To many of us, Orlando is synonymous with Disney World, they are one and the same. It is a place that if not ever visited, leaves you feeling left out of a special club, perhaps a pseudo version of The Mickey Mouse Club. I finally joined on my honeymoon and I never miss a chance to say it’s been a Mickey Mouse marriage ever since , even in a serious blog post such as this.
Now Orlando means something else to us. The first thought is no longer Cinderella’s Castle or Space Mountain or a breakfast sighting of Chip and Dale. Orlando will now bring to mind, first and foremost, the horrific murder of so many lives, of people who loved and were loved, people, just like you and me, who laughed and cried, who were human beings. Think of every small, seemingly meaningless thing that you do, like me right now, on my exercise bike,
typing this. All of those seconds and moments that make up our existence.
I think about my early 20s, being at a club with girlfriends, dancing as a group, keeping my eye out for a guy I might like. Dragging the man I would marry out to a club for more dancing and singing. What if our love was under attack and therefore we, too? To be in danger because of our relationship and feelings for each other is inconceivable. And yet . . .
As Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator and star of the 11-time Tony award-winning musical, Hamilton, said in his acceptance speech Sunday night, “And love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love . . .”
