You Heard It Here: Real Life
I had originally planned to post about NaNoWriMo. For those of you who don’t know what that is, I’ll explain. November is NAtional NOvel WRIting MOnth and the goal is to write 50,000 words within 30 days. I’ve found it very inspiring and have participated the last few years, reaching my goal (and usually a little more). In fact, I was so busy writing my NaNo words that I forgot to post my blog yesterday on my scheduled day.
But NaNo is small potatoes in the scheme of things. Seriously. When you think about what’s happening in the Philippines and what that poor country has had to endure, getting in words on a page just doesn’t matter.
I think we usually consider most coastal countries as being paradise, but Mother Nature’s wrath is so brutal that she can make paradise a living hell. It seems like there must be a point to destruction of that level. I ask myself if a storm this big is ultimately people related because of the way we treat our world or if it’s just how the earth turns and the fact that weather is becoming so extreme. I guess we can ask why until we’re blue in the face, but we’ll never really get an answer. It’s up to us to make sense of it in our own way.
This picture is not only scary, but it’s fascinating when you think about all the power generated in that sphere.
I know most every place on earth has their own natural disaster. For instance: as long as I live in California, I’ll be facing earthquakes. I’m not usually a pessimist, but I am a realist and let’s face it… there’s going to be a “big one” someday. It’s inevitable. (Acknowledging the reality isn’t going to change it or make it happen sooner rather than later. It’s just a fact.) The mid west has tornadoes, and other parts of the country (and world) have volcanoes and other natural disasters. Most of us deal with something. Eventually, many of us will face something devastating, though I hope not to the extent that is happening in the Philippines. Hope everyone will take a minute to be thankful for what you have now because you just never know when it will all disappear.
I always feel very helpless in situations like this even when I send monetary donations. It just never feels like enough when so many people are suffering.
What about you? Do manage to make sense of Mother Nature’s destruction or are you left as dumbfounded as me?
It’s mind boggling to me, how many people have died. I can’t even imagine. Thanks for putting it into perspective for us.
Hi Janie,
I know, it’s so scary and heartbreaking. Thanks for stopping in.
Mother Nature is a B word, and she seems to be getting crankier, or we’ve advanced enough to keep tabs on her at all times, and man, she’s scary.
Vulnerability comes to mind, when I think of all the potential disasters humans and all creatures face.
The point about who’s responsible is a whole other converstation.
For now, I’m heartsick for the 10K who lost their lives, and survivors dealing with this deadly trauma.
Oh, and thanks for reminding me, I need to move out of California soon!
Hi Lynne,
Mother Nature is definitely crankier these last few years. I feel the same way thinking about all the people who lost their lives and/or loved ones. Don’t move! I’ll miss you too much.
I heard on the radio the other day that North America gets the most extreme weather of any one country/continent(?). We get everything – tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, blizzards, volcanoes…this is one of the most hazardous places to live on the planet. Kind of makes you think, right?
Hi Christine,
I hadn’t heard that. Yikes. I think maybe I didn’t want to know. LOL. I just know I moved to the part of the country that moves when you least expect it. I figure I’ll have to deal with it when it happens. Fingers crossed we’ll out get through it intact. On that note… Have a stable day.
Dee J.,
Thank you for reminding us about the disaster in the Philippines. I’m not much of a TV watcher, so I just recently found out. Personally, I am in awe of mother nature. In high school I toyed with the idea of being a storm chaser. We all know that we must respect the power of nature, and we should be prepared (I have a few can goods and a flashlight…I’m going to the store right now!)
Hi JL,
I’m not much a TV watcher either, but I’m a big CNN fan. (Usually on the Internet.) I’m too chicken to be a storm chaser. I’d be all…”Hey, it’s raining and blowing really hard, can we go inside now?” I’m fascinated by weather, but not to the point that I have to go after it. Yeah… I think I need to restock my earthquake kit. No time like the present!
You have officially reminded me to re-stock my earthquake kit. When my son was a baby, I always made sure I had at least 1/2 a tank of gas in the car, and I kept a packed diaper bag beside my bed, w/my car keys inside, because I was worried about an earthquake followed by a Tsunami. But then the years passed and I got complacent and I’m back to rolling into the driveway on fumes and leaving my keys in bowl in the living room. There is no silver lining to devastating events like the storm that hit the Philippines, but they do remind me that being prepared is never a bad idea. 🙁
Hi Sam,
I’m the same way with the gas tank. I fill up when I get just below a half tank. And we usually have water on hand, but I know our earthquake kit needs updating with batteries and can goods. Hmm…maybe I should do that. Ya think! But it’s true. We do get complacent. I think it’s normal when you go so long with a natural disaster. See you in the earthquake aisle.
There’s no sense to be made. It’s a tragedy that serves to remind the rest of us to be grateful for what we have.
Hi Kate,
I agree, no sense whatsoever. Yep, I’ve been looking around for days and being extremely grateful for my family, health and home.
My city is built at the forks of two powerful rivers, the Red and the Assiniboine. The problem here is flooding. In 1997 Manitoba and North Dakota experienced “The Flood of the Century” when the Red River turned into the Red Sea. It was supposed to be a one in 500 year flood, but there have been more since then. The Assiniboine flooded in 2011 and many farmers and First Nations still haven’t recovered.
Every region has its problems at times, but right now the Philippines desperately needs our help. For my Canadian friends, until Dec. 8, the Canadian Government is matching donations made to registered Canadian charities like the Red Cross. There will be no cap on the amount. For more information, check out http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/how-to-help-in-the-wake-of-typhoon-haiyan-1.2422426
Hi Jana,
Thanks for the link! The Philippines definitely need all we have to give. Yes, flooding is another disaster that so many people face. As I said, everyone has something. I think even people who think they’re safe have a natural disaster waiting and they just don’t realize it.