It's Ours, Now Be Grateful
Decades ago, I remember sitting on the patio of the former Café Blasé on Commercial Streeet in Provincetown on a balmy summer night. As I looked out over the myriad shapes, sizes, genders, ages, races and persuasions, everyone adorned with all the vibrant colors of the rainbow, I experienced a sense of great contentment and said to my new husband, “I love this place! You can dress the way you want, say what you want, be who you want, and nobody cares!” I remember this moment as if it were yesterday. Now, years later, Ptown has changed tremendously in some ways. Many of the old, beachy 1950’s resorts and hotels have been replaced by condos. Prices of homes have skyrocketed, and the high school closed several years ago due to a dearth of families living here year-round. I read somewhere that Ptown was becoming “Nantucketized”. However, now at the end of our third decade of vacationing in a North Truro beach shack every summer, I notice that even with these changes, many singles, families and groups still daytrip here. Some rent the little cabins and motel rooms in North Truro along route 6A, which is the coastal road that meanders toward the outer reaches of Cape Cod. Many of these families have been coming here longer than us with generations of extended families vacationing here for fifty or sixty years. Many come from out of state because there is something unique about the outer cape that doesn’t exist elsewhere. Besides the gorgeous beaches and sand dunes, hiking trails, pristine ocean, whale-sightings, seafood, art galleries, theater and carnival-atmosphere, there is a sense of freedom and acceptance that separates this paradise from other equally gorgeous places in the world.
A few weeks ago, we sat outside the town hall (our favorite place to people-watch) on a warm summer night. As I gazed down Commercial Street toward the East end of Provincetown, I noticed the dozens of American flags waving proudly overhead all the way down the street. Nestled in the middle of two flags was a banner that said “FREEDOM”. I am used to seeing rainbow flags plastered throughout Ptown and I feel this obvious affirming of our beautiful flag and that word “freedom” which means so much, but most people take for granted, sent chills up my spine. In my stream of consciousness moment, I thought about what freedom means for us in this country. We can choose how to dress, where to live, how to earn a living, what to eat, where to vacation, what to read, who to befriend, whether to believe or not believe, whether to start a business, whether to marry or not, and whether to vote…..yes whether, to vote. As divisive as our country is at this moment, we can “choose” to discuss, argue, proselytize or write about our opinions on a variety of issues, and we are protected according to our First Amendment. Do we realize how fortunate we are that we can even have these freedoms? I wish we could all take a step back and reasonably discuss our differences without personal affronts or vehemence. What a rich and diverse sociopolitical landscape our country enjoys, and our ability to have conversations around our differences is what will help our democracy to survive and thrive.
In a recent trip to Ireland, we enjoyed a deep and lively conversation over a Guinness at Friel’s pub with 2 thirty-something brothers-in-law. I happened to mention something negative about the political environment in the US, and Connor said, “but the United States, it’s so big! It’s got so much land, and the cities are so big, and there’s so much nature, and culture, and music, and food, and the people are so diverse and……it’s amazing!” I paused and reflected on his words. Here’s this guy who has a great job in one of the most prosperous countries in Europe where young people are flocking to work. It’s brimming with culture, music and history, and yet he has to remind me of what an amazing country we live in.
So, I’m just saying folks, we are here, it’s ours, now let’s be grateful……