Gassho,I don't if its my Buddhist perspective that is helping or if it's just a life time of experience reminding me that we've been through tough times before and managed to survive that is helping. Maybe it's a bit of both.
I remember the energy crisis in the 70s and how absolutely freaked out my father got if we had the front door open longer and a fraction of a second as we were leaving the house or letting the dogs out, and him telling us of how he'd lie there at night listening to the sounds of the house, worrying that the furnace wouldn't come on and then cursing it when it finally did. I grew up in a house where both parents were heavy smokers and we weren't allowed to open a window because fresh air meant cold air. Those days seemed like much darker times to me because of his fretting and freaking. I don't want to be like that. It just doesn't serve any purpose. Come what may, I have no power over the price of oil so we cut back in the areas we are able.
These days I find I drive less, walk more which is good for me, good for my bank account and good for the environment. Maybe all I needed was a swift kick in the pants to make me see that unnecessary use of my car and other frills (like my beloved extra long showers) aren't really important. I look at the price of oil and the changes we're all having to make because of it and listen to people bemoaning the fact that it hurts and I'd be the last person who says it doesn't hurt but really, what hurts the most is that we are trying to resist the change we know we must make. We need to find alternative forms of energy.. green, earth friendly forms. It's going to take years before everyone is on line with the change but we have to start somewhere and I think this situation now is the kick-start we need to get the ball rolling.
But we've also had to cut back our living expenses because we've got two kids in college. Our son graduated this past May but is returning to do his honours thesis and likely masters following that. Our daughter is actually attending school in Boston down in your neck of the woods and her tuition and living expenses are a bona fide heart-stopping horror story. But she's applied for a scholarship and we've got all of our fingers and toes crossed.
As for the war.. well, that's a mess but we pretty much knew it would turn out this way before it started but Georgie-boy had his mind set and wouldn't listen to the rest of world trying to reason with him. I have no idea what the outcome there will be. I just hope Obama represent the change he says he does because I don't see a lot of hope in the prospect of lasting peace coming from the McCain camp.
Metta
Ann
