I've spent two days thinking about Nazis.
It's an ugly place to be. I don't do ugly any more. I take care of my little piece of the world, and I try not to dwell on the terrifying, the horrifying, the grotesque. They'll be there whether I obsess about them or not.
So, this morning, I snuggled into a comfy chair with my fully charged Kindle, and picked up Killing Grounds, number 8 of the 22 Kate Shugak novels I downloaded as a present for myself a few Christmases ago. There's a 23rd one out now, after a long hiatus, and in its honor I'm rereading them all, from the beginning.
Alaska is as much a character in the series as are The Handsome State Trooper and the half husky half wolf house-companion and the salmon and the mountains. They are much better company than the talking heads. They are, by magnitudes unfathomable, better company than Donald Trump.
We all need to stand up, speak out and then go on with our lives demonstrating peace and compassion.
ReplyDeleteLeaving the ramparts feels like abandoning ship. Taking care of myself feels selfish. But without a break, I can't sleep. Sigh. Our President does not have my back; I have to go to Alaska (virtually) to feel safe.
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Reading is a good choice with a book you know you love. I had grandsons for over a week. We took the last one home yesterday. It kind of kept me away from news other than reading about it. It was interesting what they learn and are thinking about all of this. Well the two oldest. The youngest is more into games and himself still ;). His time will come for the other though. It was encouraging to me about the generation coming up for how they think. I just hope we leave them a better world than currently seems to be.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I've read is the hate that some feel for Trump and how they don't get that it hurts them more than him or anyone else.
We have to say what we believe; but when we turn to hate also, the other side wins.
I'm trying to stay focused on making my little corner of the world a better place. But I'm scared, and that makes me mad, and then I get pissed at elected officials who do nothing while representing ME and there I am, on the ramparts, again!
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Yesterday I drove across town, through neighborhoods of sadness, to the small elementary school where I am chaplain. It was the first day of school and I was there to assist the staff, hug the children, direct the parents, and show as much kindness as possible in a two-hour stretch.
ReplyDeleteI drove back across town, to my quiet home, where I spent the rest of the day praying for this city and making plans for the new school year. That is the part I can do.
I think I finally understand Candide. In the little French I remember from HS, Il faut cultiver le jardin. You and I are cultivating our own gardens, making things just a little bit better. If only ... but where does that get me?
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I am hiding in the bedroom watching Netflix,Amazon Video with my earphones while TBG at my house obsesses with the TV on the talking heads. Am reading Dan Brown's Inferno which forces me to concentrate and close out the livingroom din in the background. I can stand it for only so long.
ReplyDeleteI'm on #11 in the Kate Shugak series; Alaska is a fine escape.
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