The Litany

Regardless of where we live, who we know, or what challenges we face, after a certain stage of life, everyone has a litany. Even those of us who are unaware of its existence, without hesitation chant our own version without hesitation or provocation,

Each recitation, of course, is different, but still there is a core of familiarity in everyone’s story.,.

The familiar memories of yesterdays, and yesteryears are paramount. All have unique settings, some holidays of times gone by, some exotic vacation settings in remote places, occasionally, significant events, weddings, births.

And they are all glorious. Not a tinge of unhappiness can be recalled, and truthfully, they are not absolutely accurate. The moments we chose to narrate have been wrapped in gossamer and preserved in lavender.

The reality of what once was has faded into the night of memory. It makes life easier to forget the 20 lb. turkey never was fully cooked, or it rained the entire week we spent in Bermuda, and the three day wedding celebration ended within the year in divorce.

No, litanies of time gone by only record the good times.

And that is fine, until we reach the topic of today’s world. And that becomes our moment of truth.

So, let’s correct the record about “It wasn’t like this yesterday.”

No, it wasn’t.

Yesterday, there was no Jonas Salk vaccine to prevent polio. We had a President who was left crippled from the dread disease, and innumerable other victims before the miraculous discovery in March, 1953.

Yesterday there was a war, ravaging Europe and entire cities were bombed out. There was the utter horror of Auschwitz, and Hitler’s attempted annihilation of an entire people.

Another yesterday, a stock market crashed. Then there was a crippling depression.

Yesterday, there was Vietnam, and every Mother who had a son prayed her child would not be called to fight. The brave warriors who returned were treated badly by the nation they served.

Yesterday, there were unforgettable assassinations. Within a short span of time, our country lost first a Civil Rights hero, a President and then unbelievably, his younger brother, a United States senator.

Finally, one unforgettable yesterday there was 9/11.

No, indeed, Today we have political chaos, deep divisions in the country, and angry marches, but let’s remove the rose colored veil from yesterday when we chant the current popular litany, and remember the reality of what the world really was like in days gone by.

Until we do that, we can’t honestly face tomorrow or hope to succeed in making it better