a new day

Have you ever been to a full military burial at Arlington National Cemetery? Have you ever walked among our nation's fallen? Have you ever been honored enough to follow the caisson through the rolling lawns lined with endless white headstones and stood in a place - a magical, forever place - where you can see both the tip of the Washington Monument and the dome of the United States Capitol take turns dancing in the golden light of a sunburst under a mostly cloudy sky?

Have you been to the wedding, the baby shower, the funeral, and now - this day - to share another emotional memory with a woman you were so fortunate to cross paths with, as her two beautiful toddlers and her strong, incredible husband continue to share their love and their lives with you?

Have you seen the honor guard fold a flag and hand it to the family after checking, and checking, and checking the corners for perfection, because she deserves nothing less? Have you felt the power and heard the noise of four mighty Strike Eagles - with friends in the cockpits, friends in the sky - scream over your head above the orange, yellow, and red leaves of fall, their power a symbol for the strength we share when we unite?

Have you watched the exacting ritual, the perfect uniforms, the steps in time, and, finally, had your heart break in two over the soulful sound of Taps on a perfectly warm and perfectly cool and perfectly breezy and simply spectacular November afternoon?

Have you done any of this on November 9, 2016, the day that it felt like our country shattered into a million pieces?

Here's what this incredible woman was telling me as the rain stopped and the sun came out and we all gathered, yet again, to be washed in her memory -- it's a new day to love and a new day to hope. Feel the sun and see the beauty.

Every day is a new day to love. Every day is a new day to hope. No matter what side of these invisible lines you fall on on November 8, on November 9, it's a new day to love. It's a new day to hope.

I woke up and I thought about fighting and next time and what it means to lose, and I almost forgot what it means to love and hope and be the glue and look at my diverse friendships and family members and remind myself that it's a new day to love.

Today, not only were we mourning a fierce woman, full of pink kisses and hope and love, but we were saying hello to where she will always be welcoming the sun on every new day in this great country.

We can mourn loss - and having this event today of all days allowed me to mourn much more than I thought I could. I can't thank this family enough for sharing their life with mine. I feel so grateful that she gave yet another gift.

But we also must start picking up all of these pieces. Realize there were no winners in this race and there were no losers among us, unless we don't wake up to a new day of love and a new day of hope.

I am so proud to be a part of my military family, my passionately liberal family, my diverse, honest, caring, and proud family, my fierce mama family, my whole world of people and relationships - you are all my family.

Let's respect the fallen. Respect the history and solemnity and weight of all that we have built and sacrificed for. Respect one another. And demand our elected officials respect all that we share and have built and carry and dream of.

And let's wake up tomorrow to our new day of love and our new day of hope.