normal

Normal

Over a beer; at a bar or in a living room, we’ve had those conversations where the word “normal” comes up. Inevitably someone exclaims: “What is ‘normal’ anyway?!” Usually, it is a dead-end comment. Other platitudes follow. Such as “I know ‘normal’ when I see it…”

In today’s America ‘normal’ is no longer a platitude because what is going on in America today is not normal. No matter what the Trump sycophants may espouse. Donald Trump’s America is not ‘normal’ in the sense that normality implies a healthy and happy society.

A normal society is not led by those who undermine the good that normal societies offer. A normal society is not one in which the military is turned upon the citizens of that society, or where massive percentages of wealth go only to a minutia of people. A normal society is not militarized, fanatical, driven by greed and narcissism.

If it is actually true that we can “know ‘normal'” when we “see it” then it must be obvious that Donald Trump’s America is far from.

The Necessity of Normal

This last year was, of course, not normal. But that goes without saying…or does it. Over dinner a long time friend comes over and we hug in the doorway. We don’t think about it. We sit and talk and eat for over five hours and the time goes by quick, in a blink. Before we know it we are saying goodbye. But before we do we realize that such things are no longer normal. They need to be normalized. And that takes work.

While we sit and during dinner the normalcy of our situation slowly pours over us. It’s syrupy sensation is warm and inviting but my friend is heavy in thought even though he doesn’t say so.

“You know, I use to think that bad people were the outliers.” he says. “I thought that good people outnumbered the bad. I thought that moral people were the norm and that those that didn’t care about others were psychopaths. You know…I don’t know…like someone who does something heinous. But, I don’t know anymore.”

The conversation went silent while my friend gathered his thoughts.

“I’ve always considered myself an optimistic, a hopeful person. I’ve always thought the best, I thought that the good guys win…”

He told me a story of people on his flight acting like children because their connecting flight had been cancelled. We talked about the inevitable, about T**** and about the Republicans and the people that continue to support him.

“Is it that?” I asked.

“No, maybe. I think it was the pandemic. It just seemed like common sense that everyone would do what it took to be safe. Why the fuck not just wear a mask?!” he exclaims. “Maybe everyone, most people not everyone, is simply not that good. That’s a fucked up thing to say I know. I don’t know.”

He sits on the couch in thought and sip my scotch. Before we know it we are saying goodbye. but before we do we realize that somethings are no longer normal. They need to be normalized. And that takes work.