I am at a loss in so many ways in how to address the feelings I have from all that has happened this past week in this country. I have read so many postings on FB and listened to the news and I'm still numb. I am stunned, angry, sad, disgusted, scared, empathetic, and sympathetic. There are so many more words that I am sure are running through your heart and mind as well. I grew up in an era of race riots in Boston back in the 70s and I truly hoped those days were long over. I don't know what makes one person kill another - is it fear? hatred? anger? boredom? misunderstanding? etc. I truly do not know. To me, it seems that the politicians are focused on spreading fear and hatred as they are not talking about solutions only blaming the other person for any problems. Why are we not tolerating each other and practicing patience with each other? As far as I know, there are no perfect people, races, religions, cultures, etc. We all make our share of mistakes. If you know someone without any imperfections, please let me know. We ought to be embracing our differences and learning from one another vice being skeptical of something different. I understand fear more than some would think, but have learned to be more open to others. Remember children have to learn hatred and they learn from their parents first. My thoughts and prayers are with those that have been killed and hopefully we can learn something as we move to the future.
I will say the above has been floating in my head for a few days. Of course, it was written so much more eloquently in my head as I lay in bed. So many thoughts not sure how to express them yet. I'm sure many more will have ways to say what needs to be said and we can learn from them all.
My overall week was good. When my parents have a good week then I have a good week. The weather has been wonderful and mema was able to sit outside for a few days. Her appetite has been great and she is in a good space. It was a sad week at the nursing home as one of the other patients passed on. It was a blessing in many ways, but I feel sorry for her daughter as she deals with a mess because her dad could not want to deal with anything financial over the past couple of years. I realized how blessed I am in that my parents were willing to do some pre-planning quite a few years ago and then when everything happened with my mom, papa listened to everything that needed to be done and let me do it. There was also another patient put on hospice which is sad to see.
I finished reading two books this past week by Anita Diamant. "Day After Night" about four women than survived the Holocaust and are sent along with 200 others to the Atlit internment camp near Haifa. Powerful story in many ways. Also, "The Last Days of Dogtown" about a town on the edge of Gloucester in Cape Ann in the 1800s. The characters are interesting in their pursuit of survival.
I am going to end it here as I need to walk Lady and then pick up papa. I hope you have a good week. Please take care of yourself and others. Please practice patience and kindness as you don't know the other person's story. Take care. Chat soon. Marie
“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”
— Martin Luther King, Jr.
“It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there isbeauty and there is strength.”
— Maya Angelou
"We are all different, which is great because we are all unique. Without diversity life would be very boring.”
-- Catherine Pulsifer