The Day Before Tomorrow

Everybody understands that holidays can be emotional, for better or worse. They can be especially loaded for those who have suffered a loss, are recently divorced, or are lonely and isolated without a solution at hand.

They also can be times of joy, especially for children who may be largely unaware of the concerns that cloud the minds of the adults in their lives. 

American folklore makes a big deal of the importance of family at holidays, but we all know that family too can be a mixed bag. Family histories at holidays include stressful conversations, anxiety swings and fierce political disagreements.

This last fear — of political fights — is so deep that there is a constant stream of nervous jokes and advice columns in the media surrounding family holiday get-togethers on ways to try and minimize rifts.

Why do we fear disagreeing so much? Maybe what we fear the most is losing each other, whatever our flaws and differences, forever. This year the additional cloud hanging over the holidays is that our countrymen have unwisely elected an authoritarian — a development that threatens the stability, security and survival of our democracy.

If we complain they say we are exaggerating. We face many dark days ahead.

I sometimes wish as a supposed patriarch that I had a great and original font of knowledge and wisdom to impart at times like this — for my own relatives and by extension for others.

But I don’t.

Except maybe this, a platitude. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow is unknowable. So all there is is today, and if you are able make today matter in some small way that brings a larger meaning and a glimmer of hope either for you or for someone else, do it.

And another thing. We never really lose one another, not completely.

Because like Irene, we’ll see you in our dreams. 

LYRICS:

“Lost Highway”

Song by Hank Williams

I'm a rollin' stone, all alone and lost
For a life of sin, I have paid the cost
When I pass by, all the people say
Just another guy on the lost highway

Just a deck of cards, and a jug of wine
And a woman's lies makes a life like mine
Oh, the day we met, I went astray
I started rolling down that lost highway

I was just a lad, nearly 22
Neither good nor bad, just a kid like you
And now I'm lost, too late to pray
Lord, I take a cost, oh the lost highway

Now boys don't start to ramblin' round
On this road of sin, are you sorrow-bound?
Take my advice or you'll curse the day
You started rollin' down that lost highway

)Songwriter: Leon Payne)