Makes Me Think of WWII

by Penny Wilson Writes, posted in Life

I usually try to steer clear of political subjects here.  But the state of things, not only in the US, but globally, has got my dander up.  There are so many days now where I just shake my head.  I can’t help but wonder when the insanity of 2020 will end!

I try not to watch too much of the news. But it’s like that car race where they spin out going around that hairpin curve.  You can’t look away.  You must know what happens.  I think as humans, most of us have a Gladiator mindset when it comes to the misery around us.

There’s a lot to be thankful for and I know that.  But what I can’t seem to get past is how divided we are as human beings.  Theory versus science.  Conspiracy theories abound.  Racial differences.  No.  Not just differences, but racial wars.

I’ve always had this… connection with the tragedies of WWII.  I know that sounds weird.  But if you believe in past lives, and I’m open-minded about that, I think I must have lived a past life during World War II.

So many of us, not really being old enough to have been there, tend to romanticize how we United to fight the Nazi party and bring humanity back to those that had suffered the unimaginable horrors that transpired during that terrible time.  We withstood rationing of everything from food to gas.  People gave up many luxuries in the name of the cause.  There were paper drives and rubber drives.  More people grew and preserved their own food.  They did with less, they used it up, wore it out or repaired it, rather than buy new.

There were many sacrifices that the everyday citizen did for the good of the nation.  It was a sense of pride.

But if you really dig deeper into what was happening within the United States at the time, you might come away with a different perspective.

While there was much talk about getting involved in the fight against Germany, there were more than a few that questioned if it was really our place to get involved.  Not only were the Japanese suspect, but the general consensus was that the Jews could not be trusted either.

It wasn’t until the attack at Pearl Harbor, by the Japanese, then a German ally, on our own shores that we decided to join the effort.

With this decision, the then president, Franklin Roosevelt, ordered approximately 120,000 Japanese to be pulled from their homes, their assets frozen, and they were shuttled to internment camps and were held there between the years of 1942 and 1945.  Anyone who was 1/16th Japanese were put into these camps.  The occupants, most of which, were American citizens.

The Nazi party was not the only one to commit atrocities against people. The United States did too.

The point that I’m trying to make here with bringing up World War II, is that we, as human beings, pulled together for a common good.  I just don’t understand why we can’t do that now.  People have enough brains between their ears to figure this out, don’t they??

It tears me up to see such discord in our nation.  Political parties aside, we all need to show that we are the UNITED States of America and stand United.

*Your comments and opinions are welcome.  But if you are going to play in my yard, play nice.  Thank you.  

Copyright (C) 2020 Penny Wilson

 

The Crooked Path

by Penny Wilson Writes, posted in Life, Poetry 

I've knocked my head against the wall until I bleed. 
This is what it took to get my attention. 
I seemed to take the hard way, the road less traveled.  
I've started my life over again many, many times.
Started from scratch.  From nothing.  
Each time a little further along this Crooked Path.
I began as a lump of clay, cast into the mud along
with the rest of the muck.
I managed to crawl upon the shore and bake myself in
the sun until I was cracked and bleeding. 
This is a process I repeated over and over again.  
I would then retreat back into the muck seeking 
the cool mud to soothe, only to realize that I must
push myself up and out.
At last, finding myself on the path, head up, shoulders 
back, I trudged forward tentatively, turning left when 
I should have turned right. 
Backing up and taking a different turn at times, 
but always the way that I wanted. 
Not what was best. 
But what I wanted. 
I knew that the outcome would be the same. 
Finally, one day as I was sitting in the mud 
once again, I bowed my head. 
I had prayed many times, but not like this.
I prayed, not to be lead to the right path. 
Not to be helped from the mud.  
I prayed instead to see; see the hand that had 
always been there. The arms that had always 
welcomed me.  
I prayed for faith.  

Copyright (C) 2020 Penny Wilson

My path to God has been a very long one. I came
to Him late in life. This is my expression 
of that journey. I still struggle, but my prayers
have been answered tenfold.  

A very special Thank You to Chuck, 
at The Reluctant Poet. He gave me the
line, 'The Crooked Path' that inspired 
this piece. 

Thank you for joining me on this journey. 
Penny <3
Photo by eberhard grossgasteiger from Pexels

Kitchen-Before & After

by Penny Wilson Writes, posted in Life

I promised Before and After pictures of my kitchen painting project.  So here they are.  If you can’t tell, the dark blue was the Before color and the sunny yellow is the After color.  I just love it.  The whole process was much harder that I realized it was going to be just because of a few unforeseen incidents.  Also there is the fact that this 63 year old body is not used to spending a lot of time on a ladder.  I forgot how much hard work painting is!!

There are still a few things that are needed to complete the look.  I have blinds and a new ceiling light fixture on order.  So those will be put into place.  Eventually I will change the look of the counter tops and backsplash.  But that will be another time.

I’ve always thought that a kitchen should be light and bright.  This one fits the bill.  Instead of hating the look of my kitchen, now I love it!  It was hard work, but well work the effort.

Have you done a big DIY project that you’re proud of?  Tell me about it!

Thank you for joining me on this journey.  Penny ❤

Copyright (C) 2020 Penny Wilson