Fireworks are starting off now. They'll be wildest at midnight - visible from all over the city at the same time. Going to be up writing, but honestly, who can sleep with this noise anyway?
The fireworks repurpose a tradition by cartels, back in the bad days of Medellín.
Now they mark the start of Navidad. 100% not religious, but hot dog, do I enjoy seeing people lean into family, togetherness, & gratitude.
Big hugs and much love to all of you. May you always have reasons to be thankful. ❤️
Here we have plenty of spring (Medellín is a "city of eternal spring"), but that absolutely holds in the figurative sense! Everyone in Medellín has a family story from the bad times. The collective nature of trauma creates its own resilience, though; people leaned into family in tougher years, when the highways were essentially cut off by guerrillas, and even other barrios weren't always safe--and that shaped a culture of gratitude for the little things.
So much to learn from. :)
@MLClark It’s within the crucibles of our challenges that the diamonds of our character are forged. Some of the people I’ve seen that have been through the worst most unimaginable things have often been the most kind.
Buckets of love back to you. So many reasons to be thankful.
@MLClark It is in the depths of deepest darkness that people come together and celebrate the light that shines within us all. It is such a glorious thing and a touchstone, a good reminder in the hard times, amidst all the war and strife, that the darkest of days only give rise to the return of the light, and portent to the hope of spring.