I wasn’t planning on coming back quite so soon, and who knows, I may not truly be back. Because I am, in fact, still pursuing other avenues of my life. Avenues that take up a considerable amount of my time. Especially during the holiday season, and then Paris…
I was behind schedule. Stressed and feeling as though I were coming down with the flu, chilled but not ill, not yet. I took a shower and crawled into bed. A few hours later I woke up freezing with a pounding headache. I made a steamy cup of tea, took some Ibuprofen, turned on my computer, and then Paris…
Sewing my granddaughter’s birthday dress. I was fretting over the perfect fabrics. Questioning the oversized silk bloom, that was to be pinned to the front of the bodice. All the while thinking, surely no two-year-old is going to run around with this monstrosity hanging from the front of her. In the end, opting to keep it because it was, in fact, adorable. I made coffee, took my dog out, said hello to the neighbor, and then Paris…
I was running errands, enjoying a beautiful warm and sunny day. Saddened by the visions of the fading colors of Autumn. All the while complaining about the traffic, the people, the potholes, and then Paris…
Family, friends, housework, phone calls, reading assignments, class, dinner, rain, snow, the neighbors, the dog, and then Paris…
My son came to me last night and asked, “Mom, do you think what happened in Paris is going to happen here?” I wanted to tell him, “Of course not honey.” Images of 911, the Boston Marathon and Oklahoma City bombings flashed through my mind. The only heartbreakingly honest answer was “yes, and it’s not a matter of if, it’s simply a matter of when – again.”
It’s shocking really, that despite these past atrocities that have landed literally at our feet, we as a people, get comfortable. Be it in our recliners, our marriages, our jobs, socializing or even, maybe most importantly and more specifically, we get comfortable in our country. We’re just so damned sure, aren’t we? We go to the store, to work, to school, to our parents’ homes, our children’s homes. Church, friends, the library, nightclub, we go on vacation. Then we come home to our comfortable homes, with our comfortable lives and fall into our comfortable beds. Fully expecting to wake the next day and start it all over again, because why not? Why wouldn’t we? We roam our country at will with our stars and stripes waving in the wind high atop our majestic buildings. Blanketing us in the comfort of the words we live by, “Land of the free, home of the brave.” Every coin, every dollar bill that passes through our hands reminds us, “In God We Trust.”
And then Paris…
My heart is breaking and my soul is overflowing with love and compassion for people I did not know, in a country that I have never been to. My eyes well up, my tears fall and I sit here in the comfort of my home. Helpless save for the never-ending prayers, that have been living on my lips.
From the moment I learned about this despicable act of cowardly violence I wailed from every fiber of my being, “When will it all stop?!” And then Paris…
Beirut, Africa, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Israel, Ukraine, America…
Magical Mystical Mimi 
Well said and written Karen. Our world is in a world of hurt. I don’t know what the solution is. On one hand I am so angry that I wish we’d just turn the middle east into a parking lot. They won’t stop unless we stop them permanently. Erase them off the planet. But then so many innocent civilians end up as collateral damage too. I don’t like to paint all Muslims with the same brush because of the radicals, but they won’t stop until they murder us all or we convert to Muslim and that’s never gonna happen. They just don’t care if they die for their cause. But for Pearl Harbor, 9/11, Boston and Oklahoma City, overall we’ve been pretty lucky to have escaped the radical attacks that have become common overseas. Like you said, it’s not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’. I used to have places in Europe on my bucket list but I will never leave North America now. Nor will I get on a plane if I can help it.
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Thank you, JoJo and I absolutely agree with the European bucket list. I’ve said the same thing to my kids. I’m not leaving America. I want my feet firmly planted on winning soil because, despite our differences and how we may fight among ourselves, we will pull together to kick some ass if need be. Unfortunately, some of those asses may be disguised as our next door neighbor, a refugee..
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There are many here that wish us harm. Many have been taken in as refugees and many just cross our open borders. Islam is about world domination. They tell us all the time that they will dominate the world. We should listen.
I will not submit.
Have a terrific day my friend. 🙂
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I absolutely agree, CP! We should listen, we MUST listen!
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And still there are those that think we should take in Syrian refugees! That least our Governor has suspended the state of Michigan taking in any for the time being.
There is evil in this world…I prefer to greet it armed and ready!
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I’m with you, Joe. And I saw where the Gov. has put the kabash on allowing anymore in for the moment. Now, what about those he has already welcomed???
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It’s a cold, cruel world and what happened last week has had an effect on most of us. Heartfelt post, eloquently expressed, Karin.
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Thank you Debbie. As an American it is heartbreaking and insightful, to see and feel what the rest of the world was seeing and feeling for us on 9/11.
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What a beautiful and heartbreaking post. I’m trying valiantly to stay positive and happy in this crazy world, believing as I do that only love and positive energy can stop the madness.My mother always said the world was not safe, but her world was safe. Never has it been more important to keep our inner worlds full of peace and love. Thank you for sharing your soul. 🙂
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Thank *you* Tamuria. It’s so difficult and I’m so tired of being sad. I wish for a world of love and yet my faith tells me that that world exists only in the next. Thank you so much for stopping by.
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You echo the fears of every one of us so eloquently, Karen. Tamuria’s comment made so much sense to me!
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Oh Corinne, I wish I didn’t have to say them and I pray, pray, pray it all just stops but I fear this is just the beginning.. And Tamuria’s mother is correct, the world may not be safe but our own individual worlds can be.
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I’ve been sending good vibes into the world ever since I heard about Paris, and earlier, Beirut. We can’t go there and stop these madmen, but we can add to the sum-total of positivity in this world. If we can make a good difference in someone’s life, we’re already spreading light, that would drive away darkness.
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I hope you’re right Damyanti. I just read today that the Dalai Lama said that was illogical to expect God to help us fix any of the problems because man made them. I have to be honest, what little winds were left in my sails depleted..
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I grew up in New York City; I know people who were directly affected by 9/11; twelve people from my high school died. The people I know have had to live with fear but not in the same way as others in this world, including all the displaced. It makes me wonder what will end up happening to the Syrian refugees. One day, it could be us. Would the world turn us away?
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If the world thought we were terrorists they *would* turn us away, and rightly so.
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Karin the way you went paris.. that is exactly how I go each time there is an event like this. How awful does it all look especially when we look back and see how much we have stopped caring. Moving on from these events is becoming a more ‘i couldn’t care less’ stride.. no?
Richa
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I think we all seek to find some sense of normalcy after events such as this so we try to move on but I don’t think any of us ever really do. The world is ever changing and we cannot help but be changed right along with it. Caring less? No.. Caring so much it hurts and pressing forward, yes.
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It is an awful world we live in when such horrible things can happen to innocent people. I am afraid you are right. It isn’t a matter of if, it is a matter of when and where. Beautiful thought provoking post filled with truths we all must face.
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Thank you Kathy.
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Your words echo all our thoughts. The world has become a very scary place, indeed. Every couple of days, my thoughts stray to the families of victims of Paris, and I feel helpless, as there is nothing that I can do, except pray for them, and that I do.
But there is still a lot of good in this world, and in this week of Thanksgiving, I choose to focus on all the things that are good and right, and send thanks to the almighty.
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Praying is what I do all day long Shana, and I too focused on all that is good and right with this world this past week. I will always believe there is more good in this world than evil, but I’ve got my eye on that devil. 😉 I hope you had a Thanksgiving filled with much love and many blessings.
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