I just finished posting my 11th blog when I heard about the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Everything around me seemed so small and unimportant. People once again were losing lives at the blink of an eye. My mind went back to 911, Katrina, Haiti, and New Zealand to name a few. . .and to my own childhood.
I grew up thinking about disaster and destruction every day, never expecting to make it past high school. We were in the Cold War at that time, and America was threatened by an atomic bomb.
We saw movies of what would happen if a bomb fell in our country. We were told to build air raid shelters with provisions. In school, I was tatooed with my blood type on the left side of my body as was every child in Gary, Indiana. I guess this would give us an advantage if we ever needed blood quickly. We had practice air raid drills in school by getting under our desks. When you weren't in school, you heard the air raid sirens bellowing about noon for people to practice and run for safety. I remember one time I was alone outside and heard the sirens. I ran into a dark hall in our apartment building just thinking, "This could be it." What a way to grow up.
Thankfully, no catrastophe happened during my childhood. Now I am witnessing again and again war, disaster, and destruction all over the world. Hopefully, my grandchildren will be as blessed as I was.
Be thankful for the sunny day we have as bloggers today and to remember every day what is really important right now.
Prayers and thoughts go out to the Japanese people--a prayerful haiku for them.
behold the heavens,
strength in hope and each other,
God be with you now.
Our lives do seem insignificant in light of what is happening to others around the world. What a lovely post and haiku.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the haiku and your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteYou brought back lots of Cold War memories for me. I used to lie in bed at night and worry about it so much I couldn't sleep. I went with my parents once to look into buying a bomb shelter. It was a scary time. Thankfully we never had to. We are still a very blessed people in this country.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your memory. We do have much to be thankful for. You haiku is beautiful and so honoring of the Japanese. :)MHG
ReplyDeleteThis is lovely Tam. Simply lovely.
ReplyDeleteI am feeling a bit bombarded these days by all the events. Your haiku is a reminder to stop, remember, be thankful and most importantly, thoughtful.
ReplyDeleteYes, I remember those days. I had forgotten. You have a nice Haiku. I'm surprised that I had forgotten. I'm like you when i was younger, I thought sure I was going to die by the atomic bomb. I didn't have the sirens because i was in a rural area but we practiced at school going into bomb shelters. Thanks for sharing. So you think I'm impetuous? I never thought of it that way. :o)
ReplyDeleteWow. Every time I read your posts, I'm reminded of what a writer you are. Thank you for the haiku. Thank you for your story. What gifts you give.
ReplyDeleteRuth