Lately I prefer Grimms’ fairy tales to the news headlines. Yet I definitely prefer the news headlines to the garbage being spread, fertilized, and growing on social media.

The pandemic is revealing people’s true character. And in some cases, the character that is being revealed is far from admirable.

It’s disappointing that some people I have known since our childhood are not who I thought they were. I’m likely not who they thought I was either. Yes, it may not be fun being home-bound for so long and longer yet to come. The personal-distancing and staying at home, other than to buy necessary groceries, isn’t the end of the world. And yes, our economy is drowning. But this is not forever and every country is affected. It’s so obvious some people never watch/listen/read news from any legitimate news source but instead get all their information from memes and fake-news sources on the Internet (primarily Facebook-based). I take breaks from social media because it frustrates me to see such blatant misinformation and disinformation being passed around like a long-anticipated joint. And then those people believe that garbage as if it came from the gospel of he-who-knows-all. Geez.

You can tell I’m not my usual calm and positive self. But don’t be concerned. This too shall pass.

I can’t help myself. It’s simply part of my nature to always scratch the dirt a bit, even if I have to actually dig deep, to find a fresh, plump seed of hope.

Nothing is ever over
Life breathes life in its turn
Sometimes the people listen
Sometimes the people learn
— from the Neil Gaiman poem, “After Silence,” paying tribute to the legacy of Rachel Carson
I thought those final words in his poem related so well to the current times.

2 thoughts on “Sometimes the people learn”

  1. so well worded

    i actually feel more isolated by the political climate than by the pandemic. it’s so hurtful to find out people would allow a political party to determine if they will still think of you as a family member as if it could change DNA. it’s like a death when a separation like that comes.

    your first photograph should be printed, framed and hanging

  2. Well said, Diane. Reason and prudence seem scarce these days. I love that you ended with a quote from Neil Gaiman (my literary boyfriend! ?) Is there anything that man can’t write?

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