MARCH IN MICHIGAN: WHAT I LEARNED FROM MY GRANDSONS

 

Michigan in March was  bitter cold, isolating and downright gloomy. What makes this so vivid is that  a glimmer of  warmth and Spring appeared early in the month that tantalized the soul. The sun showed up and for a brief moment we believed  that winter was done. Then we got hammered by an ice storm which cut off power to nearly one million people followed by a blizzard paralyzing traffic,  schools and businesses.The gray skies and arctic winds told us to hunker down, stay home and withdraw again into hibernation mode.

So....when the Haisley Elementary School Play showed up on the schedule, I admit to hoping it would be canceled so I could wallow on the couch in my pajamas and binge on movies and /or college basketball. The last thing I wanted was to get presentable (shower, shave, wear clothes and shoes) and venture out to an elementary school gymnasium with 250 of my closest friends!

But I soldiered up and traversed out into the cold night air.  When I arrived, to my surprise, the parking lot was full. 

I had only been in the building a few times to vote when we first arrived in Ann Arbor  six years ago. 

Haisley is where my  grandson Sam is a first grader and his brother James attends kindergarten.

 

Walking into the building after the long pandemic isolation was compelling in that I realized what I had missed:a sense of connection to my neighbors and surroundings.

Volunteers, kids, parents, teachers, aunts and uncles, sisters and brothers, grandmas and grandpas jammed the auditorium .

For the first time in three long years, we were together in person as a community (not on a Zoom call or Youtube video).

We gathered  for the time honored story of "The Lion King"

                           --Hope and Fear

                           --Leadership and Betrayal

                           --Unity and Division.

The ‘Circle of Life.’’

'Twas in a word, WONDERFUL!

Amid  the dreariness of Michigan's March , the children brought LIGHT.

Amid the isolation of our individual lives, the children brought COMMUNITY.

Amid the brokenness of war and poverty and violence pervading the news, the children brought HOPE.

Grandson Sam designed the logo for the play which adorned programs, posters and t-shirts; he proudly performed his bit part as a member of the lion cub pack.

Grandson James was enthralled with the songs and pageantry of a wonderfully entertaining production replete with dramatic music, brilliant costumes and stellar performances by wild hyenas, the evil Scar, and the hero Simba.

And this Grandpa came away renewed, refreshed, grateful, and hopeful.......inspired by the children of this school community.

THANK YOU!