One of those weeks
THE WEEK IS only half over and already I’m on edge. I won’t delineate the irritants and semi-crises that have kept me that way; they’re too minor to mean much except to me, but they rest on multiple layers of the world’s hurts and worries, and like so many feelings they’re amplified by what lies beneath. The good news is that the Democrats had a great election, and after worrying about Biden’s poll numbers, that spells relief for a lot of us.
My birthday falls in early November and it’s a lovely time of year. My daughter took me to brunch on Monday and we both commented on the continuing beauty of the trees, how the leaves seem unusually brilliant, and are holding on longer than usual. Yes, every season is different, and becoming more so, but I like to think the tree’s extended beauty is compensation for the underlying anxiety we all feel. Nature does, after all, work mysteriously.
It’s discouraging to open the Times site each morning and see the horror of war still dominating the news. I scan quickly, hoping to see some agreement reached, some pause that will free the hostages and allow the people of Gaza to breathe again and gather their families.
Instead it grows more likely that no family on either side will remain untouched and whole, which creates more reasons for hate, revenge, and terrorism. Jews will again be blamed for things they did and didn’t do, or just for being who they are; and Gazans will die searching for water, food, and shelter in what is now a land of savagery, terror and devastation. And then, inevitably, I look away.
Like all wars, this one could have been stopped along the way if only the men in charge had been willing to cede power, or possibly humble themselves by speaking the word peace.
I can do little to nothing about the wars, but I can acknowledge the solutions that others are attempting, and feel gratitude for their efforts. Gratitude also for the beauty of the trees, the rain that polishes their leaves, and the love that has come my way for simply growing a year older.
So yes, it’s a good week after all.
I have a November birthday too. I enjoyed your brief and poignant counterpoint concerning the horrors of war and sweetness of the life of trees. I wish us both another year of loving our families and friends and experiencing all sides of life. Stay well my friend.
Good job on trying to finish on a positive note! I feel so upset about the war, the right winged fanatics, global warming, and so on and so on, and the only thing that helps is to go outside and observe nature. There was just an amazing sunset and the trees here were very late in turning, but look glorious now. Even the fallen leaves look glorious! But I too, have mixed feelings and wish I had a magic wand.