Monday, October 9, 2017

It's a Scary World Out there!

By: Marcia King-Gamble


Apologies to everyone for not posting last month. I was deep in the middle of Hurricane Irma and between long lines for gas,  food, and hoping my roof didn’t blow off, my attentions were elsewhere. 

I was actually one of the fortunate ones. Except for broken tree limbs and destroyed foliage,  my house remains intact. It’s amazing what torrential rains and high winds can do to a normally pristine neighborhood. Here are some pictures. 


The good news is that we’re almost back to normal, but the leftover debris is still waiting to be picked up. But what’s a little mess compared to the devastation of  those  in The Keys? Those poor people will be rebuilding forever.  And let’s not forget Puerto Rico, where basics like water, food and electricity are still very much needed. Schools and businesses may be closed forever.  


So back to the topic of  scary.  Was it a trick that 58 people lost their lives in the Las Vegas massacre when a millionaire deliberately gunned down innocent people? Was it a trick that 29 people were injured in the London Tube Train incident at Parson’s Green Station when an explosive device partially exploded? What about the devastation left behind at the Ariana Grande concert after that bombing killed 22 people and injured 250?

In August, in Barcelona, a van of terrorists deliberately drove into a crowd killing 14 people and injuring 80. Was that also a trick? It was certainly not a treat for those unfortunate people, and the devastated families left behind.


Given the horrendous things that have happened this year, we deserve  a real treat. October used to be the harbinger of  fun, uplifting times.  Halloween was the scary holiday when you could be anything you wanted to be, and there were more treats than tricks.Thanksgiving was a time when families met to eat and count their blessings. December meant an endless round of parties. 


On a lighter note, for the first time in my life I received a Christmas party invitation in October. I am guessing that  the host wanted to spread some joy amid the carnage that has become life. 


So back to treats. Treats to me are the leaves changing color, lit fireplaces and the scent of hickory in the air. It means cooler days and bonfires on the beach at sunset. It’s celebrating with friends and family over calorie-laden meals.  

 Come December when the holiday parties kick in, the mood grows more festive. It's the season for gift giving. The stores are filled with frenzied shoppers. At home, cookies are being baked, trees decorated,  and carols sung. T'is  the season of peace on earth and goodwill to all men.

But this year will it be the season of terrorism? Will some horrific happening paralyze the world again? I hope not.  Can innocent people attend a concert without fear? Can we send our kids off to school without worrying that the bus or train transporting them will get there?

For me, a real treat would be to get through this season without another senseless massacre, and more innocent lives lost. That would make it the best season of them all. 



I pray that this is a very happy fall!

Romantically Yours,


Marcia


About Marcia King-Gamble

Romance writer, Marcia King-Gamble originally hails from a sunny Caribbean island where the sky and ocean are the same mesmerizing shade of blue. A former travel industry executive and current world traveler, Marcia has spent most of her life in the United States. She is a National Bestselling author,  and has penned over 34 books and 8 novellas. Her free time is spent at the gym, traveling to exotic locales, and caring for her animal family.

Visit Marcia at www.lovemarcia.com or “friend” her on Facebook: http://bit.ly/1MlnrIS



6 comments:

Judith Ashley said...

Marcia, I'm totally with you on the message in this post. I would be grateful to have the rest of 2017 and all of 2018 violence free or at least mass violence free. It would make the rest of this year and all of next the best years in a very long time.

So glad the Irma damage left was minor at your place. Still praying we, as a country, will step up and help Puerto Rico...and now Nate has made shore. I've not even checked the news this morning to see the damage that one has caused.

And, my curiosity question is last: Do you have travel plans to another exotic locale before next year?

Marcia King-Gamble said...

Thanks for stopping by Judith. I wasn't sure if this post was too depressing. I normally try to keep it light and upbeat, but this has been a tough year for most and I felt I needed to address what's going on in the world. Wasn't sure I hit the target. Nothing exotic on my plate at the moment. Working on 4 books, but heading for some place exotic might change once I meet my deadlines.

Lynn Lovegreen said...

May your prayers come true, Marcia. I'm glad you got through the hurricane okay.

Marcia King-Gamble said...

Thank you Lynn. I appreciate the good wishes.

Sarah Raplee said...

Marcia, I think you wrote about the concerns of many people in this post. We are all praying for peace and unity.

So glad you did not suffer any major damage from the hurricanes!

Marcia King-Gamble said...

Thank you Sarah. Comparatively speaking I got off scot free. Very grateful.