September 5, 2017 – Tuesday
I am heartsick. Plain and simple. Too much bombardment to the soul today. One can only take so much.
I awoke this morning to skies heavy with smoke. At 9:30 it seemed like twilight. The light was other-worldly and eerie … all white and hazy. It didn’t change all day. Under the small orange ball that was the sun, my car had a fine layer of ash on it. I’m getting over bronchitis and walking pneumonia and with labored breathing and a smoke-induced nagging cough, my voice is rough and gravelly like a 4-pack-a-day chain smoker. The acrid smell of smoke that wafted on whatever breeze came around was replaced later by the smell of fish at low-tide. For once I was glad for it.
Seemingly, the entire NW and Western areas of the US are on fire. Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and California. The interactive map that is making the rounds is mind boggling and terribly frightening.
I think of all the people and their homes and possessions. I think of all the animals—wild with fear. I think of all the trees. I am heartsick.
From one natural disaster to another … these fires come after Hurricane Harvey hit Houston and areas up and down the Texas and southern coasts. Devastating flooding. Horrendous property damage. Lives lost.
Irma is gearing up to hit somewhere in the next few days. They say this one could be worse. The worst. EVER.
I feel Mom Nature is trying to tell us something. We aren’t listening!
I don’t see myself as a political person. For most of my life I’ve just kind of bobbed along on the sea of politics … going along … not giving it much time or consideration or energy. However, this past year (or so) has gotten me riled up. I’m not going to get into my reasons but most of you know I can’t stand our President. Free speech allows me to say I think he’s an ass. And that’s putting it mildly. I don’t usually say much … but today I have to say something. I am beyond disgusted … I am heartsick.
Today our President said that he’d like to have our undocumented immigrant children deported. Some 800,000 … to where? If to their homeland, then there wouldn’t be a problem because America is the only home many of them have known. They arrived as infants. Some as children. Some a bit older. But, all call the US their home. Most are fine upstanding young men and women … working hard, going to school, willingly defending the country that they love and call home. America is the home they know. For some, the only home they’ve EVER known. Where does he think he’ll send them? It’s insanity. Where is his basic decency? If we allow this … where is ours?
I have two favorite places on this planet … well, three. Paris being one. The Oregon coast being the second. And, the Columbia River Gorge area being the third. I have never lived in any of these places but my heart is in all three … floating along the Champs Elysees or in front of Notre Dame … on the beach by the Devil’s Punchbowl and Otter Rock or at the overlook of both … or on the bridge at Multnomah Falls or on the trails that wind through the area’s lush, green forest secured by stone walls and breathtaking vistas. Today the gorge is on fire. The beautiful old lodge may not be standing by morning. Tears flow freely when beauty is destroyed. I look at the photo here on my desk … we were young, full of hope and promise and so much love when our engagement photo was taken there 36 years ago. It is/was such an incredibly beautiful place. I can’t imagine it being burned and blackened.
Today was a black day … for too many reasons. My heart feels blackened, too. Too much. I am heartsick.