel like running tonight at 6:30, let alone run 2.23 miles, but I have to tell you these were the easiest miles I’ve ever run (and I am not a fan of running…though I force myself to do it nearly everyday). I didn’t fatigue or even feel out of breath, I even ran it pretty fast…GOD’s providence? I’d say so.
When I saw this story fill up my newsfeed I had a very hard time with it. His big bright smile just lit up the whole frame of any image he was in. I did not know this man. I know very little about him. From my point of view that doesn’t really matter. He life cut woefully short because of the color of his skin.
Disgusting.
I am a history teacher and I often talk about subject matter that is hard to stomach. Today for instance we talked about the Holocaust. Slavery always makes me cringe. How. Did. We. Let. That. Happen? Jim Crow Laws…gross. War Atrocities…horrific. Hitler could really be a topic all his own. The list goes on and on of bad decisions and bad people in history. Every time I teach one of these topics or read about them in my own time I am still taken aback that they are real. I just read a book about Auschwitz and Doctor Mengele and the whole time I was reading I kept thinking to myself this can’t be real…although I know it was. The history teacher in me has taught and studied enough to explain the reasoning behind why the people living at the time did the things they did or at least the reasons the historians believe they did. But the human in me…the heart of me…can’t ever come to peace with any of it.
This story line is no different. It’s hard to believe that in 2020 we are still hearing stories like this one. And this one and any other story like it makes me mad for so many reasons. First of all, an innocent life was taken for no reason at all. It makes the media talk about racism like all people are racist and that is grossly inaccurate. Incidents like this one incite more hate.
I believe racism can be overcome and that love is always favorable to hate and in this situation I hope that the men who took his life will get the punishment they deserve and that this will bring this boys family peace.
I ran those 2.23 miles today and I offered up my stress, my worries and my exhaustion for this boy and his family. This is something my Catholic faith teaches me makes a difference and I do believe it does. Offering our suffering up for someone else’s gives our suffering a purpose…to ease the suffering of others.
I am not naïve enough to think that something like this can’t happen again…But I can pray that it won’t. However, I do believe there are more good people than bad. I believe there is more love than there is hate and I have to believe that all the people that did the #IRunWithMaud today, which included our entire family (though the kids walked) spread some of that goodness and that love around our country.
Proud to say we were among them.
Spread love, not hate! I am going to leave you with some words from Mr. Rogers that I believe apply.
I have always loved this quote and I believe there are so many caring people in this world like Mr. Rogers and his mother did! #beahelper
Finally to lighten the mood. A picture of Fletcher attempting to toot on his big brother…to be clear he did have underwear on with his dinosaur boots.
#dorseyshenanigans
#celebr8wesome
#Celebr8Awesome 