Laine's Blog, Thinking Out Loud

Not Like That...

 

I wanted to write about the unsettling times we find ourselves in

and then there was that date,

September 11, 2021

staring me in the eye.

 

In 2001, almost a week after that horrible day,

I was on a sailboat in Provincetown Harbor

and witnessed the most magnificent sunset

caused by the dust in the air all the way from 

New York City to Cape Cod,

from that terrible tragedy at the World Trade Center Towers.

 

I lived in Provincetown at the time and my friend invited me out on the water.

Planes were still grounded and it was eerily quiet and peaceful, calm and beautiful.

 

We talked about how the U.S. behaved in the world

and how that created more enemies than friends.

 

The Country stood still for a while - 

collective grief - shock - compassion - empathy.

 

And you know the rest of the story.

They said,

"Get on with your lives." "Go shopping."

We'll start a war or two and make it right.

 

A primitive response lacking insight, intelligence, even compassion for the victims.

It's not what their families wanted.

 

It wasn't misguided -

it was exactly what some people wanted.

 

Will America ever be the Beacon of Democracy she promised to be?

 

Not like that.

Not like that.

 

 

 

 

 

©Laine Quinn 2021, photo September 17th, 2001.

 

 

Good Bye...

 

2020

 

Oh My -

Goodbye goodbye goodbye -

and don't come back

ever again.

 

The odd thing about this horrid year

is that the world is more united

than ever before.

A global pandemic has brought us closer.

 

 

The virus crossed from one country to another -

without passport or visa -

sewing together the human race in tragedy and grace.

Tragedy and Grace.

 

 

 

And everywhere in the world

People are kicking 2020 out of the door

and into space

and welcoming the new year -

collectively -

of one mind and heart.

 

A New Year,

perhaps more welcome that any other in our lifetimes.

 

2021

 

You are very welcome!

Come in, come in,

have a seat,

stay for a while.

Hello! Hello!

 

HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

 

(Is it safe to come out yet?)

  

 

 

©2020 Laine Quinn

Are You Sure?

 

Are you registered to vote?

Are you sure?

In some areas of the country,

if you have not participated in the last one or two election cycles,

you are purged from the voter rolls.

Period.

 

Do not wait for election day to discover that you are the victim of a voter purge.

 

Check ahead of time, like today.

In my county,

you must be registered to vote at least 30 days before an election

in order to participate in that election.

 

So, double check, even if you are sure that you are registered to vote.

Double check!

Call or visit online your Supervisor of Elections

and be sure that you can participate

in the most important presidential election

of your lifetime - so far!

 

 

 

 

Brought to by Laine, in the historic year of 2020.

Deep Breath...

 

 

Let's be patient with one another.

We are all in this for the long haul

and depend on each other to remain safe and healthy.

Love and kindness are our best tools to see this through.

Love and kindness and patience.

 

Deep breath.

 

 

 

Sunrise, Saint Augustine Beach, Yesterday!

©2020 Laine Quinn

Change...

 

 

Change is in the air.

Compassion and righteous anger are walking the streets of America with Lady Justice.

There will be no turning back these pages of history ourstory -

no matter what the impeached president says or does.

 

Change is in the air.

This isn't 2 dozen people with automatic weapons

standing on the capitol steps

protesting the lock down because of covid-19.

This is thousands and thousands of peaceful Americans

supporting one another and walking together

to protest the racial inequality that permeates our society.

Protesting militant police who murder innocent people for sport.

 

Change is in the air

and it's not going away.

Police are on notice.

States Attorneys are on notice.

We are watching now.

And we are many.

 

Change is in the air.

Stay vigilant.

Stay safe.

Stay together.

 

 

In 1953, Rachel Carson penned this...

 

"It is one of the ironies of our time that,

while concentrating on the defense of our country against enemies from without,

we should be so heedless of those who would destroy it from within."

 

Amen.

 

 

 

 

©Laine Quinn 2020

Take The Day Off...

 

It's Sunday, 

take the day off!

With all of the bad news and incompetence of our government,

and missing being close to our loved ones -

our hearts get heavy.

But that's because of the love in our hearts.

Love and compassion and empathy and sorrow.

So, take a break.

Forget the bad news and focus on the love -

the love inside your Big Heart.

 

 

Love is everywhere evident -

even in this pandemic.

Look inside,

past the confusion and pain,

to the love.

 

That love - your love, my love,

will see us through to the other side of this.

Trust that love.

Feel it.

 

 

 

 

St. Augustine Beach, Sunrise

©2018 Laine Quinn

 

Trust Your Feelings...

 

(Sea gull wondering if it is safe to join the others...)

 

*"If social distancing needs to be extended long term,

scientists recommend forming an inner circle of uninfected friends and family

that you can rely on

to maintain social bonds..."

 

Some others call this a pod -

forming a pod of trusted friends and family.

 

But when can we do that?

When is it safe -

when the very best thing we can do is to isolate?

 

Listen to your heart...

when it feels okay,

then wait another week!

If it still feels okay,

take small steps.

Go slowly.

Be sure.

 

Trust your feelings.

 

 

 

 

*Quoted from a CNN article by Ryan Prior.

© 2020 Laine Quinn St. Augustine inlet with the Schooner, Freedom and a gaggle of gulls. Or should I say a pod?