Been thinking a lot lately about the future. Ruminations inspired I suppose, by a combination of Octavia Butler’s futuristic, prophetic tale of Olamina in the Parables and the constant Facebook “breaking news” updates from my ever shrinking friends list. Anxiety exacerbated by AC 360 and his frontline exposes on Haiti, the Crisis in the Gulf, and the culture of war. Worrying myself into a frenzy , wondering if I’d be wise to build my survival kit: water, first aid, solar powered radio and flashlights. You know what I mean. New tires, oil change, storage bins and plenty of non-perishables. Oh, and blankets, coats, and hiking boots, in case we have to flee to the mountains. Tents, backpacks, and sleeping bags. Maybe we need sturdy new bikes in the event we run out of gas. That means I need to purchase a bike rack to store and carry the bikes on the car…
Wishing I had some wilderness friend, completely off the grid, who I could call when the time comes. As it will. Won’t it?
My mind swirling, heart palpitating, fear of the unknown future threatening to send me spiraling downward into that place of total mental incapacitation. How do I prepare? What do I do to provide safety and survival for my son? What is my emergency plan? Where do I find the money to purchase whatever it is I need for whatever life shattering event is bound to happen (right)? Amidst the daily reports of gloom and doom, I can only wonder. What is our obligation to our children? How do we negotiate recession, war, natural disaster, and still provide the space and opportunity for laughter and joy? How do we live in the now, in spite of the ominous news reports? Do we turn it off? Unplug? Disengage?
CocoaMamas 