September 11

It's here again

I am always a bit nervous on this day. I recall all too well the September 11 of terrorist attacks. This year I am more nervous than usual. Political violence has been normalized, people who should be sane as well as young people who don’t know any better are aligning themselves with actual terrorists, and I live in a historic beautiful city that could be a target. Easily.

I felt a little safer when I lived on a farm in rural PA, but I was really, really scared of bears, other wildlife, and poison vines.

I have been saying for almost a year now that there are dangers to this country from without and within, emboldened by those who openly support terrorists of all sorts.

I really hope and pray that today will be safe for everyone. We should not have to live in fear. It’s dangerous enough to cross the street in my neighborhood.

Meanwhile, things are mostly okay. Stressors to be sure but I am grateful for my work and my kitty and the wonderful people in my life. The urban poverty so often makes me want to both angry and scared, but I can’t get out yet. Yesterday I made a short run to the corner store for Diet Coke and someone was literally in there screaming. I long for civility of all sorts. Maybe I should go on a Zen retreat.

It’s not a Zen retreat but I’m going on a business trip back to Pittsburgh fairly soon. I don’t think I’ll move there - Philly is too much of home - but it’s so relaxing to look at the fluffy trees and bridges and rivers and total lack of trash anywhere. Maybe I was just in a nice area, but I know they have worked hard and restoring the place. It’s hard to imagine starting life over again in a new place, but it’s nice to visit. The people are so NICE! It’s jarring, really.

Financial anxiety, urban poverty, stress, health concerns… can make you crazy. Though I know the rich have their own set of stresses.

I have a friend who does amazing work and cares for someone who is very sick, in spite of having her own chronic health condition and working way too much just to cover her medication. It’s pathetic how in this country, the richest country on earth, people still struggle to pay for medication. I often realize how very fortunate I am. I’ve had some lucky breaks and some incredibly amazing people in my life, not to mention very good genetics from both brilliant and well-educated parents. Thanks Mom and Dad!

It’s interesting to see how people take credit for all sorts of advantages they were born with. I sound like an old fashioned liberal! Perhaps I am, just not a new fashioned one. Or liberal on some issues and conservative on others. It seems like simply believing that people should be able to go about their days without threats from terrorists, screaming people in the streets and worries about how to pay for life-sustaining medication is not a radical position.

Stay safe today everyone. Remember that 9/11 was real. And that October 7 was population-wise something like 40 times the magnitude. Some of the young seem to not believe it happened, but it did. I pray it does not happen again.

Love to you all.