When I was 12, the world was about to end. It was 1983 and talk of nuclear weapons, nuclear attacks and the world ending were daily occurrences. Radio, television, newspapers. You couldn't get away from it. And when they started haunting my dreams it was made very real.
The plane that flew over, the bomb that dropped. It was terrifying and my last week at my old school (we were about to move to a new town and that probably had a lot to do with it as well) was not good to say the least. Nor were the first few weeks at the new school for that matter. The fear I had felt and that had kept me from sleeping and eating was now replaced by something else. Something else that kept me from sleeping and eating. A boy called Willem. He was nice. He was the first boy I fell in love with. And I was terrified yet again. Because if the result of being afraid and being in love was the same: not sleeping, not eating, fretting all the time, I hated it!
The bomb was never dropped, causing a nuclear holocaust. The Dutch dykes never broke, causing a flooded country. The end of the eighties and the beginning of the nineties saw some positive signs in the world. The wall was torn down, uniting a country that had been separated since World War II (Germany in case you need a reminder). For the first time ever in its history, all citizens over 18, regardless of colour were allowed to vote (South Africa). The world was on the way up!
And then somehow it got ruined. Over the past 20 years it seems as everybody tries to outdo each other. A will bomb B, B will flatten A. C gets in the mix wanting a piece of the action. And after a while, all the other letters of the alphabet (including Æ, Ø and Å) join in. Because they can, because they feel threatened, because of whatever. Millions on the run, hunger, devastation, violence. Lost children, lost parents, lost everything.
And that 12-year old? Sitting in her room right now? Fearing another idiot with a gun/bomb/lorry/suitcase? Invading her dreams and turning them into nightmares? Let's just hope that soon she dreams of the normal stuff again. Horses, flying bikes, butterflies. And boys (or girls)!
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteLove you my friend. Remember the Love. It's the life-bouy on the sea of fear. YAM xx
Thank you Yamini. I will try and do exactly that.
DeleteStay focussed on the good things and people in your life. I often don't watch the news beyond a headline these days.
ReplyDeleteRemember all the good people who run to help when these tragedies happen. There are lots of them out there too. We don't hear about them often enough.
I know there is more good than bad in the world, but unfortunately the bad get way more covering than the good!
DeleteI agree wiv Aunty Yam…luffs is the answer, more luffs less hates!
ReplyDeleteLoves and licky kisses
Princess Leah xxx
We live in a rough world. Our hearts are broken for the French people. Too bad the good doesn't get as much air time!
ReplyDeleteYour Pals,
Murphy & Stanley
Pee Ess - Please send POTP to my fiance' Ruby. She is at ER. No other information available.
Crikey Murphs ...... are you ok mate?? I've sent POTP to Rubes. Stay strong Murphs. She's got to be ok, aye??
DeleteCrikey Mara ..... listen to Aunty. She always gets it right, aye?? We just gotta spread our love as far as we can.
ReplyDeleteI hear you Mr Crikey! And I will listen to Aunty.
DeleteOur world is very scary today and it felt that way for me too when I was in school.
ReplyDeleteNice piece, Mara. The world is getting edgier lately. I keep hoping that at least in some parts, like the USA,it's the last gasp of ultra conservatives and religious fundamentalists. But you should have been around in the 50s and 60s. What a time of angst!
ReplyDeleteStrange, but I never worried about these things. I don't worry now neither, otherwise I wouldn't travel or move anywhere anymore ! Now it can hit you wherever you go !
ReplyDeleteThis is a stirring piece. So sorry the sandman is being a boogieman these nights. hugs to you.
ReplyDelete