Read on Twitter
The realization sweeps over me as I look around.
Either nobody knows.
Or nobody cares.
I sense my heart beating faster. I’ve never had an anxiety attack before. At least I don’t think I have.
There’s a first time for everything.
I close my eyes, for just a moment. 1/
Either nobody knows.
Or nobody cares.
I sense my heart beating faster. I’ve never had an anxiety attack before. At least I don’t think I have.
There’s a first time for everything.
I close my eyes, for just a moment. 1/
A memory comes rushing back to me.
I am 12 years old, and visiting my cousins in Orange County, California.
It is the Summer of ‘93, and “Jurassic Park” is ruling the box office.
I am immersed in video games, “StarFox” and “Mortal Kombat II.”
Life is good.
Wonderful. 2/
I am 12 years old, and visiting my cousins in Orange County, California.
It is the Summer of ‘93, and “Jurassic Park” is ruling the box office.
I am immersed in video games, “StarFox” and “Mortal Kombat II.”
Life is good.
Wonderful. 2/
If only we knew how precious certain moments were, before they happened, and began fading into the past.
This is the last Summer my extended family will be together.
My paternal grandmother is about to be diagnosed with breast cancer.
She knows something is wrong. 3/
This is the last Summer my extended family will be together.
My paternal grandmother is about to be diagnosed with breast cancer.
She knows something is wrong. 3/
She takes time to sit beside me as I play my video games or play with my cousins.
She has always been particularly fond of me.
I take her fingertips running through my unruly hair for granted.
As she sits, her lips move wordlessly in prayer.
Her prayers are powerful. 4/
She has always been particularly fond of me.
I take her fingertips running through my unruly hair for granted.
As she sits, her lips move wordlessly in prayer.
Her prayers are powerful. 4/
One day she tells me she has something important to tell me.
I am impatient to join my cousins outside for an impromptu game of tag.
I don’t know she has cancer yet. None of us do.
She seems hesitant for a moment, and I’m squirming to go play.
Finally, she speaks. 5/
I am impatient to join my cousins outside for an impromptu game of tag.
I don’t know she has cancer yet. None of us do.
She seems hesitant for a moment, and I’m squirming to go play.
Finally, she speaks. 5/
“You are my heart.” She says this with her characteristic smile, her eyes wrinkling in the corners and sparkling with a youthful energy. “Never forget that. You must be a kind heart. And you must beat for others.”
She puts her small hand over my heart, “Beat for others.” 6/
She puts her small hand over my heart, “Beat for others.” 6/
A small part of my mind whispers to me, “hold on to this moment, never let it go.”
Impulsively I give her a hug.
It is one of the very last times I will get to hug her. She kisses my forehead.
I run downstairs to play.
And inside me, my heart beats stronger. 7/
Impulsively I give her a hug.
It is one of the very last times I will get to hug her. She kisses my forehead.
I run downstairs to play.
And inside me, my heart beats stronger. 7/
The arc of my life has been many things.
At its core I’ve tried to do good by other people. I’m not perfect. I’ve made mistakes. But I’ve tried.
I try to send out ripples in this infinite ocean. 8/
At its core I’ve tried to do good by other people. I’m not perfect. I’ve made mistakes. But I’ve tried.
I try to send out ripples in this infinite ocean. 8/
The least I can do, the absolute least I can do, for those around me in the time of a pandemic, is to wear a mask.
I understand that some (few) people can’t do this.
But those who can, should.
You don’t need your heart to beat for others, just let your choices protect them. 9/
I understand that some (few) people can’t do this.
But those who can, should.
You don’t need your heart to beat for others, just let your choices protect them. 9/
Do this, for others.
All we have is each other.
I’m at a pizzeria. It’s a Saturday. They aren’t answering the phone for curbside pickup, so I hesitantly enter.
It’s packed. And no masks.
The servers have them pulled down below their noses.
Nobody else wears them. 10/
All we have is each other.
I’m at a pizzeria. It’s a Saturday. They aren’t answering the phone for curbside pickup, so I hesitantly enter.
It’s packed. And no masks.
The servers have them pulled down below their noses.
Nobody else wears them. 10/
The realization sweeps over me as I look around.
Either nobody knows.
Or nobody cares.
I sense my heart beating faster. I’ve never had an anxiety attack before. At least I don’t think I have.
There’s a first time for everything.
I close my eyes, and feel each breath.
Either nobody knows.
Or nobody cares.
I sense my heart beating faster. I’ve never had an anxiety attack before. At least I don’t think I have.
There’s a first time for everything.
I close my eyes, and feel each breath.
