Anniversaries and Endings

This weekend marks two important anniversaries for me - the two-year anniversary of cutting my hair to a pixie and the four-year anniversary of my audition for the Dance Program at Loyola Marymount University. Both decisions brought such growth and tenderness into my life, and I can barely remember the person I was before either.

I just completed (survived) my first week of online classes as I finish up my last semester remotely. Despite the inconvenient virtual shift my life has taken, I still love going to class. The dance department has rallied to keep us moving and dancing, and at a time when I need it the most. I have never been more grateful for my professors (and the ballet barre I got for Christmas at age 11 which is now my daily companion).

One of my friends and I were talking about gratitude in terms of this whole mess, and we reflected on things we had carelessly wished for in the weeks before this period of isolation. My friend complained about the service organization she struggled to fit into her busy schedule. I chimed in with thoughts about my two jobs and how I just wanted free time to sit on the couch.

Now, we would both give anything to have all that busy-ness back in our lives.

This week, California celebrates Cesar Chavez Day on March 31st. Chavez was a human rights activist and labor leader, focusing on Latinx American civil rights. Every year, we have his birthday off in remembrance of the work he did for farmers and laborers.

It is fitting that we celebrate Cesar Chavez this week as our communities depend on the laborers right now - EMTs, grocery store workers, postal service delivery people, fast food workers, airport employees. They are the backbone of our society, and I hope we remember this when this time of isolation ends.

My friend and I had planned to go to Disneyland this Tuesday, because the tickets were cheaper on the week day. I was so excited to have a Tuesday off, as that is my day with nearly 13 hours of classes. Just yesterday, I wished aloud for class on Tuesday, since I would much rather be in class than sitting on my couch.

During our weekly choir practice (which has now moved to Zoom with everything else), one of my friends described how she is drawing her hope from the imagining of the day when this is all over. The day when we can be together in community, sans virtual means and social distancing. Right now, that is something I am dreaming of. In the meantime, I'll take all the Zoom ballet classes and poetry workshops I can get. These are the things worth living for.