I am struggling with writing this month’s blog. I don’t think I can write a coherent essay about my feelings during this time of craziness because they are all over the place. So many things in opposition. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”*
Staying at home or going out with a mask vs. pretending it is all a hoax and chastising mask wearers (as happened to a friend of mine in the grocery store)
Staying at home or marching in the streets
Protestors with masks can still be heard
You can breathe in a mask but you cannot breath with a knee on your neck
Fever of the current corona virus and the fever of rage and protest
I heard some interesting words on a recent PBS News Hour. An African American woman comparing the crime tool luminol to the corona virus. Just as luminol under UV light will show blood that was invisible before, the virus has helped in exposing the underlying racism in our country because of how disproportionally the virus is affecting the black population.
The multiracial crowds standing tall with arms uplifted in protest versus African American, George Floyd, handcuffed on the ground with a white policeman’s knee on his neck
The best of us: George Floyd was described as a “gentle giant” (The Guardian.com)
The worst of us: The white policeman holding him down
The best of us: The protestors being there and giving voice to what needs to be heard
The worst of us: The anarchists fomenting violence and destruction
The sadness and pain and fear and outrage in me giving way to the joy of seeing Astronauts Bob Behnken (age 49) and Doug Hurley (age 53), flying away from Earth in the Space X capsule called the Dragon atop the Falcon rocket, filling my heart with pure joy at the fantastic images of the launch
Bob and Doug (both white) hurtling into space, their second stage engine cutting off at 8 minutes and 47 seconds
A knee on grounded, George Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, his soul flying into the ether too soon (he was 46 years old)
May he rest in peace
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Eastern Bluebird photo by Betty McCreary
*Quote from the opening of A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (1859)
Natural Musings 
Oh Betty, I am right with you. The horror, the shock. Unbelievable that we find ourselves in this place. Some of it unexpected and some it not, if we’re honest. And I can’t clear the image of that knee and a dying man calling for his mama. I hope we learn from all of this.
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Thank you V. J. ! I almost didn’t write it. Thought I would blow off doing a May blog because it seemed hard to give the subject proper treatment.
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You spoke what so many of us can’t. In fact, I wrote something similar, which appears tomorrow. What can we say? Such difficult times.
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Betty this is so well articulated … so encompassing the extremes and pressures we are all caught up in. Thank you – this one I will print and add to my journal … I could not say it any better.
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Thank you so much Jazz! I very much appreciate your appreciation!
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Hi Betty – Thank you for writing what so many of us are feeling. I did not write a blog for May but maybe I’ll be inspired by you to write two in June. I try to keep mine writing-related and I’ve been too distracted to write anything! It’s a sad, sad time for our country. I was heartened to see other countries standing in solidarity with the protesters, though. We must fight against being discouraged. Change is coming.
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Thank you Trish! I feel a bit powerless to do anything, but I can at least write about it. Look forward to seeing your posts for June 🙂
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Let this be my reply this time. I can hardly put anything into words around all of this sadness. At times I get so angry I just scream. What times these are. Thank you for your post. You said all of that so very well. I like the format you used and the comparisons. ~joan
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Thank you Joan! And thanks for sharing your pain.
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Betty, will you invite Faye Maxwell to your blog? I was trying to explain how well you said everything I’d been thinking today and she said she would love to see it. Faye Maxwell: email: fjmax@peoplepc.com
Let this be my reply this time. I can hardly put anything into words around all of this sadness. At times I get so angry I just scream. What times these are. Thank you for your post. You said all of that so very well. I like the format you used and the comparisons. ~joan p.s. I just copied and pasted these last sentences onto your site.
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Yes I will invite her to check out my blog
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