I am wondering what would happen if 2022 Jamie were granted a brief conversation with her past self, who might say, "Hello there, self, what's the news from the future?"
Well, says 2022 Jamie, where to start?
On June 24 in 2022 you will be lying alone in bed, sick with a disease no one in 2015 has ever heard of, a disease that has killed a million people (and counting) in the US and at least six times that many worldwide-- [2015 Jamie's eyes widen]
--when social media, and media-media too, start to convulse because the three Supreme Court justices who were appointed by President Trump-- [2015 Jamie's eyes narrow, and she says, "President who? Is this your idea of a joke??"]
--no, not a joke; they joined with the other conservative justices to overturn Roe. And Casey too-- [2015 Jamie takes a subtle step backwards, moving away from this clearly delusional person who looks so much like her, only a little grayer and wearier]
"Well," says 2015 Jamie, casting about for a subject change, "what are you planning for today's name day festivities?"
"They moved the feast day," explains 2022 Jamie. "It's not being celebrated today."
"ALL RIGHT," says 2015 Jamie, "I was trying to listen to you but this all just sounds like lunacy. Mass death? President Trump? Did you forget about stare decisis? It's a thing, you know. AND THE FEAST DAY IS JUNE 24th EVERY YEAR; DO NOT ARGUE WITH ME."
"Okay," says 2022 Jamie, "that's what I thought you'd say. Back to my sickbed I go."
Does this mean you're feeling better?
Posted by: Rachel | June 27, 2022 at 03:05 AM
I hope you're feeling a little better.
Pretty sure that on June 24, 2015, previous-Jamie was aware of the "escalator press conference" ten days earlier by future former disgraced president Trump.
Posted by: rob | June 27, 2022 at 12:17 PM
I am feeling mostly better; thanks for asking.
2015 Jamie didn't pay a lot of attention to the news and was utterly astonished -- GOBSMACKED -- a full year later by Trump's candidacy. If the escalator thing pinged across my field of awareness, which I do not recall, I would have shrugged it off as a publicity stunt.
2022 Jamie is still not fully reconciled to the phrase "President Trump."
Posted by: Jamie | June 27, 2022 at 03:55 PM
It's your name day, too? Name days are sort of a big deal in eastern Europe, so when J was almost 1, his great-grandparents called to wish him a Happy Name Day on June 24. We told them "he's a baby, he doesn't care and won't talk back." They, in turn, did not care about him not caring and we had to put him on the phone so they could wish him a happy name day. Possibly one of the cutest great-grandparent/grandson interactions ever.
So anyway, happy name day even if it got moved. It IS the 24th.
Posted by: mary d | June 28, 2022 at 11:06 AM
2015 was another era; it's not everyone who lives through the breaking of the past, although I try to remind myself that lots of other people did, too. It saves me from a small amount of my despair.
Posted by: Jody | June 30, 2022 at 03:42 PM