Suburban wrote: "Oh, and next time you hear a horror story like that? Please feel free not to share. Thanks."
And the Matron agrees.
Because a funny thing happened while she was writing that post. She penned her words about said horror and felt sick. Felt that the entire post - that was supposed to celebrate her recent job offer -- was sullied. She wanted to start anew but just didn't have time.
This reminded the Matron of an incident that occurred long ago. She heard something too horrible (again, NPR, damn them!) to repeat here. So horrible that she simply had to share.
And when she told her friend, the friend said: "Now I have that image in my mind. I wish you hadn't said that."
The Matron took pause. Since that time, she has been careful with disturbing information in order not to disturb others.
We all walk this line: when we are unsettled or shocked, we naturally reach for another. Perhaps we seek company to discuss, reassure or reassess? Sometimes we just don't want to be alone with our information.
But why reproduce pain for others?
This dilemma reminded the Matron of her introduction to Derfwad Manor, wherein the wise Mrs. G. discusses blogging boundaries.
So! Politics? Race, gender, teaching, poverty, global warming? Controversy? You betcha. But blethic requires her to stick to this kind of horror:
Remember how Satan's Familiar got in trouble with the government?
The last few seconds most accurately display the amazing monkey-like ability that affords this animal complete access to every kitchen counter top and available morsel of food - or entire meals, for that matter.
Tomorrow. Good energy for Scarlett: 7-8. Just imagine what the Matron will be able to do with all that Stage Mother material. . . .
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16 comments:
Oh, no! Just because I prefer to bury my head under the sand when it comes to the horrifying things people can do to one another doesn't mean everyone agrees. Don't listen to me. I can't even watch the evening news on TV, for heaven's sake.
No, really, it's okay! Your comment hit a nerve with me in a good way, because it made me think. That post bothered me! I can't watch the news either so maybe we're just two peas seeking a protective pod.
I did think that the new job got short shrift in your blog post, although I understand wanting to push out a blog entry and get it over with. I just thought the new job warranted more than an afterthought mention. But perhaps that's just me. I would sell my soul or my ass or just about anything I own except the dog for a job offer right now. If I got one, I'd be verbally dancing all over my blog (and shaking my fanny and jiggling my breasts and shouting Woo-hoo baby! numerous times.
Ari -- you're right. That's also part of the reason it felt funny. Wiggle shake! There goes that fanny! Now, it's off to one of the two colleges I'm currently adjuncting at to get rough drafts of research papers. Joy.
MM - love your posts - no matter the subject matter. I support you in posting whatever is on your mind. Your healing journey can be ours as well!
(I know - the idea this creative endeavor we call blogging is actually a healing journey is my judgement. That's what it is for me - doesn't have to be true for you!!)
I think it's very interesting that your job offer comes on the heels of your "establishment" as a blogger. Are you getting noticed or what?
: )
xoxo
Okay, I am convinced that the mutt is possessed. And i shall send happy thoughts the way of Miss Scarlett. And yes, your comment about the Austrian Monster unnerved, but had I been in the house when NPR covered it, I'd have heard it. I'm sure I'd have come across it anyway. Today the guy working in my back yard informed me of the kid in California that died in a sandbox. Life's like that, you know?
Still so glad about your job.
Dear Matron Mary
Please don't beat yourself up - I think we NEED to know things like this happen.
Where would the world be if we ignored every bad thing - and how would help be sent in Earthquake zones or famine, if the media kept all these horrible things quiet?
And I'm glad you mentioned it with the job and audition - it's what the husband would fondly refer to as a s**t sandwich!
Good luck for Miss Scarlett tomorrow x
I think sometimes we just have to share pain with others in order to ease our own. It's sort of like when my kid's insist that I come over and smell the spoiled milk THEY JUST SMELLED. They need me to physically share their disgust...gag right along with them.
After that video, I am offering Satan's Familiar a home. I want that little furry daredevil.
Matron,
Sometimes it's just saying what everyone else is thinking, and even more so, it soothes to know that you're not the only one who feels that way.
~Cheri
I'm not sure if it's the same in your part of the world...but here in Australia you would have to be living under a rock not to have heard all the details about that particular horrific story anyway. It's been in every paper, on the radio, on TV non-stop.
HUGE congratulations on the job!! I'm trying to work out the time difference to send my good vibes to Scarlett. I'm just hoping that good vibes can hit their mark regardless of the sender's inability to wrestle with timezones and datelines!
Censorship, self imposed or otherwise, is bad for the soul, bad for the community, and bad for the world. Don't do it.
Congrats on the job.
Moral of this post: get rid of disturbing news and mail slots.
I've been thinking about this post for a while, and I still don't know where I stand. It's not good to pretend that evil doesn't exist, but then it's not healthy to focus on it, either. So what do we do? Really. What?
I get what you're saying because the last half of the post had such great news and it was sort of diminished with the stuff on top.
But, I think it's important to discuss and share when things like this happen. It is part of the healing process and affirms that the majority of people are likewise horrified that these things happen. It sort of helps reaffirm my faith in society knowing it is a truly isolated incident and the vast majority of people do not lock their children in dungeons for decades (not that I actually think that, but I think you get what I'm trying to say).
Well. An interesting question of course. I have been told to just walk away from news like that (actually, the words were, I am going to have to censor your news if you keep making yourself sob like that) but it rivets me in a horrifying way. Sometime's it's just the empathy -- that happened to a family, holy moly. Or that it is something we could actually act on and change the situation. Hence my perpetual focus on what the f**( is in our water. BUT i do tend to turn away from that which will make me feel physically sick. I heart, heart, the Blakely story, though, so it carried me. As did the feeling of utmost power I got when I realized that I helped will you your job!! Not that I am surprised. You rage (and not like some rapist maniac abuser...). Also? I think you may have shared enough of your odd life experiences with extreme weather happenings that it is all, somehow, of a piece even while deeply unsettling (and yes, I have been completely out of touch with all media for over a week now except for snippets online so I would totally have missed this story). Congrats again and will send good vibes for the young Scarlett.
I understand your second thoughts about posting that, but I think your first instinct was right, if only because not censoring yourself gives us a truer picture of where your mind is and what the sort of things that can rock you to your core. This was one of them. And like others said, most of us would have heard it from another source.
And I'm still jumping up and down about your job. Well, in my mind, anyway.
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