MOOD
Cindy Maddera
I’ve been in a mood. Monday felt like just the usual case of the Mondays. Microscopes had to be restarted multiple times to get them working. I set up a batch of slides to run overnight, but when I checked on them from home by remote access, I discovered that the batch failed due to a software error. I dreamed about those slides and zombies and then woke up today with my mood far from improved from the previous day. Then there was more work related shenanigans, one of them involving a supervisor. I headed off to my yoga mat with fury in my heart. While I moved through my sun salutations, my brain vibrated with chatter and rage. It was not until the end of my practice, as I sat in baddha konasana, that the chatter lifted and I started sobbing. I stayed there sobbing in baddha konasana for a while and watched the fat tears fall to my mat. Then, slowely, the tears dried up and I breathed a sigh of release.
The first thing to greet me when I went back to my desk was a news notification announcing the release of Kevin Strickland. Some of you might remember the story I wrote back in July regarding Mr. Strickland as well as Lamar Johnson, two men being held in prison despite the evidence proving them innocent. Since that entry, every week I have written and called the MO Governor and the Attorney General, pleading with them to do the right thing and release these men. Each week I have received letter back from both saying the same thing. “We appreciate you contacting [The Governor’s office or Attorney General’s office] …” Both letters end by basically saying they’re not going to do anything about it. I know that my letter writing has very little to do with the release of Mr. Strickland, but I like to think that my voice helped to keep this topic fresh in other people’s minds. That is an act of activism.
There’s a section in Karen Walrond’s The Lightmaker’s Manifesto that talks about celebrating your victories. They don’t have be to big victories, but even the tiniest victory deserves a Huzzah. Even though the only thing I did here was to bring attention to this issue, I feel like celebrating this victory. Not for myself. No, I feel like celebrating this victory for this man, his family and this community. I’m going to celebrate today and continue writing and calling tomorrow for Lamar Johnson.