In Memory Of...

It's after 11 p.m. & I'm well past exhausted from chaperoning a ski trip with students. I had a good time & should clearly be taking some pain meds to stave off the impending muscular doom awaiting me in the morning & taking my arse to bed. Instead, I'm feeling like I have a responsibility I've neglected.

While I was swishing through "the gift that God made for us," #kidssaythedarndestthings and enjoying the precious laughter of the beasts babes, a crisis was being overlooked...yet again. Today marks the 1-year anniversary of the earthquake in Ayiti (Haiti to you), but just another day in the world's [in]convenient memory. We've not questioned where our donations have gone... We've not wondered about whether doctors without borders are still necessary... We've not questioned the safety of the tent city... Most of us have managed not to hear about the aggressive increase in sexual violence against young girls & women... Cholera was just another unfortunate occurrence in the lives of people we never bothered to talk about to begin with.

I was not present today to ensure my other 80+ students recognized Haiti. I feel strangely guilty for this. Last year, I helped my school raise money & supplies to take over in the hands of a nurse going to assist. With my family I bought supplies and made kits for displaced people. I donated again & again to organizations I both trusted & don't. My Bestie is Haitian & I realize that I have not spoken to him today either.

Le sigh...

There is no more mental energy available tonight, but I feel like my 1st letter in the letter challenge will be tomorrow & I think I'll write it to Haiti. I'm going to go to bed now & hope that reading this wasn't your 1st knowledge of the importance of this day.

Not all anniversaries are happy.

Watch me move.