As I turned my car toward home today, I was suddenly
struck by a mighty surge of nostalgia. It stabbed my heart. My eyes
watered. The back of my throat throbbed.
Nostalgia is a
Homeric word literally meaning 'pain or ache'. That
is certainly how it hit this afternoon—a physical hurting and longing for a time or place now
gone.
Was it the way the
sun slanted through the clouds? I wondered. Maybe it was that hint of
green at the tips of tree branches lining the street? Or perhaps it was the
song playing on the radio? I'm not sure... But suddenly I was transported back to
a moment I hadn't thought of in many years.
Abruptly I longed
to be young. I ached to be at my childhood home in a more innocent time
of life. The events of this past week may have triggered this reaction.
The bombings at the Boston Marathon occurred on Monday, April 15, 2013.
Another layer of naivety was stripped away from America
I know one of the marathon racers running Monday. She said the finish line was within sight
when she heard the blast. She assumed it
was a celebratory cannon shot or firework.
Other racers reported thinking an electrical transformer had blown or a
garbage truck had dropped a huge dumpster. These are circumstances our minds imagine could be true. They are the sorts of experiences we've had. But now, when they hear any
bang or explosion will we immediately think, “Oh, no! Another terrorist attack!”?
This is more of the injury perpetrated
upon us: changing perceptions and beliefs, altering thought processes, and
thrusting us into a state of constant suspicion and mistrust of others.
Rob and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary on
Monday, April 15. Between a visit to Huntsman
Cancer Institute in the morning and terrible news on the radio about Boston
4 comments:
I've never really thought about the meaning of the word "nostalgia" before. So sorry you are feeling it :(
BUT
Congrats on your 30th year anniversary a very significant achievement these days.
I've felt somewhat disconnected from the Boston "stuff" going on. I guess I have refused to listen or take part in the reporting of it. I'm not sure of it is best to bury ones head in the sand.....but for me right now, it is what I have done.. . . .
Always have you in my thoughts and prayers.
I wish you a HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, as well!!! Sorry that it wasn't the best of days. I agree, it's hard to look at what is going on in the world today, and not long for the simpler yesterdays of our childhood
. As horrific as the Boston bombing was, I couldn't help but think of all of those people who deal with this kind of thing on a daily basis. It's unimaginable! How can human beings have such hardened hearts and evil intents? It's sad to think that our grandchildren will never know life as we did...
I was in England when I heard about the bombing in Boston. I didn't realize until I just read your post that the date was April 15; my 36th wedding anniversary.
I wanted to send you a message via facebook but didn't get around to it due to my trip preparations, but I wanted to thank you for your kindness in saying you could possibly work for me while I was gone. You don't know how close I came to contacting you, but I was able to hire a young man preparing to go on a mission so it all worked out.
I've been wishing for my own nostalgia. Like you I had friends near the finish line when the bomb went off and many scary moments trying to contact them and make sure they were okay. I would be willing to forgo some of our advancements to return to a simpler time. Sadly, that was not the dispensation we were selected for.
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