Out for an early afternoon run — it’s an easy day — and as I round the mile and a half mark and turn onto G I am bombarded. First, a pack of motorcycles, loud and obnoxious, followed by a string of pick up trucks, at least eight of them. All waving gigantic Trump flags. Sometimes two flags to a car.
And I know this is nowhere close to the real thing, but I swear the words “hate crime” popped into my head as they narrowly passed me on the side of the road. I could feel it: the intention to intimate. The abhorrence they would feel towards me if they knew who I was.
I’ll admit, I was intimidated. As much as I wanted to flip them off or yell in their faces as they passed by, I couldn’t. Conflict with people who join that kind of driving parade isn’t just uncomfortable, it could be dangerous.
I’m all for flying aggressive pride or Black Lives Matter flags and coming together, but the message at the center of that display of identity is one of love and humanity.
Some moments I don’t know how I can stand waiting another day for the election to happen and be over with. And then in the next moment I am filled with fear for what will happen when the election happens and is over with.
Keep breathing.
With Love,
Natalie