Something wasn't quite right when I left the local Bagel store yesterday. Traffic, which usually flows freely at 2:00pm, was backed up for miles and every exit of the parking lot was surrounded by officers on motorcycles.
At first, I wasn't sure what to make of it. Had there been a robbery? A shooting? Were we under attack?
After hundreds of motorcycles passed, I saw it--the hearse that carried the body of fallen Deputy, Brandon Coates.
At first, I was annoyed by the "inconvenience" of the procession. I wasn't feeling well and had places to be. Then, as I allowed myself to experience what was happening (rather than resisting it), I got present to the moment: the complete stop of everything around me, the solidarity of the officers, how nothing in that moment mattered more than honoring this person and their service, the sadness and awe from onlookers and families.
For over an hour, I watched thousands of police officers weave their way through traffic, as officers saluted them. From Miami to Alachua, to Pensacola and beyond, police cars from every county were represented. It was truly a site to behold.
As each car passed, I thought not only of the slain officer and his family, but of all the people who journey through our world...many of them unnoticed.
So, instead of being impatient, multi-tasking, or doing what I would normally do in an instance like this, I took a breath, experienced my feelings, and wrote the beginnings of a song. It's not complete yet, but it's a start. To all of those who have passed, I honor you.
Download The Beginnings of a Song
Altered Today: Impatience, Gratitude, Self Expression
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