On the news, shopping, cooler weather, and keeping the scary feelings in a box

It suddenly occurred to me yesterday that Christmas is less than two months away. And lo and behold, in my email there was a flash sale sort of announcement from Lands End: fleece on the cheap. So, the anchor gift this year for everyone in the family is fleece. Then later in the day, we went to TJMaxx, and there were inexpensive but really funny small items, just perfect for stocking stuffers. So again, I have a few more little things tucked away. Nice. It feels good to be on track, if just for a moment. 

In reality, the news was so dire and depressing, I needed to do a little shop-therapy. I wanted to see bright and shiny things, feel soft and pleasant fabrics, all in a fleeting effort to keep the scaries in a box. It worked a bit, and I can always convince myself I was getting something done ahead of time (I was). But I really just wanted to escape the news scrolls and my sad thoughts. I bought myself a pretty sweater tunic, too, but the weather is not yet cold enough for it. Wait'll next week: the temps are going to drop to seasonal, and the forecast is for a high of 39 on Halloween. Poor north country kids--their costumes must always work around (or fit around) a heavy jacket. 

That said, the sounds of sirens streaming past my house last night just called to mind the miserable and scary situation in Maine, the hatred and horror in Ukraine and Gaza, and the roving terror in so many other countries as well. Too many guns, too many ways to diminish and extinguish human life. It's bird hunting season here, and soon will be deer hunting season. And while those are time-honored and generally acceptable pursuits, I flinch every time I hear a shot echo from the woods. There's been a few murders close together in the northern part of Vermont, less than an hour away. And suicides. And other forms of threat, all involving guns. 

I'm not anti-gun for actual, useful purposes: hunting, stopping a bear from entering your house, removing a rabid animal from your yard come to mind. But any weapon that serves only one purpose, that is to kill other humans, gives me real pause. I know all the arguments for them, and I don't feel comfortable with the debate. Guns are lethal. There's no escaping it. 

We have a revised and almost finalized new map/plan for evacuating kids from our school in case of an active shooter situation. That was unveiled this week, and will be ready to practice soon enough. Town-wide disaster practice. It just adds to the angst.

Maybe I need to buy another gift.

Have a good day, and stay safe.

C