FIRST POST OF THE NEW YEAR
This post has nothing to do with art.
It’s been a very long time since I wrote any kind of post
but one of my desires with this new year was to get some thoughts on paper
again. Often, for me, it’s deciding what I want to say. I am best, I think, at
writing in a stream of consciousness manner, so here goes!
Much has been written about 2019. We all know what a
difficult year it was for the city of Dayton and its surrounding suburbs, as
well as for places farther afield. We all hope that 2020 brings better, more
hopeful events. That said, I experienced a strong feeling that I was unaware of
until we were visited by undesirable organizations, weather events, and the
actions of a mentally unstable individual.
That feeling was love. Love for my city. Love for my fellow
citizens. Love for the response of so many who jumped into action to assist
those who were hurt. I have lived in Dayton for almost 35 years. I grew up in
the Miami Valley but not in Dayton. I lived in some other really wonderful
places. Dayton, in my eyes, did not have the same cache as those other cities.
We moved here to be closer to family, not because it was a “cool place” to be.
It took the events of 2019 for me to realize that I love
this city. I am proud of this city. Nice people live here. Interesting people
live here. Talented people live here. Caring people live here.
I am proud to live here. It’s home.
