Numbers: 3, 5, 6, 1.2 million, 76,000 and one.

3 marriages. 5 military deferments. 6 bankruptcies. 1.2 million COVID-19 cases, 76,000 deaths.

One nation. Potentially sick and bankrupt.

Some numbers apply to an individual. Several numbers apply to all of us. The reality right now is that the thing we are having a hard time figuring out is — what does it mean to be one nation? Perhaps it is not an algebra question but a geometry question.

There are an array of shapes — from triangles to pentagons — all different, with capacity for being filled with lively color, defining space, conveying energy.

Many times, those shapes can come together — not perfectly like puzzle pieces, but edges can meet edges and build something greater than the whole. There can be gaps, but farther along the edge a parallel line can be found and the greater shape extended. It is imperfect, it is sloppy, but the shape can grow. Heck, all the states except two have connecting borders.

I look forward in these coming days for all of us to take pride in our shapes, our color, our uniqueness. But to also look for parallel lines in other shapes in order to find some commonality, some way to build on the whole. Many times, edge will meet a corner, a point — with no hope of resolution. But with patience,, with rotating one’s position just a bit, perhaps parallel lines can be found.

The other numbers are primarily attributable to one individual and many of them are the result of amoral behavior, poor judgement, cowardice. Certainly, some of the numbers could never have been under the control of just one individual — but one can reasonably argue that they could have been better if someone had done their homework. So, you do the math, see what adds up and does not, and vote accordingly.