It was my intent to speak of the atrocities inflicted upon me in today’s blog, but there has been a change of plans. Today is an incredibly busy day with S0 many chores – banking, safety deposit box, and good things like an appointment with my wonderful trainer and a water aerobics class at the YWCA. Negative energy cannot consume me so instead you can share the bright lights that came from the horrors.
But to begin on a negative note – atrocities can be the word of the day. It is not a pretty noun, that is for sure.
1. act of barbarity, act of brutality, act of savagery, act of wickedness, cruelty, abomination, enormity, outrage, horror, monstrosity, obscenity, iniquity, violation, crime, transgression, wrong, wrongdoing, offence, injury, affront, scandal, injustice, abuse; Law malfeasance, tort. (Press reports detailed a number of atrocities).
2.: barbarity, barbarism, brutality, savagery, inhumanity, cruelty, wickedness, badness, baseness, evil, iniquity, horror, heinousness, villainy, lawlessness, crime, transgression, wrong, wrongdoing, injustice, abuse; Law malfeasance; rare malefaction.(He observed conflict and atrocity around the globe
In is interesting that the legal definition includes malfeasance and tort because, indeed, the causes of action against Kings County Jail will sound in tort and there are several. It is rather frightening to see the sheer volume of awful words, one as bad as another. One can see how those guards get stuck in the cycle of depravity and becomes all they know. I do remember a trip to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp over forty-five years ago. It had not been ‘developed’ at that point but there was a picture of the guards and they were so sinister looking, so brutal looking, so savage looking. It sent shivers down my spine. The vast majority of guards at King’s County Jail look like that. They were corpulent, poorly groomed, and there was an awful dead look in their eyes. I said to a fat, unattractive man, rather ageless in his ugliness.
Me: How do you live with yourself, Brutalizing a seventy-five year old woman for no reason at all?
He: No verbal response. He just yanked me causing more bruising and pain. I can see how a man might get his jollies from terrorizing a big brute – but me??? What was so laughable, in a way, is that so many of the guards complimented me on my red glasses. I guess they appreciated some beauty in their midst.
This is a moment of recognition – not doing such a great job of being positive. But an email just arrived from someone dear to me. It was sympathetic, concerned and upbeat.
He: Glad to hear that you are ok. I hope none of this interferes with your plans for London.
Me: I am happy, happy to hear from you. I won’t let it!
That is friendship. I, through this horror, have learned who my friends are.
The brightest light in the darkness was the Crisis Center – the staff and their compassion but also one or two of the residents. There was a tall, stately, black man who said his name was Eezek and said he was fifty years old.He is amazingly talented, sat at a table and drew complex and details pencil sketches. One of the staff members said that his work reminded him of Salvadore Deli., and I agreed. Eezek also writes poetry calling himself a Professor of Extravagant Thoughts. I hope we can stay in touch and collaborate with one another, much in the way that Jessica Phibbs and I did. I hope that it is possible, we shall see. He says he will be at the Center for about two weeks, perhaps I can take the train and go visit him.
There was a stunning surprise at the VSO celebration on Saturday. A woman manning one of the concessions spoke to me, after I had singed the credit card receipt and she recognized my name. .
She; I read your blog.
Me: OMG. I am going to cry or faint and fall away.
She; Yes, almost every day and so does my husband George.
It totally blew my mind. She complemented me on my writing but went on to make the most interesting and touching observation. She commented on my ability to observe, to catch details and nuances of people, places and things. I never realized that before.
Me: Oh my goodness. Thank you! I think it is because I am alone and rather than looking some guy in the eye or try to please a female friend I can watch what is going on around me and interact with new people, like you. We both laughed and chatted as she worked. This interaction was almost as good as the music.
I have got to get going. Too many men, so little time. Hahahaha.
