On January 6, 2020, I watched with horror and disbelief as rabid and traitorous maga republicans tried to stop the certification of the election for President-Elect Joe Biden.
My mouth literally fell open as the horrific scene unfolded. And literally nobody did anything to stop the violence that was being directed at the Capitol police who valiantly tried to stop them from breaching the House and the Senate.
When that breach finally happened, there were a multitude of threats directed towards anyone who had opposed or besmirched their dear leader. Speaker Pelosi’s life was in jeopardy, as well as many other members of both parties. Even then vice-president Mike Pence was target for execution by a group that was wheeling around a portable gallows.
It was surreal and sickening.
As the coverage continued, I began experiencing a growing pain on the right side of my lower back. It got so bad that I had to lay down on the floor for relief, and not stand or walk for the next couple of weeks. It was the beginning of what would first be diagnosed as a disc bulge, and then ultimately “stenosis of the lower back between L4 and L5”.
My condition initially responded to treatment with Prednisone and Flexaril. That was good for about the first two years until I found myself in need of an epidural to help relieve the debilitating pain that came when a pinched nerve became flared. The hope was that this initial epidural would last for a year or two. Unfortunately, another was needed a year later.
With a busy work schedule looming, I finally decided for a surgical solution (lumbar decompression) to my stenosis. It was clear that the stenosis was never going to get better, and that epidurals would eventually stop working. On this January 6th 4 years later, I’m right in the middle of 8 week healing period. Though it’s been a tough road, I’m glad I had the surgery.
But I often wonder.
I’ve wondered what could have been if only traitorous republicans had accepted the results of a free and fair election. What could have been if only they had accepted the peaceful transfer of power. What could have been if they weren’t so fucking racist and scared of an America where they would no longer have the ability to wield power over our ever growing ‘melting pot’.
I wonder if, on that day, my back would ever have taken this turn for the worse IF republicans weren’t so racist and scared that they almost brought down our democracy?
I may never know the answer to that question. But I do know that once my back has fully healed, I will keep up the fight and do whatever I need to do in order to protect myself and those I love from the policies of hatred that will come from the administration; and from the potential for violence from those who follow the twice-impeached convicted felon who was also found guilty of fraud and liable for sexual assault as their cult leader.
The resistance continues…