December 19th 》History and Humanity

On This Day - Family, History, and the Solitude of a December Morning

The morning sun hides behind the gray hues of the clouds today. Rain is in the forecast over the bustling cityscape of Santo Domingo, where the world slowly stirs below as the Rio Ozama carries its silent history beneath my 7th-floor balcony.

It's 9:30 AM, the air filled with the distant sounds of a city awakening, the honking of cars distant yet persistent, like a stubborn heartbeat.

Here, in this highrise Airbnb, I'm a spectator to life, high above the vibrancy of the slums that pulse with the real rhythm of the Dominican Republic.

Coffee in hand, the rich aroma blending with the city's own scent, I feel the disconnect—the space between me and the purpose of our visit, which is to be with family, not to observe from a vantage point of solitude.

The view is nice up here, but it's lonely.

On this day, December 19th, I find myself reflecting on the historical underpinnings of this place, my gaze often drifting across the river to the Alcázar de Colón, a silent witness to centuries past.

The steady flow of trash from last night's sweeping downpour, now making its way to the ocean. It's a grim reminder of the missing foresight we often lack.

Here, some residents often intentionally place their trash outside during heavy rainfall, relying on nature to carry their responsibilities away.

However, ‘out of sight, out of mind’ eventually always makes its way back into the clear vision of others down the river of life.

Today is a day that seems to draw out the resonance of history, with the scenery itself whispering tales of old.

On this day, back in 1776, Thomas Paine, one of my favorite authors, published his pamphlet "American Crisis" which famously stated, "These are the times that try men's souls."

As I look out over this ancient city, I feel the weight of those words, a reminder of the struggles and triumphs that have shaped our world.

Paine's call to action and hope resonates across time, mirroring my own Paine's desire to connect deeply with the roots and bonds of family rather than the isolation of this highrise view of flowing garbage.

A page from the annals of history turns, revealing the birth of French painter Jean François Millet in 1814, an artist who could evoke the soul of the peasant life on canvas.

Perhaps, if he were here now, he would paint the vibrant life of Santo Domingo's streets, capturing the essence of its people, much like I yearn to capture their spirits in words.

Yet, not all history carries the light of inspiration. On this day in 1843, 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens was published, a story of change and redemption, a reminder that even the coldest of hearts can learn to beat warmly.

I often have to remind myself, the Dominican Republic is a nation of poverty, an isolated overpopulated island.

Here, I see the future of the mainland of America. The United States is only about a century behind mass 3rd world problems.

We already have signs of irreversible poverty in places like Detroit and San Francisco—previews of the inevitable, where social divide and division of power manifests itself starkly.

As I sip my coffee, I ponder the lessons of Ebenezer Scrooge, and I'm reminded that the true warmth comes from being nestled among loved ones, not from the cold view of a distant highrise.

The air is still, yet it carries the echoes of the past.

On this day in 1998, the impeachment of Bill Clinton showcased a political drama, a stark contrast to the tranquility I find myself in, yet an echo of the complex narratives that continue to unfold below me.

Apparently, Bill Clinton did have “sexual relations with Miss Lewinsky.”

Today is also marked by the loss of Marcello Mastroianni in 1996, the iconic Italian actor whose film roles captured the complexities of love and life.

In the quiet of the morning, I reflect on the stories that he told through cinema and the stories that are being told in the streets below me, every life a narrative, every heartbeat a tale.

I cannot help but feel the dichotomy of my existence in this moment, this Airbnb a gilded cage that separates me from the raw, unfiltered life that thrums in the heart of the Dominican Republic.

The people here, much like the river, are relentless and full of life, their stories untold, their dreams as vast as the waters that flow beneath me.

As the city wakes, so does my resolve. Today, on December 19th, I will not be a distant observer.

The history of this day, rich with the courage of Thomas Paine, the artistic soul of Jean François Millet, the journey of Dickens' Scrooge, and the emotive legacy of Mastroianni, inspires me to reconnect, to descend from this high place and embrace the chaos and beauty of the streets, to find family not just in blood but in the shared humanity of the slums.

With a final glance at the Alcázar de Colón, across the river of debris, the embodiment of history and the silent keeper of stories, I make a silent promise.

Today will be different.

Today, I step out of the shadow of history and into the light of the present, to walk among the people, to share in their laughter and their struggles, to be part of the living history that is Santo Domingo.

And as the city stretches and yawns into life, I finish my coffee, the cup now just a hollow vessel, much like this Airbnb.

As I look across the river once more, I notice a fisherman casting his net.

But it is unclear to me if he is hoping to land a big fish, or score a treasure from the floatstruggles.

Here, one man's trash is truly another man's treasure. I recall my first visit here five years ago and seeing a mountain of green glass Presidente beer bottles piled on the riverbank—a day's work for one unashamed struggler.

The good, the bad, and the ugly, it all adds up to life here in the Dominican Republic. There is raw beauty in nature, and humans are a part of the natural scenery—with all our flaws.

Around every corner is a story, a tale to be told. Humans are animals of the ape kind, but our ability to share narratives is what separates us, connects us.

It's time to leave the balcony, to leave behind the view of the river, and to immerse myself in the true essence of this visit—family, connection, and the undying human spirit that connects us all, on this day, December 19th, in the heart of the Caribbean.