Saturday, June 27, 2020

Haiku My Heart - The Good, the bad, and the ugly




Age of Corona
Times were interesting once
Now they are daunting


There is an ancient Chinese saying about living in interesting times.  Oh, How I wish the times were interesting but that isn't our world anymore.  The times are daunting, frightening, chaotic.  All sense of safety is gone.  

It is surprising when something good happens.  Today, what I thought would be a difficult refund request from Canva.com, turned out to be surprisingly easy.  In an age more calculated to hinder than to help, Canva issued me a refund to my membership without any questions.  The good customer service was totally unexpected and even though the product doesn't work for me, I will still recommend it.

I wish there was more good to speak of.  My shortlist would include friends loaning us their truck so we can deliver some furniture for our daughter.  It also would include my family pulling together to help each other to make a good thing happen.  Like I said, it's a short list.  These days, I feel like I'm in a holding pattern and as time goes by, I feel less safe.

The ugly was very ugly last night.  We live in a very depressed area and many who live here have grown up in homes that, generationally, have fostered an attitude of caring for no one other than themselves.  Their actions speak for them.  Law has no authority.  Fireworks are legal this year and boy are some taking advantage of that fact.  

Fireworks, in town, is scheduled to happen only on July  4th and 5th.  Last night, June 26th, I thought I was living in Beruit.  Seriously.  It's a small town.  The canon-like explosions, from the east side of town, could be heard all over.  It went on for at least six hours and didn't end until they ran out.  I'm sure they are shopping today.

One might ask where are the police?  Well, they are there and short of netting everyone in sight and starting a riot, they are completely hobbled.  These crazy people are shooting fireworks at houses, each other, vehicles, and  . . . the police.  Yes.  What was once a fun and happy time has now been weaponized and the entire town is held hostage.  Outside pets are terrified.  Disabled (autistic) children are overwhelmed by fear and can't process the noise.  Last nerves, like mine, are getting totally frazzled.

As I type, it is 1:25 p.m.  I just heard the first firework of the day go off.  I think it is going to be another rough night for the police, fire department, and EMT's.

There is an annual fireworks event on the river that we went to last year.  We had a great time.  We won't be going this year.  Common sense dictates that we stay home and protect ourselves and our home.  It's very dangerous out there.