My husband and I drank our coffee on the front porch. We put bird seed out and watched the birds come to feed. We talked about the armed civilians threatening violence in case Kim David is arrested again. I noted that of all the places we've lived in the last 44 years, we have sat outside and drank coffee and fed birds and have never been assaulted. I realized that we are living in fear, all of us, and it is making some people take up arms, see bad guys, for the wrong reasons.
In the afternoon, we ran errands. We went to a farm stand in the country. Today, it was self-pay, meaning that we picked out the things we wanted, weighed it ourselves, figured out what we owed and put it in a steel box chain to a wooden post, because there was no clerk. To be honest, we owe them .14 but we'll give it to them next time we go there.
After returning from the farm stand, my husband went to mow at our old house and I ran errands. We are getting company for the weekend, and planned to leave our van at the old house, so there is more parking here. I went to 3 stores, the credit union and the post office, then went to pick up my husband. We came home and ate some leftovers, and soon, we will finish cleaning the house for the company.
More than once today, I was struck by how normal our lives are in spite of the fear that pervades our country and the world. I do think of the people who died 14 years ago,and I think of the people who died in Oklahoma almost 20 years ago. And the bastards who set the bombs, pulled the triggers or let things happen. And the horrors we live with every day now.
I saw a commercial the other day for furniture, and a young man with prosthetic legs from the knees down. See how we are being made to accept the damaged and harmed young people as the new normal? See how we are made to accept weapons in our streets? Bombs and gunfire at the malls, schools, churches, and movie theaters? How even military sites like a recruiting center and reserve are not safe?
So today, as I appreciated that I could safely sit on my front porch and drink coffee, I have hope that sooner than another 14 years, all of us will feel safe without having weapons, that fear is left in the past, and our dear children and grandchildren once again have peace and prosperity.
The survivors of loved ones lost on September 14th are in my thoughts and prayers.