Waves

It's hard to believe that there is so much devastation right now, not so very far from me. Here it is so peaceful, with the sun shining and a light breeze blowing the Virginia creeper outside my window. A spaniel naps curled in a ball, her warm little back pressing against the arch of my foot. But people here are talking about the almost unbelievable destruction of the hurricane, of the sadness of all the suffering, and of what the sudden rise in gas prices will do to our local economy, which is based largely on tourism. It seems that the effects are rolling outward from the center of the storm in ripples. Everyone is touched in some way, by memories of visits to the beautiful area so devastated, to fears for friends or family affected.

But time and life go on, and I work out at the gym, fix a problem with the blog that didn't allow the latest pictures to show, do laundry and get ready for the weekend. Sometimes it feels very selfish not to just-stop, but that just isn't an option when animals have to be tended and a living has to be made. But as I work I think of those in pain and fear and loss, which serves as my form of prayer, I suppose.