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.
