Ignorance is bliss....so I've heard. The sad fact is, I know too much at this stage of life to hide myself in that cloud.
It’s a serene, deep-blue day in Phoenix. Outside my window: beige and brown foothills, green trees, yellow and red flowers, and dreamy terracotta rooftops. It has a melancholy beauty. On days like this it looks like rain, but usually it usually doesn't. And the lingering heat goes on.
Change is inevitable. So many progressions, so many regressions in my home country- and change is accelerating with every new day. I never did like those fast, risky carnival rides, scared the hell out of me. Give me a merry-go-round with the glitzy horses and simple melodies. Maybe that's why I wake up with the tiniest bit of anxiety. Call me Chicken Little, but this time I really do believe the sky is falling.
Here’s the paradox: humans have made astonishing advances in technology and medicine, yet we remain so fragile. Rats, roaches and flies can survive tremendous heat, storms and poison. Humans can't.
At my age, knowing what I've learned, feeling what I've felt, I’ve become extremely sensitive to suffering—human, animal and even insect.
To be fair, I intensely dislike roaches, flies and fire ants. Fire ants have declared war on my feet and left scars. And rats? I’d prefer they all be kangaroo rats—harmless, adorable, and trying to survive in their own habitat, not mine.
Still, I'd much rather have rats, roaches, flies and fire ants than this devastating administration. I believe their greed and lust for power is eating through our country like rats in an abandoned house full. This administration is rabid; full of disease, poison and murder.
Once while praying, I asked God how he saw me. Immediately Saint Francis came to mind. Not the saint part, the part where he talked to animals and other living things. I love talking to birds. Especially the black birds. They remember faces. Give me animals over humans any time. They're far more interesting than people. And most of the time, I believe, they're far more intelligent too. They just don't speak your native tongue. Animals are truly a light in this time of darkness, they bring me joy.
Yes, I know too much to take refuge in ignorance. I hope against hope, that one morning I still hope that one morning I'll wake and this whole dark cloud will be lifting. Now, it's hovering with hopelessness. Unless of course, you have been living in the shiny bubble of white privilege.
Sending love to all who read, whether you understand or not- and thank you.
P. S. As I type a minuscule of raindrops appeared on my window; deep, rolling thunder as well. Hope against hope????
