When I was younger, I remember going to the mall on a Sunday afternoon with my mom. We would always make a stop at Auntie Annie’s Pretzels before leaving.
The nostalgic taste of warm, buttery dough melted in my mouth as the salty layer stung my lips. There’s nothing better than a soft pretzel, I thought to myself. That moment was bliss and soft pretzels had my heart.
When I was younger, I remember flying to the north in the winter, always before the sun had risen. My ears popping the moment the wheels left the ground, as I munched on my Biscoff cookies.
The excitement of travel and airports left me with an easily provoked adrenaline and a soul that loved exploration.
When I was younger, I remember my very first concert. We waited in the humid Miami air for two hours before getting through the door. A small venue perfectly suited for a new artist.
No seating, only standing. My chest pressed closely against the person in front of me. Carefree, we danced and sang the night away.
When I was younger, I remember going to school on a half day. There was nothing better than knowing that your parents were picking you up early and you would have the entire rest of the day to play.
School days were a drag but attendance was mandatory.
When I was younger, I remember going to the theater to see the day one showing of Harry Potter. They were selling magic wands outside the door. The scent of buttery popcorn traveled through the air, as I made my way towards theater two on the right.
Times have certainly changed. Now, when I go to the mall with my mom, we grip our purses close to our bodies, armed with pepper spray and a tight fist. It isn’t much, but it’s all we’ve got to prepare us for any unknown event.
When I fly up north, my anxiety kicks on to its highest degree. I am still pumped with adrenaline, except now, it’s the kind that makes your stomach knot up and rise to the back of your throat. Exploration can be more exciting now than it ever was because all I’m thinking about it is where the nearest exits are and how fast I can run with a coffee in one hand and a croissant in the other.
At my last concert, I got a pat down. I don’t go to concerts as much. Crowds make me nervous. Events that happen in crowds make me more nervous. I feel safer watching a video of my favorite artist singing live from inside my computer screen.
As for school, I’m just happy I’m not in grade school anymore, where practicing intruder safety feels like part of the curriculum.
You send your kid to school to get an education and they end up learning more about death and suffering than they do about algebra.
What choice do we have to feel excitement and bliss in a world where shootings, bombings and terrorist attacks have become our "normal"?
Where children grip their desk leg, as they witness the power of a bullet pass through the left shoulder of their teacher’s body.
Where we watch patiently as our sisters and brothers walk for the first time with one leg after a mass bombing left them, an amputee. Nothing says, “The American Dream” like duck and cover.
We accept this world full of violence and hatred. We deal with the consequences as they present themselves to us. We say our goodbyes and we move on, waiting patiently for the next event to occur. When will enough be enough? When will we finally get to feel safe?
The week’s s challenge might seem simple, but it’s often times overlooked. Spread the love to one another and allow yourself to fully indulge in life because to live in fear, is not living at all.
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