I was in the grocery store, choosing fruit and veg for some healthy eating in the New Year. Thinking about the future, my goals, the hope of getting my life together and my body back in shape. The sun shone outside; icicles dripped. I felt a moment of joy! And then -- boom! -- I was aware once more that everything is in upheaval.
Everything.
The world and its inhabitants are screaming and I can hear their cries, feel them in my bones. From the 'roos in Australia to the children at the border and everything else in between, pain and anguish and crippling anxiety are EVERYwhere. And I looked at the basket in my hands with its net bag of clementines and its selection of Greek yogurts and wondered just what the heck it is I think I'm doing, anyway, going about my life's business, choosing next week's healthy foods? 'Staying calm and carrying on?' Just trying to push away the existential dread a moment longer?
The artist Amanda Palmer shared some words today on Facebook from Australia where she and Neil Gaimen and their son are staying currently:
"...walking down the streets here feels surreal...look to the left and people are wearing masks, look to the right and people are in restaurants, ordering cocktails and pasta. it’s all just so weird."I knew exactly how she felt in that moment. As the lyrics go, "how can we sleep while our beds are burning?"
It feels sinful to rejoice in the melting of icicles when such incredible pain and fear and freaking destruction is occurring everywhere. And even though thoughtful friends continue to admonish me to step away from the news and get off social media, I can't help but feel that to look away -- even for a moment of self-preservation -- is the height of privilege. Those koalas clinging to burning trees, those human beings forced by the fires to flee to the sea -- THEY can't look away.
And here in the States all is focused on politics, the upcoming election, Tweets and under-the-radar actions by our president that I swear are going to bring us to war. The Big Distraction, when we could be helping somehow....
I found an article earlier today written by a wildlife refuge center that included links to knitting/crochet/sewing patterns for things like 'joey pouches' and 'bat wraps,' items that are needed by rescue agencies and veterinarians during this crisis in Australia. (If you're interested, here's a link to it.) And I think it says a lot that there are small, invisible, deeply-caring people like myself going crazy right now making tiny mittens for tiny bears. We want to DO something!
And the people who have the power and money and pull to REALLY make a difference? They are off filling their bladders for more pissing contests....
God/dess help us all.
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