Lawyer Card

On one one of the crazy wife/mom blogs I read, someone yesterday wrote she was thankful for "Freedom." No explanation. Now. I am not religious and I think the closest thing I have to a holy text would be the Bill of Rights. So, believe me, I am not dissin' freedom. But what does it mean to just say you're thankful for freedom?

There's freedom of the press. There's freedom of religion/irreligion. There's the presumption of innocence. The freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. There's the right to a jury trial. The right to confront witnesses. The right to NOT be a witness against oneself. I don't know if crazy wife/mom blogger meant any or all of those things. Maybe she meant the freedom to have a traditional marriage and make babies. Whatever.

My brother is, in a very literal way, not free right now. I visited him yesterday. There was a huge line of people to visit loved ones yesterday morning because of an institutional policy to not allow any visitors on holidays. They were lined up for the chance to spend 15 minutes talking to their loved ones through glass on telephones. And I bet they were thankful for the chance to do that.

I, however, felt so fortunate as I entered the facility with no wait time, presented my driver's license and bar admission card. The deputy verified my identity and handed me a pass stamped "contact." Seven red letters that meant I got to wrap my arms around my brother, hold his hand while we were talking, and squeeze him extra tight for Thanksgiving.

When I left my visit, my heart felt heavy. Missing my brother. Sad for my family. Sad for other families that are not together.

But then I realized we are damn lucky. I wouldn't be surprised if my brother was the only one in the whole institution who got to hug his sister yesterday. Yep, this year we are, indeed, thankful for the lawyer card.

Oh, and freedom.