Dear Darlings,

Lucas has left the building. Stan safely delivered him to Washington DC. And anxiety is setting in…

This election has amped the stress levels for so many people. I don’t normally wander into political issues. I strive hard to be strictly a mom blogger and fiction author.

But here’s where I am right now.

I’m struggling to keep my nerves and my anxieties under control as the inauguration looms closer and closer. I know so many others are feeling the same way too, but probably not for the exact same reasons. My fear is not because I wanted one party to win and one party to lose. I’m not going to get into a political discussion with any of you because, again, I’m just a mom blogger, and I like it that way. The jangling I feel is because both of my boys will be in DC for this inauguration, and, just to be clear, not for political affiliations.

For the past hundred years, VMI has been invited to march in inaugural parades so Zach, and the entire corps of cadets, will be part of our national story. VMI has marched for both republicans and democrats. In most recent history, they marched in Bush’s (41 & 43) and both of Obama’s inaugural parades. And now for Trump, they will march once again into the history books.

Last February, Lucas was invited to join a leadership summit, which was well before anyone knew how this election would develop. The summit is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Lucas to see all that an inauguration entails, from a peaceful transition of power as a new president takes the oath of office to the pomp and circumstance of the day. He will be on the National Mall, with so many others, watching history unfold.

With thoughts of both Zach and Lucas being there, anxiety has crept in. I’m trying hard to contain it, but it’s stirring because the crazies are out there. Waiting and watching.

We’ve seen it all too often. Boston, New York City, Orlando, Paris, Brussels, Nice and Berlin…the crazies took so much from so many because they wanted to inflict pain and incite fear. I would never not let my boys attend (well, with Zach I don’t have a choice) these events because of the crazies. We can’t give into that. And I have to say, all politics aside, I’m proud of them for wanting to be a part of something so big, but as proud as I am, I’m just as nervous for them and everyone who will be there. I don’t want anything to happen to anyone because of the crazies.
 
So, I’m asking you to please keep good thoughts, vibes and prayers cast over all who are going to attend this piece of history…the good, bad and the ugly parts of it. I hope all of you will send up prayers upon prayers to keep not only Zach and Lucas safe, but all of our sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles and friends safe…whether you agree with the politics of the day or not.

xo,
me

PS: I do know that security is going to be extraordinarily tight. Stan just gave me the highlights of security after he dropped Lucas off. I do feel a bit better knowing how much has been done already, and how much more they are planning to do. As far as I’m concerned the tighter the security the better.

For the love of our children…