I am also happy that a 14 year old boy has been released. He was imprisoned for throwing stones.
The children stabbed in Dublin. Their teacher stepped in and was seriously wounded as well.
The rioting in Dublin, the cries to "kill all the foreigners".
And yet, it was a foreigner who leapt from his moped and beat the knife wielding man with his helmet.
So many contradictions. Christians who aren't. Public servants who don't.
I could go on and on.
I won't.
I remember, when I was a kid, I heard my grandfather saying, "I do not understand this world." I thought about it. He just sounded so bewildered about it. In the dark, in my bed that night, I mulled things from a child's perspective. Perhaps it was a kindness, then: As you age, the world makes less and less sense, and perhaps that makes the leaving of it easier. I was afraid of dying as a child and it was comforting to think perhaps people departed this world because they were ready to do so.
I remember being that child. But now I am my grandfather saying "I do not understand this world."
My thoughts are all over the place tonight.
I sat down to wrap Christmas presents tonight, doing a good job, curling ribbons, afixing name tags with carefully written names of the people I love.
I can do that. At least I can do that.
Oh Debby... You and I think and feel so much alike. I truly feel as you do, but you already know that. We're hearing so much about the Israel/Gaza situation it seems we're no longer thinking about Ukraine. And here in our country... we have all this craziness going on. What you felt in your youth and what you feel now... so true. So very true.
ReplyDeleteMadeline L'engle: "We never lose all the other ages we've been."
DeleteJust when you think it can't get any dafter, it does. But you're thoughts do trigger a more light-hearted memory concerning getting older and more bewildered. I was in the local pub enjoying a chat with Hughie. He was quite a character and spent much of his time in the pub, drinking pints and putting 1960s and 70s songs on the jukebox. A couple of young lads came in - tattoos, dyed hair, facial piercings - they put some tuneless rap music on - Hughie turned to me and said "I reckon we got old just in time!".
ReplyDeleteHughie sounds like someone that I would gladly tip a mug with.
DeleteThe more I see, the less I understand. I despair.
ReplyDeleteI guess that's why I am choosing to step away. I cannot stand looking right now.
DeleteThe World has been getting madder by the decade, hurtling towards its inevitable self destruction. There, that's cheered you up hasn't it? :)
ReplyDeleteTasker asked earlier. Do you wear sack cloth? ;)
Delete320000 Wuros have been raised to buy a pint for the Brazilian Deliveroo motorcyclist Debby.
ReplyDeleteI saw that, and I was grateful for the reasonable people in the world.
DeleteEuros not Wuros.
ReplyDeleteNice little personal essay about the times.
ReplyDeleteI envy people who can keep themselves on an even keel during these days.
DeleteSometimes it is all too much. Concentrating on the positive helps.
ReplyDeleteLIke Christmas? .
DeleteIt's hard not to despair. I think there have always been troubles like this but we didn't always hear about it because there was no Internet to spread the awful news. I think Colette is right - focus on the positive. Mr. Rogers would say, "Look for the helpers."
ReplyDeleteI guess.
DeleteI am finding that true too, Debby- the older we get, the more we realize we do not know. Bob Dylan was still basically a baby when he wrote "My Back Pages" but he was channeling a much older man. "Ah, but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now..." I just went and read those lyrics again and my god- he was something and that song is timeless.
ReplyDelete'I am younger than that now.'I wonder if I will ever be able to say that. It just seems as 'old' is here to stay.
DeleteI'm with you on that Debby. I don't understand this world a lot of the time and instead focus on things that I do understand much closer to me. I'm quickly reaching the feeling that it is no longer my job to understand the world but to mentor the younger generations about how to interpret/interact with the world around them and hope perhaps they can understand some of it.
ReplyDeleteMy oldest daughter has taken up the fight.
DeleteIf you look at some of the individuals who are leaders it really gets difficult to understand. What are these people thinking. Issues rare exaggerated out of all proportions.
ReplyDeleteYou know what I hate the most, Red? Three Palestinians got shot in Maine. Why? The shooter is not involved in this. Jewish people are being threatened. Why? The people making the threats have nothing at stake. Why can't it being reasonably discussed in this country?
DeleteWell said, Debby. The crazier the world gets, the more I draw into my little place of peace and sanctuary...home.
ReplyDeleteYes. I think that a lot of people are doing the same.
DeleteWe can't do anything about it. We never could, even when we thought we could.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, but there is nothing like that heady rush of youthful conviction that the world can be changed, and that we are just the people to do it.
DeleteI think that despite all the problems our ancestors faced they must have been happier than us since their world was a very small local one, whereas now we are bombarded with news of what is going on all over the planet. It is overwhelming. No wonder there are so many people struggling with their mental health.
ReplyDeleteI've really been struggling lately. The ugliness is overwhelming.
DeleteIt’s been a long time since I thought I understood anything about this world… as you say , it’s just senseless. I won’t rant on about it (because what would it do to change anything?!) so I’ll follow you in doing what I can do, at home and in my community. Wishing you a peaceful journey towards Christmas! And I hope Tim continues to do well! Xo, Ricki
ReplyDeleteWe have a purpose, no matter where we are.
DeleteContradictions, indeed. I think we know too much about all the tragedies of the world, big and small. Our brains aren't meant to carry that much awareness. I also do think that fear of death eases as we age, maybe because it seems ever more "fair" that we have lived a full life and it's our time to go.
ReplyDeleteYour words stopped me. You are right.
DeleteWhen I was young I wanted to fix the world and make it a better place. Now I am old I am happy to concentrate on my little part of it and do the best I can. It doesn't stop me shaking my head in despair but I no longer have the energy to take on every issue. I agree. As we age we get to the stage where we are happy to leave the world for others to fix (or not).
ReplyDeleteI cannot say that I am happy to leave the world for others to fix. I will say that the situation bothers me a lot. I also acknowledge that I can do diddly squat about it.
DeleteI remember my father having a solution to the long haired radicals: Join the army. Except it was the draft back then, for Vietnam. So there was no solution, then or now.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many hot spots. So many angry people. So many children affected.
Delete