You’ll have to turn up your speakers to hear this properly. It’s been transferred from VHS, and is a 1993 performance by 10,000 Maniacs at the inauguration of President Clinton. This morning I read that already this year there have been 219 American soldier deaths this year in Afghanistan, up 41% from all of 2008. And I’m sitting here in this coffeeshop surrounded by other somewhat sleepy people drinking my coffee and waking up. You can hear the Death Cab for Cutie song playing in between the sounds of the espresso machine and cash till.
And I’m catching up on the news and thinking about 1993, the year I graduated from high school. And where I hoped to be at this point in my life, where I hoped the world to be at this point in my life, and how the latter part of those hopes has gone pear-shaped. And I take an extra minute to enjoy the feeling of safety and peace and everydayness of my morning. I sip my red-eye (with light brew, natch) and catch up on what’s happening around the world and remember that these are days– we can take our days now to work towards a better future.
And I’m infinitely thankful for all the people who are fighting battles far away from home, wishing to have a nice quiet morning in the coffeeshop or with their families. This quiet moment of tranquility is for them. May they soon have days filled with laughter until they break.
These are the days you’ll remember.
Never before and never since, I promise, will the whole world be warm as this.
And as you feel it, you’ll know it’s true that you are blessed and lucky.
It’s true that you are touched by something that will grow and bloom in you.
These are the days you’ll remember.
When May is rushing over you with desire to be part of the miracles you see in every hour.
You’ll know it’s true that you are blessed and lucky.
It’s true that you are touched by something that will grow and bloom in you.
These are days.
These are the days you might fill with laughter until you break.
These days you might feel a shaft of light make its way across your face.
And when you do you’ll know how it was meant to be.
See the signs and know their meaning.
It’s true, you’ll know how it was meant to be.
Hear the signs and know they’re speaking to you, to you.
Lyrics from here.
