It was undeniably a terrible week news-wise. Bombings at the Boston Marathon, an ensuing manhunt and shoot-out, and an explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas. I don’t live near either of these places, or even in the same country, but I felt affected all week.
To be really, truly honest, this kind of stuff always surprises me, but never really ‘affects’ me to the point where I’m thinking about it, and the people involved, at random points throughout my week. That may sound cold and careless, but, if we’re all honest, I don’t think any of us can really ‘get’ what it’s like to be in the middle of any one of those scenarios unless we’re really physically there. We can imagine, but it’s not the same. And so, because it’s out of sight, out of mind, it’s easier to process as a terrible event, feel sorry for those involved, and sadly, sort of move on.
Maybe it’s because I’m now blogging and reading blogs, and meeting and talking to bloggers more since we started Life In The Dog Lane, but I couldn’t ‘move on’. We’re an informed, plugged-in group. There’s mention of Boston and Texas in posts, on sites, on social media, and in the news. People are tweeting, liking, sharing, and instagramming. And I think because these people are people I know, at least virtually, it seems more real, more touchable, more like ‘this is happening’ right now. I know it is, but I sensed it more this time.
You don’t have to go far to find an online connection to someone in Boston or Texas or to someone who does or has.
Is all of the media and social media coverage inflating the gravity of either of these disasters? Maybe not the gravity – both of these events are terrifying – but maybe my increased exposure to the news and online discussion is intensifying my experience? It’s making it more real, which I know it is, but in a way it’s never been to me before.
I’ve given my dog extra hugs this week, extra walks, extra kisses, and extra ‘just let me watch you while you nap or eat or play with your ball’ looks. She doesn’t know what’s going on and likely wants to regain some of her privacy, but I think she knows she’s helping. I recently wrote a post about how dogs help us live longer, and that’s just it, they literally add years to our lives just by being there. They do so much by doing so little.
Juno’s also rightfully gotten tired of me fussing and mugging on her this week, and has started walking away. That’s ok. For those few minutes, I’ve felt amazing; lighter, balanced, focused, relieved, steadied.
In light of everything that happened this week, I found my superhero.
Who was yours?
That was a great post – thanks! … and I’ve got some extra cuddles too … my mom is merciless too :o)
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! Yep, we dog moms and dads kind of have a hard time resisting 😉
You are right about it being harder to let go and carry on when you’re involved with blogging. I feel I have become close to so many people who are in these areas that it affects far more than it used to. I did have a smile, though, thinking of your poor dog, being cuddled mercilessly 🙂
It is harder, right? And that’s a good thing – it should be hard, it’s tough stuff. And, yep, I am pretty merciless when it comes to cuddling my dog 😉