A few days ago my sister Shawn sent me an old photo and I thought “Boy do I have a story to go with this” and began typing up my next blog. Then I looked up and saw the latest going-ons in Ukraine, and my heart sank. I didn’t feel like writing anymore.
It happened again a couple days later, after I’d picked up some lunch I ordered (I’m getting my senses of smell & taste back) and while taking a couple foodie pictures for my blog, I saw “SPECIAL REPORT” scroll across the bottom of my television. On the tv was a blue Ukranian church ablaze—no one inside thank goodness, just a cherished holy edifice for some—now gone. And several minutes later, the explosion of a car parked on the road. Unlike the church, several people were inside. A Russian tank blew it to smithereens.
Um… forget the food blog.
Finally yesterday, I ran into one of my neighbors while on my way downstairs to the exercise room, who shared a story about karma with me that I couldn’t wait to share here; but when I turned on the tv before getting on one of the treadmills, I saw the latest news segment where Russia had just bombed a maternity hospital. Three women dead as new mothers and other pregnant women spilled out, screaming, crying. Madness.
For some reason it reminded me of those old monster movies, with Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan. The innocent people of Ukraine have their own monster, Putin. He seems unstoppable.
What’s that old saying? “All’s Fair in Love & War”. Who came up with that saying? Probably another monster.
I’m sorry for not having a new blog this week… my heart just isn’t in it right now.
Aww Doug, I think we are all just dismayed at the horrors going on in Ukraine. Each day Putin seems to top the atrocities of the day before. It is like he is feeding on the horrors. He does have the brains and heart of Godzilla. That is a proper image.
ReplyDeleteHe has NO heart and NO soul!
DeleteLike you Doug, I'm utterly heartsick over the ongoing carnage in Ukraine. If Putin gets away with this mass murder, then shame on the world!
ReplyDeleteI understand, Dug... it's hard to know what to say when unbelievable things are going on in the world. What scares me is that Putin has lost his honor in the world's eyes and if he can't go any lower, what might he do?
ReplyDelete(But on another note - so glad you are getting your taste and smell back!)
I try to separate my blog and life from what's going on in the world or I would go insane. Close to it most days anyway. I can barely stand to watch any news these days so I salute you. I think it's important but it makes me feel utterly hopeless.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much, Patti, Florence, Rian. Margaret. I really appreciated what each of you said. It is a hopeless feeling right now, I don't know what to say about it and it's just difficult to focus on anything else. I just hope we get a bit of positive news soon.
ReplyDeleteDear Doug, I understand what you say and how you feel. This is such a difficult time and I feel so much for the people of Ukraine. It's hard to watch the news without tears. What kind of monster bombs hospitals, schools and homes? He continues to commit war crimes such as these. It got to me today when I saw them burying people in a mass grave because there were so many and they were still being bombed so it had to be done quickly. My real fear is that this is just the beginning. It is difficult to blog during such a time.
ReplyDeleteI am happy to hear your senses of smell & taste are coming back! That's great!
Bonnie I saw them digging that trench too for a mass burial... Reminded me of old footage from WW2. My fear is the same as yours, but I appreciate you sharing your thoughts, thank you. And yeah I am tasting a lot of things again, coffee has taken on a whole new meaning. 🙂
DeleteWars are never ending on this planet and if it isn't one of them going on, there are other things like famine, poverty, etc. I guess what makes this so powerful is that it is instantaneous and in your face every night or perhaps every hour depending on what channels one watches. I find myself just turning it off because like you, it certainly ruins my desires to do other things.
ReplyDeleteEd, you're exactly right. I keep telling myself that too, there's always a war somewhere. This one just seems so unprovoked and so close to home for some reason.
DeleteMy heart is so heavy too at this latest atrocity. I cried so hard last night I had to leave my dishwashing and finish it this morning.
ReplyDeleteIt does make ones heart heavy, I'm sorry it's affected you so hard River...
DeleteI am afraid because I have sons and grandsons old enough to be called to fight.
DeleteOur privileged lives, first world problems, and fluff posts all seem quite frivolous now my Friend, so you're not alone. Difficult to process what is going on and try to stay uplifted and focused on ordinary life and our serenity of days. My Heart too is so heavy and as NATO sits on the sidelines, I can't help but think History is repeating itself as atrocities are just watched and the level of involvement is deferred. Genocide by Monsters is nothing 'new', how the World addresses it is vital tho'.
ReplyDeleteVery well said, thanks Bohemian.
DeleteHi Doug, it is so hard to think about being happy with everything that is going on. I was in the grocery store this morning looking for a certain kind of dry pasta. No where to be found, a shortage of it apparently. Then I thought goodness, wouldn’t the people of Ukraine be happy to have such a small problem instead of the hell they are living through.
ReplyDeleteTake care Doug.❤️❤️
Robin, we really think alike. I was at the grocery store this morning looking for a Boboli pizza crust, they haven't had them for a month now and I was grumbling about it. And then I thought just what you said above. You take care too.
DeleteI don't blame you for being depressed by the bad news. However, I wouldn't mind seeing a food blog here.
ReplyDeleteHaha thanks Gigi but I can't compete with your food blogs and we both know it! 😄
DeleteI know exactly how you’re feeling, Doug. I have posts scheduled for March, but all the horrible news keeps me agitated and having to update what I had already written over a month ago. It’s a terrible, pitiful time and that Russian monster is definitely on all our minds.
ReplyDeleteKay, at times like this I wish I had blogs written in advance like yourself. This does take the wind out of one's sails.
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