Archie Explores

Archie’s Take On; Clouds

 

 

 

 Clouds pass over buildings.

 Why is it, we can be so easily affected by things that remain unreachable, untouchable, and yet, cause us to feel deep and unexpected feelings? This week’s news from a college in Virginia, and from the struggles in Mid East, leaves one with no-where to turn, and still remain untouched by all this.  

 

Comfortably Numb 

While reflecting on these profound human losses, I often find myself staring off at those wistful clouds as they roll overhead. The clouds, like the world, drift along, unaware of our lives and feelings, yet continuously changing our moods and surroundings with an infinite variety of light and shadow.

 

Just more clouds. 

As I was getting my first-grader ready to take to school this morning, right out of the blue he said, “Everything has a dark side”. It made me do a double take, because I was also in the middle of working on this story. But he was as right as rain. “Yes”, I said, considering where to take this thought, “you know, up above the clouds where the sun is shining the clouds are so beautiful and so bright, it can be too much for the eyes to take in.”  I went on to explain that “…there are mountaintops, where you could see the sunny side of the clouds, just like from an airplane. It looks like heaven from up there.” “We’re just on the dark side of the clouds.” he said.

 

Obscured by clouds. 

Off to school we went, where, of course everything will be fine. But my kids are not with me when they are at school. They are out of my hands, and I tell myself ‘everything will be fine’, even with important matters like grades, books, spelling, and math equations, I will pick them up this afternoon, just like any other school day. If they study and work hard, someday they will pick a fine college to go to. I feel like crying.

 

On my way to work… 

These events are overwhelming. We hear discussions on what to do. I nod, agreeing with some points, considering others. I click off the car radio and sigh. Wishing this stupid “human problem” could fixed, like, right away, like, today. But, knowing, really, it’s going to take a long, long time for the Real World to make much progress on this kind of thing.

 We can never stop trying, but today, I feel glazed over.  I know there are a lot of good people feeling this shock at a lot closer range than I am. My heart, so goes out to you.

 

- I sit at my desk at work, a lot do today.

…Uh, oh.  There I go staring out the window at those clouds again.

 

Archie