Tuesday, June 2, 2020

USING UP THE SUNSHINE...













Once upon a time we had sunshine...

Once upon a time we had a summer to look forward to...

Once upon a time we had freedom to roam...

Once upon a time in, what seems like a land far far away, we had optimism.






Now, 
today with low hanging clouds,
 with individuals walking around 
with no intentions of providing 
a safe place to be for everyone, 
with the leadership of our country
 that we are all entitled to 
being non-existant,
 with all the dying and 
all the deaths that were needless, and 
without hopes of returning to 
a "normal" way of life, 
all the sunshine is 
slowly being 
used up.

 It is becoming
 a nightmare 
that seems we
will never 
wake up from.







In all honesty,
 this is what my life has become. 
 There might be a silver lining
 left out there but,
 in my world, 
it is slowly disappearing, and 
I don't like it. 

 I don't like the fact 
that my hair is horrible and 
I know my hairdresser 
will be calling to say 
I can, once again,
 come into his shop 
but I won't go. 
 I know my dear friends 
will be calling soon 
to set up our lunch dates,
 but I won't go. 
 I see my fellow town's people
 laughing their way 
down the sidewalks, 
close together,
 not wearing masks,
 making me think that
 they don't give a damn 
about what happens to me, and
 evidently,
 not themselves either.





Some might say that 
this is my choice.
  Some might say 
stop complaining and buck up.  
Some might say that 
I have a choice to do otherwise. 
 I have said 
all these things to myself also,
 but until I see 
others being respectful of
 all our feelings,
 not just their own,
 until I see store owner's have posted,
 "No shirts, no shoes, no masks"
 than maybe I will be able
 to see the 
sunshine again.







I hate to give up hope.

  Maybe I will become comfortable again
 with life as I would like to know it,
 but until that time comes,
 until I can truly believe
 we are all in this together,
 I will find my own version
 of the sunshine.






The new painting isn't looking
 very bright and sunny yet, 
but the optimism
 remains supreme.


Stay smart, safe and well and wear your masks.



...Judy....








I wrote this post on Sunday.
 A lot has changed since then. 
 Opening up the economy
 may not be as important now 
as it was a few days ago. 
In many places around our country 
what must have been excitement
 for a fresh start 
has changed to darkness and despair.
 The scenes we have been seeing 
on the news each night 
are devastating and
 the sadness that one family is feeling 
for the murder of their son 
is unthinkable.

 There is more than just 
a health virus
 eating away at us.

 How do we overcome
 all of this?

Do we really want 
to get back to what was 
always considered "normal"? 


Sharing today with:

Love Your Creativity at Life and Linda

and

Keep In Touch at Let's Add Sprinkles

23 comments:

  1. Good post. We sell those stones in our gift shop. Janice

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  2. Thanks so much, Janice. Those stones were a gift for Mother's Day a few years ago from the kids. I really love them..Stay well..xxoJudy

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  3. I agree, it has been very distressing, and I like you I am going to be very careful about jumping back into everything. It has been a difficult time and the problems the past week have only added to it, here we are on our forth night of curfew. It looks like it is going to be a very long summer.

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    1. Thanks so much, Adrienne. All that is going on now is adding to the stress. I really never thought I would get caught up in it like I have, but the problems have been ongoing for three years now and I have had about as much as I can take. It is all so horrible and does so much to undermine all that is good about this country. If there was better leadership maybe it all wouldn't be so hard to take. But that can only come, in my opinion, in November and we need to all get out and vote..Take care, and stay well..xxoJudy

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  4. Judy,
    Sorry that you are feeling this way....As with the covid virus, I choose not to watch any National News including what is going on with the Protests all over the World....I am sticking with the advise of a Psychologists who months ago wrote a very good article to limit yourself to only what is happening in your area that would personally effect you. Since then, both my son and I have adopted that mindset and it has helped both of us immensely to get through the Stay at Home phase and now with all the other things that are going on...So I remain Positive, Happy and very Busy!! Thanks so much for stopping by!! Stay safe, Healthy and try to be Happy!!
    Hugs,
    Debbie

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    1. Thanks, Debbie, for the advice. You know, I feel what I feel. I had to go into CVS to pick up meds today and seeing most all of the customers walking around without masks, not paying attention to social distancing, does make me mad. I have lived on this earth for 80 years and I most certainly do not want to leave it because of these circumstances. I do pay attention to what is going on in my community. It is small and there were protests over the weekend. There were about 100 people involved and it was very peaceable. I believe that these protesters feel very strongly about what they believe in. These kinds of people are what is needed in the world and I salute them when they turn out all over the country. It is a shame that there are some who use their rights as an excuse to cause havoc. There are also many good police officers in every town in the country. They know the bad apples in their midst, and it is up to them to speak out so that those kinds cannot fester. I am a happy person and I try to see all sides of the problem. In doing that I feel it is my responsibility to watch the news, read the newspapers, in order to be informed about what is going on in my country. We have had nothing but chaos for three years, way before the virus or the murders or the uprising, in our country. Doing away with that problem, may not solve everything, but it will sure make me feel better! This is good for my soul. Thanks, Deb, for lighting the fire under me. Take care, my friend, and stay well..xxoJudy

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  5. As one of my blog friends said, "I can't write about..rainbows and unicorn farts today." How people can continue posting fluff and advertise supporting crap to a country in turmoil, and not acknowledge the crumbling of our society...is beyond me. Here you have been honest and visual about earnest distress. And, yet...sharing also shares the burden...we carry on---and I'm with you on staying hunkered down. Madly gardening here...welling up for posting my true feelings. Perhaps, sanitizing our countries issues has to be stopped, and we need to hang that wash out on the line...maybe something will change then. Sandi in Chicagoland!

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    1. Thank you, Sandi. Sometimes it just doesn't seem right to acknowledge those unicorn farts! I love it!! I am angry, I guess that is the only word I can use to describe how I feel. Of course, I am angry about all the destruction in the cities around our country and beyond, and I am angry about the injustice that has been around for longer than I even know, and I am angry about this horrible virus that there seems to be no end for, but it started for me three years ago to be exact. I don't like to tread on other people's feelings and beliefs, but I am finding it very hard to control my mouth! The things I am seeing that is being done to our country in the name of the rule of law is just unfathomable. There is nothing above the governors of the states that is good and then I'm not too sure of some of the governors either. Change needs to come if we are to survive and I truly believe that..Stay safe my friend..xxoJudy

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  6. While we all crave for some kind of normal, peace and calm to return I think all of this has changed us and things will never go back to the way they were. All we can do now is hope for new normals to be better and less ugly, angry and invasive. I find places of peace in my garden and with my flowers to keep me sane. Some days you have to turn off the TV and go outside your home into your own yard and find beauty to remind us that life goes on. Great post Judy.
    Hugs,
    Kris

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    1. Thanks so much, Kris. I agree about going into the garden. We are so fortunate that we have gardens to go to. We did go out and buy some zinnia plants today so will be planting this week. I would like to see something better than "normal" when all of this is over. It has been too many years that "normal" doesn't look like it should. I don't know what it is, but all that is going on now, has made me look at things differently. I am not trying to be maudlin, but I am alot older than most bloggers, except our wonderful friend, Mary, remember her? I don't have the luxury of looking way far ahead like I used to and I so want this to be a better place for my kids and grandkids. So, it would be nice if we could enjoy a different world where normal means something other than what it means now..Stay well my good friend..xxoJudy

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  7. Oh Judy, things are such a mess, aren't they? I don't know how to wrap my brain around the world these days. It's so sad --everything -- our terrible president and administration, Covid and now this. I support the protestors (the looters, not so much) and am angry at how the police are taking on the non-violent protesters so aggressively. Well, don't start me. But you and I are on the same page -- on this and on opening up.

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    1. Thanks so much, Jeanie. I know we think a lot alike so there is nothing much more I can add to what you are saying. This is really changing me. I was always one that would keep my opinions to myself as I don't like to tread on anyone and I am not at all confrontational. But, I see such injustice all around and it started way before the virus or any thing else. Two months ago, I would never let my political feelings be known, I might hint at them, but I would never say them outloud! I think what got me was when my sister stood up for Trump, and while I know her as a kind and loving person, I know him as an evil doer and a loser, (I will stop at saying what I really call him) and I was horrified when I knew her feelings. It doesn't make sense to me how good people can react to him the way they do. I did go out to buy zinnias today so maybe the following week of planting will be good for my soul..Take care and stay well..xxoJudy

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  8. Dear Judy ~ I don't feel like going out anywhere either. Like Kris, I go out into my gardens to enjoy a bit of beauty and peace. Today has been gloomy and rainy most of the day, sometimes with heavy rain. It's late in the afternoon, so there might not be any sunshine outside today. Our homes have become more of a haven now than before. My heart aches, tears fall and I pray. Our nation and peoples of all colors and races, need restoration and healing and only God can do that. Lord have mercy on us all. Give us loving hearts. Forgive us when we fail.

    Love, hugs and prayers and may tomorrow bring sunshine.

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    1. Thanks so much, Lorraine. Your words are so true. You certainly have a lovely garden to take refuge in. There needs to be a lot of change in this world, but, sadly, every time something unthinkable happens we all say that, but here we still are..Take care and stay well and continue to enjoy your beautiful garden..xxoJudy

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  9. Judy, My Ted had three days of chemo Mon-Tues-Wed. and today I had to go to the dentist, which to me is scarier than a lion's den. Ted did well getting to and from the clinic. I did not have to have any dental procedures. Yet, today I have cried so much. I wanted to do a happy dance out of the dentist office. Yet, I felt they could have been , I don't even know what to say...organized in this virus time. My daughter drove me and waited in the car. I used hand sanitizers going and coming, wore my mask. In my daughter's car. I sat on the porch and prayed for everyone and our world yet, I cried again. I hope it's just my nerves. I do not want to be losing my hope for all of us. Blessings, stay safe. xoxo, Susie

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  10. Oh, Susie, thank you so much, and if anyone deserves to have moments of unrest and doubt, it is you, my friend. You have so much else going on than just the possibility of getting the virus, I really don't know how you survive it all. I am so fortunate, after all these years, to have a healthy and loving husband by my side. I imagine you are glad that Ted's chemo is over for awhile and that you didn't have to have any dental work done, but I understand the feelings that you could be walking into a lion's den. I had my yearly physical on Tuesday and even though the physical itself went well, it was more than scary to go into the office, where all the sick people go. They seemed to be fairly organized as not having patients over lap so I didn't see anyone except the doc and her nurse, but it does make the hairs on your neck stand up. You cannot practice safe distancing when your legs are up in stirrups!! When you feel like crying, just cry. That is all the advise I can give you. We all have to handle this in our own way and I am not doing a very good job of it, but I do plan to try to do better. That is just something that is just called for now. It will be a hard road ahead, but it will not do me in..Take care my good friend and take care of your sweet hubby. We will all get through it eventually..xxoJudy

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  11. Thank you so much. That was a breakfast from long ago, but it was good at the time. Thanks for your kind words and stay well..xxoJudy

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    1. Thanks so much, Kinga. Hope you are staying well..xxoJudy

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  13. We live in troubled times, and nobody is sure what our new normal will be …

    I do my best to keep positive, to keep in touch with loved ones.
    I am so looking forward to the day when I can give them all a big hug and not a virtual hug … especially the grandchildren.

    Stay safe and well, my good wishes.

    All the best Jan

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  14. Thanks so much, Jan. Missing the grandson for sure. I see my daughter but only through a window. Hopefully, soon..Hope you are staying well..xxoJudy

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  15. Judy,
    Just stopping by to thank you for visiting!!
    Wishing you well. my friend!!
    Hugs,Debbie

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  16. Thank you so much, Debbie. Sending the same back to you..Stay well..xxoJudy

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Your comments are so special to me...Judy