 Mom's Love Inspired by Mom - Written by: Chris St.Clair SCAD Queers and Allies/ StandOut Youth
There are a lot of things in this life that are uncertain. How much we have in our wallets, how much we have in our fridge, and even how much we have in our calendars. But luckily (if we play our cards right) it’s pretty hard to end up with anything less than a full heart
Events like the March for Equality don’t tend to fall into your lap very frequently. A chance to be a youth activist with a couple hundred thousand of your peers? Yeah, not exactly an average Sunday for me. So when I boarded the RV with 18 of my soon-to-be closest friends (and I mean that in the most literal, feet-in-my-back sort of way) I already knew I was in for one heck of an emotionally empowering buffet. Needless to say I came spork in hand.
Fast forward a handful of cramped leg muscles, pit stops, and half of Hairspray as we find ourselves at the gateway of a life-affirming experience. Navigating the treacherous and hallowed halls of the DC transportation system was one thing, emerging onto DuPont Circle was entirely another. From that point on it was experience after experience that I hope stick with me until I join my brethren on the great Rainbow Highway. Seeing Cleve Jones speak, experiencing the DADT protest, making signs that spoke for us, joining thousands in a march that I found breathtaking and crowding around a camp fire at night to invest in each other’s lives… all these things are show-stopping incidents that it takes my breath away to recall.
But you see the strange thing about life is that the very best parts are often the simplest, smallest, most incidental fractions of all. Like an e-mail received while braving the bus trip from ones campground to the Metro station. It’s amazing the impact a paragraph or two can have on so many when correctly applied.
I’m a recent graduate from ye olde flip phone from back when Cingular was still Cingular and SIM cards only held 100 entries. And I didn’t enter the new age lightly; I hopped straight into an iPhone. So the novelty of receiving an e-mail while sitting on a bus was still fresh. In the midst of a conversation I heard that uplifting little bleep noise and hailed my inbox in rabid curiosity.
“Love You” was the subject line, and the sender was none other than my mom. Opening the e-mail I started reading, swaying back and forth with the commute and trying to focus amidst all the jovial conversations happening around me. As I read I experienced a very curious sensation. I began to feel a pride swell in my chest as I’d never felt before, a kind of deep affirmation that can only come from having someone you love and trust deeper than most letting you know that you’re actually doing pretty well at living.
As soon as I finished her last word I had to share my experience. I read parts of it aloud to the bus before passing my precious iPhone around. The e-mail was read, re-read, photographed, and applauded. With just some words on a digital page my mom had touched the hearts of so many people in such a deep way. I had never been prouder to say “yep, this is my mom. She is amazing and awesome and I am an incredibly lucky person to have her as a part of my life.”
So many folks felt so passionate about her words that I was asked to submit her e-mail so that others can experience a supporter like her. I gave her a call and got her stunned approval. So without further ado, I present an abridged version of the single most impactful e-mail I have ever received, courtesy of the wonderful woman who I am honored to call my mom:
“Chris,
I have been thinking of you so much this weekend. I hope you stayed warm last night as we had our first frost here in the Midwest. Weather.com says it was about 50 degrees there last night but will be a beautiful 70 degrees and sunny today, perfect weather for a march today.
I have such mixed feelings about what you are doing this weekend. Of course, I support what you are marching for with all my heart. But after 21 years of my number one concern being to "protect" you, it is hard to let go of that responsibility. But I realize that you now have a greater responsibility to yourself to fight for what you believe is right. So I have a great fear of loss on your behalf but also I rejoice in what you may gain, both for yourself and hopefully for many others.
The content of your character is the measure of an adult and you are demonstrating that your character is focusing on justice and inclusion and I am so proud of that. I hope that you are proud of yourself and what you have become.
I love you more than I can say and wish you an empowering day that moves your cause ahead and leaves you feeling proud that you stood up for what you believe in.
Much, much love,
Mom”
|
A Mom's Wisdom
