Reflections on Lil

As the date approached to unveil the historical marker honoring the life, work, and legacy of Lillian E. Smith I kept stressing over how many people would attend the event. I didn’t think, at any point, about how I’d actually feel during the ceremony itself. However, when the ceremony began on that cloudless spring day, with the birds singing in the trees and the wind blowing, the importance of this historical marker and the ceremony hit me square in the face, and emotions whirled within me. It was unexpected, but as I reflect on it, I realize that I should have expected such a reaction.

When I woke up that morning, I checked my phone, as one usually does when arising from slumber, and saw a text from Keri Leigh Merritt, our scheduled speaker for the unveiling ceremony. She had come done with something and would be unable to speak. She was disappointed, and as I felt for her, praying she would get better soon, the thoughts of dread crept into my head. While it may seem like I’m am optimist most of the time, or even a realist, I am, at my core, a pessimist, always dreading the worse. This may be from past failed events or from years of rejections in various venture or from who knows what. So, my mind began racing, thinking that the event wouldn’t be well attended and end up an utter disaster.

However, as I went about my morning, getting ready to head into work before the ceremony, I…