Bombs, Explosives. A New World? I Don't Think So

     I woke up this morning to news that the police had arrested a man because they found explosives in his home. My first thought was "What a frightening new world we live in." In a second it hit me that what is going on is not new. The methods have changed, the danger has changed. I remember my own dear mother's reaction when I told her that I was going to Savannah, Ga. for 10 days. After I saw a picture sitting on my bosses desk, I knew I had to see Savannah. My mother's reaction did not surprise me, she never wanted to me go too far from her side. I did not resent it, I just lived with it. I figured "That's just mom." When I returned from quite possibly the best vacation (after some smoothing, lost luggage, ugly hotel) I ever had, I discovered  where mother's fear came from. While very excitedly telling her that Savannah was such a friendly city, how helpful and kind everyone was, etc. The small library allowed me to take books out (paperback only) without a card. That kindness made the entire city my friend.  My mom said in a quiet voice "I wish I had gone with you."  I had invited her and she had refused. I would soon find out why. My mother who was born in the 20's told me how it was when she was a child in Georgia. I finally understood her fear of travel, and her fear for me as I traveled. I have never been that far, but distance was not the issue for my mom. My attitude has always been "I go where I want to, if 'they' don't treat me the way I expect to be treated, I will take my things (money) and leave." I never had any fear of being harmed. If I had realized my mother's fear for me and known how it frightened her every time I was more than an arm's length away, I am not sure how my life would have been. After her story, I learned not to tell her when I was going away for a few days. I would alert a family member instead. This saved anxiety for her, but I was never again able to share my joy of travel with mom. It is always bittersweet when I remember her sad words to me, from the day I would tell her I would be away, until I actually left, "Van, I miss you already." I don't have to say how that makes a weeper like me feel.  The up side of this is that I did get mommy to Bermuda--she loved it.

I can't dismiss the fact that we live in a time where unrest and hate still exists. We will always have those who hoard exposives or guns. I won't allow that to shake my faith.