Insane Earthlings

We were in the basement. The T.V. had sent out that alarm that would usually say, “This has been a test, only a test of the Emergency Broadcast System.” But instead, the voice had warned that a tornado had been spotted and had touched down in Southeast part of town.” We looked outside and it was eerily calm and still. And yellowish.   I was only 10 years old, but recognized an ominous scene when I saw one. Then we heard the train whistle noise. We had been warned about that in school.  It meant a tornado was very close by. So, now we were huddled together. My father had grabbed the mattress off of my brother’s bed in the basement. (His hippie dream room, beaded curtains and all) All four children and my Mom and Dad crouched behind the mattress. We could hear the sounds of tree limbs cracking and falling, hard rain, wind, and unpleasant crunching of metal and wood. I was scared. My sister suddenly remembered that our cat, Scooter, was upstairs and vulnerable if the giant...

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” Franklin D. Roosevelt We have all heard this famous quote. We were raised in a world that has the capacity to destroy itself in an instant. I never really understood the words uttered by FDR at his first inauguration. It has been re-quoted over and over by people of every political viewpoint. It has been used by both well intentioned people and those who seek to do evil.   These words feel powerful and reassuring, but in such a way that they can be easily manipulated by anyone for any cause of action. We were taught these words, but rarely were made aware of the context in which they were used. In my life, I do not recall ever having an in-depth conversation about what having only fear itself to fear means. But the world is once again at a key juncture in which we must choose between fear and hope. So, as I read an article by David Brooks in the New York Times just now, I realized that the meaning of Roosevelt’s words should ha...

The Snow Toe Alarm But everyone had been in such a hurry Milk and bread to beat the flurry. It feels so cold and the air seems right There has to fall some snow tonight. How could I ever fall asleep? Not knowing will the snow be deep? Now it’s late and the truth is cruel. Tomorrow will come and we may have school. Please dear snow, start to fall So that they can make the call, And declare tomorrow a special day When kids can slip and sled and play. It’s time for bed and the air is clear I close my eyes and face my fear That I will wake having missed it all The beauty held in the snowflakes fall My brother feels the same way too And so he says, “I know what to do. I‘ll tie a long string upon my toe and run it out our upstairs window.” He will hang a bucket on that string And it will work like an alarm clock ring The bucket weighted down with snow will yank upon his little toe. He will be wakened by this action Giving...