Signs Of Change, Signs Of Hope...

 

Hi.

The abomination happening in Ukraine, the pandemic, those that still insist it doesn't exist, the faction of people who want to deny that other swaths of people exist. 

All of it.

It's a lot. Too many are in the midst of different pieces of this shadow-filled, abstract concoction. They can't step out of the nightmare. They live in the turmoil, surrounded by chaos. No breaks.

I wish I could make things better for all of them. 

I wish I could stop the violence in Ukraine. I wish I could make those who refuse to see...see. I wish I could change the hearts of those who want to destroy rainbows. I wish. 

I know I'm far from alone in my wishes. 

So, here I sit. I am powerless to bring about any real change. It's hard to feel helpless.

So, we do what we can. We send donations. We write letters to MP's, and PM, trying to light a fire under those who do have the power to provide actual, practical, help. We write letters to other world leaders, trying to spread that fire. We write. 

It doesn't feel like nearly enough. 

But.

There are signs of change. There are signs of hope. 

Things will get darker before real light happens, but change is coming. After things are torn down, they can be rebuilt stronger, brighter, better. 

There are signs of hope. The voices of those who have been pushed to the shadows are stepping into the light, raising their voices, shining, demanding what should have always been theirs, without question. 

We need to be allies. 

We need to do what we can.

We also need to not be consumed by all of the things we can't control. 

We need to grab joy at every opportunity. We need to hug, run in the wind, and laugh for all of those who are unable to right now. We need to remember the good in life. We need to dance in the sun and kiss in the rain. 

We need to thrive in spite of all of it. 

Buildings will fall and be rebuilt. There will be change.

The birds will return. There is hope. 

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May we find a way through all of this. 

May we come through stronger.

May we come through together. 

May we come through better.

May we come through. 

A War Measured In Tragedy And Tears...

 

Hi!

How can this still be happening? These photos are not mine, but I think they tell us everything we need to know in a very powerful way. 

The world sees, and can't help but know, the horror being thrust upon Ukraine and her people. 

Just when you think it can't get worse, it does. Just when you think the images on the news can't get any more terrifying, they do. Just when you think that we have witnessed the worst of humanity, we quickly discover that there doesn't seem to be a bottom. 

How long can this go on? How long can the rest of the world allow it to go on? 

A war measured in tragedy and tears. A stain on what seems to be left of our humanity. 

This is a chapter in history that never should have happened, but it has. We can't let it go on. We just can't. 

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Too many tears. Innocence desecrated, discarded, strewn upon the ground. Every silenced heartbeat matters. Every missed hug. Every stolen giggle. Every crushed milestone.

They all matter.

Genocide has been attempted too many times. Thankfully it has always failed. Every now and then, an evil entity rears its foul, gluttonous head, hoping to devour a swath of humanity thinking it will feed their power. It never does.

We can not let this be the exception. 

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Tears fall as my fingers cross the keys, mere drops in comparison to the oceans of sorrow felt by those ripped apart by this ugliness.

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One of life's great lessons is that nothing in this life is permanent. Light can be swallowed by overwhelming darkness, but light always returns. Always. 

Slava Ukraini

Heroiam Slava

Ukraine... We Remain In Awe Of Your Spirit...

 Hi.

Once again, I can't take credit for these photos, I'm just sharing the story they tell. 

I know it must be disheartening to hear and see lies make their way across the planet about the war that was thrust upon you. Horrible lies.

Please know that the vast majority of humanity does not believe them. 

We know you are simply defending yourselves. Period.

So, continue to sink their warships. Continue beating them back in the streets of your cities. Continue to stand up. Continue to fight. Continue to believe in your victory.

The devastation of your buildings, streets, villages, and cities is beyond reproach. These so-called soldiers from Russia are merely morally deprived appendages of their evil leader. Their souls, darkening, and hardening with the carrying out of every horrible deed. 

But these are things. Structures. Time and help can rebuild all of it.

The heinous acts committed upon your people, that's a different level of evil. Putin's appendages show that not only are they willing to allow their souls to be darkened by their leader's greed, they show that they are also more than willing to destroy them beyond redemption. 

This kind of evil doesn't go unpunished, in one way or another. 

His plan was to pit nations against each other. He was banking o people believing his lies. He was expecting the people of Ukraine to lay down and just let him do whatever he wanted, take whatever he wanted.

He miscalculated. He underestimated. He misjudged.

He miscalculated the reaction of humanity. Not only has he been unsuccessful in pitting nations against one another, but, he has banded them together.

He underestimated the ability of most of the world's population to recognize lies. He might control the information that filters into Russia, but the rest of us have full access to the truth. 

He misjudged the heart of the Ukrainian people. He mistook your kindness as weakness. Always a mistake. He thought you would simply be afraid and lay down. He assumed cowardice, and, instead, was slapped in the face by your courage. 

His failures will all come to light as will all of the war crimes committed. 

Hold on.

There will once again be a time when you will live in your beloved Ukraine without fear of attack. You will be free to work, love, and live in peace. Your children will sing, laugh, run, play and learn without fear. 

This is horrible. This is heinous. No one should have to go through what you are going through.

Hold on. 

Slava Ukraini!

Heroiam Slava! 

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May spring bring an end to this bombardment, an end to this horrendous attack.

May you get your joy, your laughter, your freedom, everything, all of it back. 

May you, once this nightmare is over, rediscover your joyous nation.

May you take solace in watching as Putin awaits his sentencing in fearful trepidation. 

May you find the strength to keep fighting, find what you need to make to a new dawn.

May you know that we remain with you. We see you. We hear you. Hold on. 

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Ukraine... Still Suffering Putin's War Crimes

These images, so heartbreaking, so potent with grief, incredibly powerful. I can't take credit, and I wouldn't dare pretend. They are such a personal, vulnerable window into the devastation Ukraine is being forced to endure. 

Though the atrocities Russia is inflicting upon Ukraine are obvious war crimes, there seems to be some doubt that Putin will be held accountable. 

I have to believe, I have to hope, that that is not how the world works.

It can't be. 

Bucha.

The worst thing about Bucha, is that it's only one piece of the horrific, blood-filled, tortured, burned, hand-bound, raped, and murdered piece of the grizzly puzzle that will undoubtedly be revealed over time. 

It won't be the last. It will likely not even be the worst. 

The images from Bucha are the things of nightmares. Just acknowledging that one set of humans can do this to other humans breaks my soul. Bucha buried 280 of its children in one day. Not because of some natural disaster, some storm, some earthquake, but because some wizened, old, bald, little excuse of a man simply chooses to make it happen. 

Putin is an evil psychopath, who, if he ever had morals, allowed his greed and gluttony for power to snuff them out years ago. What's left of his soul is putrid and rotted, unable to comprehend anything but devouring his desires. 

What kind of men follow the orders of an evil madman? What will their mothers think of what they have done? Their fathers? Brothers? Sisters? Friends?

Once the truth washes over Russia, and her citizens come to understand what actually has taken place, what do they do with that? It's not like they can just apologize and move on. 

The repercussions of Russia invading Ukraine without provocation, without reason, without the right to do so, will be far-reaching and long-lasting. 

But that's then.

This is now.

Now, we see Ukraine retaking cities and villages. We see what's left of Russian tanks and other equipment destroyed by roadsides. The people of Ukraine have already won, Putin is just too stupid to admit it. 

Now, we see allies send food, and other supplies, military equipment, and people to train Ukrainian soldiers on how to use them. We see more sanctions hitting more Russians in bigger ways. We see the unwavering strength, courage, and fortitude of the people of Ukraine.

We see all of it. And we must not be quiet. Evil hides in the quiet darkness. Be loud and shine.

There is no way to look at what is happening in Ukraine with clear eyes and not see the evil that is Putin. 

Let's just hope that Karma is the bad bitch everyone claims she is. I look forward to her raising her fist. 

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Bodies lay broken and burnt, bound and naked, battered and buried.

Loved ones scream, the pain of loss too big for any human to bear.

The smell of burning flesh and death is inescapable, filling your lungs, your soul., becoming so heavy you can no longer hold yourself erect.

Smoke and destruction, rubble and fire, the whistles of sirens then the explosions hit. 

Will today be the day I die?

Will today be the day we win?

Will today be the day it's finally over?

Hold on. 

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Never Been So Grateful For Three Little Pricks...

Hi.

So... this happened.

We were able to stave off this thing for 2 full years. 

This is proof that Covid doesn't give one single crap about how much time has passed. 

I can't help but think about what this positive test would have meant two years ago, before we became fully vaxxed and added a booster. What a difference three little pricks make. 

Today, it has meant feeling like I have a bad cold. I'm tired. I voice left me for a few days. I'm producing more snot than any human has a right to. My appetite is kind of nonexistent. But that's it.

No ventilator. No dialysis. No feeding tube. No heart, brain, or lung damage.

Yes, I need to isolate for a while to keep my hubby and others safe. 

I'll take it. 

Thank you science, for bringing us to this place. We have lost, and continue to lose far too many people to Covid. Unvaccinated people are 4 times more likely to suffer severe illness and require hospitalization than those who are fully vaxxed, and 10 times more likely than those who have boosters on board. 

Despite the best efforts of the misinformation brigade, Canada is over 85.76% fully vaccinated, with 47.47% boosted. Even as case numbers rise yet again, this level of vaccination will go a long way in keeping our health care system from becoming overwhelmed, as it did with past waves. 

As I sit, sipping hot drinks, and blowing my nose, I can't help but think of the poor souls of Ukraine, who are fighting for their literal lives. I mean, a war in the midst of a freaking pandemic?! This amount of strain and stress would crush average humans. But these aren't average humans. These are the people of Ukraine.

I have a warm safe place to be, and nurse myself back to health.

I have nothing to complain about. Nothing.

I've never been more grateful for three little pricks. 

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Until next time...

May you get vaccinated.