As I sit here in Mesa, Arizona, I realize I have changed since the last time I wrote a post here. Some of it is me getting older. Some of it is the circumstances I have been through and continue to go through. I somehow feel that there is less magic out there for me. At least here and now. Jobs are scarce. Money is, too. I've lost a few friends along the way, and gained a lot of weight. Where I live not only believes it is okay to judge people based on what they look like on the outside (SB-1070), but also believes people should be able to marginalize someone for who they are on the inside (SB-1062).
Arizona isn't the only place where people seem to be getting worse. Australia has asylum seekers on Manus Island where one man has already been killed. Several states are in the process of making or have already made homelessness seemingly an illegal act. Countries around the globe are signing anti-LGBT legislation. Groups of people are being attacked, or even killed by their own governments. People out there gleefully relish causing pain because it shows that they have power. There simply seems to be less magic around us.
When did we all become so... mean? And I am not leaving myself out of this, either. I've done plenty wrong. More than I wish to even think about. But, there are things I just don't understand. I have been told I would belong to Hufflepuff. Fine. I'll own that. Wish it was Ravenclaw, but Hufflepuff it is. And you fit into whichever house you feel most comfortable. Right now, I feel like we're surrounded by deatheaters, and this is their call:
You don't like who I like. I hate you.
You don't look like someone I'd like. I hate you.
You make me feel uncomfortable. I hate you.
A book says I should hate you. I hate you.
I am not going to say all is doom and gloom. Recently, I've caught up with old friends I had fallen out of touch with. I get to spend my days talking to people I hold in very high regard. They make me smile, and laugh, and long to be near them. They are absolutely bewitching. Some places out there are forward thinking and moving. There are those showing outrage at injustice. There is simply too few of those to counteract what is going on in everyday life.
I want my world of enchantment back. I want people to be happy because they make other people happy. I want to be employed by someone who likes me the way I am and is happy that I get things done the way I do. I want people to stop trying to win, no matter the repercussions. I want people to stop being against something simply because someone they see as their opponent is for it. I want all of us to stop being so damn scared and so damn angry about the things we don't understand. I want the hating to stop. And I want to take everyone with me.
So I will take my 5 points from Hufflepuff. I know I deserve it. But can we all just... be a little more spellbound with our lives? And with other people, whether we know them or not? Whether they look like us or not? Whether we agree with them or not?
I'm going to start making a concerted effort to do so. Why don't you come with me? It'll be magical!
Much love, don't die.
--Grant
I remember you as a beautiful, sweet, thinking young man. I hope you are well and happy. You are a good person!
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