O/T - A new perspective

[SydneyFireworks]

For a few months – until yesterday – I’d been feeling somewhat sorry for myself and for everyone else who has lost so much money and/or their homes in the current world economic crisis.  I retired a year ago with enough funds to live in moderate comfort for what statistically should be the rest of my life.  Those funds are now decimated, with more to come most likely.  What p!ssed me off the most was not that I’m now much poorer than I was, but that I’d worked damn hard over a lifetime to save that money and a big percentage of it was gone in almost an instant.  All that effort down the drain!

Last night parts of the state of Victoria (of which Melbourne is the capital) exploded in flames.  The ongoing drought has meant that trees, scrub and undergrowth in rural areas is so dry that fire was inevitable if the weather became too hot.  Which it did – they’ve just had many, many days of temperatures over 40C.  A huge number of Bush fires erupted in two separate regions of Victoria (some of which were deliberately lit by d!ckheads who are even more evil than the worst of our Ns).

The fires continue – so far 69 people have died, several small townships have been razed to the ground, and over 650 houses have been destroyed.  These numbers are expected to climb dramatically as fire crews have so far been unable to access certain bushfire areas.

Several hundred families have lost everything.  From family members, livestock and pets, down to long-held heirlooms and photograph albums.   Everything.  One guy who was just interviewed escaped the flames with NOTHING other than $2 in his pocket and the clothes on his back.  His home is gone.

I’m writing this from the comfort of my little home, with all my stuff around me, my family and friends safely far away from the fires.  Sure it’s hot, but we have power and the air conditioning is doing its job.  Sure my bank balance is depleted and may never recover. 

But, hey, suddenly I have a new perspective.

Hugs
Syd

[practicaljude]

Hi Syd,

Last night I read the facts you've posted and although I'm not as physically close as you are I shared your new perspective.  I know at one time you mentioned 'your' airport is closer to Melbourne than Sydney and wondered, "how close?"

I'm relieved to hear you're alright!  And, I too, thought about how nature rules and the people who survive with nothing left but themselves (and, if they're fortunate, $2).  The picture that sticks in my mind is how one article described cars with 5 or 6 people in them attempting to escape, presumably entire families. The aftermath will linger forever.

Every so often I still see a Katrina survivor in the psychiatric emergency room seeking medication.  It's not as if the United States government did much for them prior to Katrina, but's that's another story to unfold.  Anyway, I think about the inequality as I watch them read a "People" magazine and wonder what they're thinking.  Then I wonder about all the parts that make up the whole being and how some thrive after such devastation and some don't. From the crisis training I've had, from reading and from experience, the connections they have with others will be an important determining factor in their survival.  This, along with their spiritual faith will help get many through tomorrow.  What lies sick in my gut is knowing there are individuals roaming around without anyone or anything to help them.

I'm also sitting in a cozy chair, drinking coffee and hoping I don't get layed-off from work.  While driving home I wondered if I'd have enough energy to throw in a load of laundry.  I've got a stack of bills I've neglected to open because, "I can always do it tomorrow."  I wonder what I'd be thinking if I just lost my loved-ones and all of my possessions.  Life's priorities would change...definitiely a new perspective.

Keep us posted and stay safe.

 

Jude









 

[SydneyFireworks]

Thanks for replying Judy - and yes, I hear what you're saying.  The world certainly seems to have turned upside down lately.

Don't worry - I'm a long, long way from the fires - my closest capital city (and airport LOL) is Brisbane.  If I knew how to upload a map, I would - but if you visualise Australia like a clock, I live at 3 o'clock, and the fires are approximately at six o'clock.  Given Australia is more or less the same size as the US, you can tell it's quite a distance!

They have now confirmed 108 dead, with certainly more to come.  In population terms this would equate to more than 1,500 deaths in the US, so you can get an idea of the magnitude of the disaster.

Hugs
Syd

[talia]

I've been following the new,Syd....Just horrendous. There's just no adequate words for this kind of devastation. I'm glad you are safe....I can relate to the financial "hit",but you're right...Loss of lives and homes puts it into perspective...Take good care.

 

[CZBZ]

Glad to know you're safe, Sydney and your family, too. Tragedies like this always put things into perspective. Suddenly, we get right down to what's most important in our lives. We might even be appreciative of people, places & things we had taken for granted.

By the time we get OUT of a N-relatioNship though, it can feel like we survived a Fire...that experience puts life into perspective, too. We hold on and hold on 'til there's nothing left to lose. We finally admit to ourselves that the fire is out-of-control and throwing buckets of water at flames won't change the outcome. Most of us courageously do everything we can to save the relationship; but at some point, we run out of energy.

I don't know about you but I don't look so good with singed eyebrows...they're growing back, maybe a little bushy, lol, but a girl can pluck whatever needs plucking if she's willing to do the work.


Hugs,
CZ

[honeybearII]

I read in our paper this morning that the death toll is at 173 with more expected to be found.  I am so sorry, Syd, this is awful.  I am just so glad you are all right.  And yes, major tragedies DO put things in perspective, don't they?  My husband and I have lost over $150,000 of his retirement and we didn't have much to begin with.  He will be 65 next month, and I will be 64 in October.  We have come to the sad conclusion that there is NO WAY we can retire before age 75, and most likely not even then. 

Ah, well, at least we love what we do.  i don't think I could face no retirement if I hated my job.
Honey

[SydneyFireworks]

Thanks everyone for your responses.  Many of the fires are still burning out of control, the death toll is expected to rise to over 300, which is just horrendous.  However, there is a lot of truth in the "every cloud has a silver lining" saying - this awful disaster has pulled us Aussies together and made everyone seem a little stronger somehow.  Hard to explain. 

Our country of just 21 million people has already raised over $31 million in the Red Cross appeal (and that doesn't include countless other locally-based fundraising efforts going on around the country).

Apparently many people overseas have donated too - so if that includes you - THANK YOU.


Hugs
Syd

[honeybearII]

his awful disaster has pulled us Aussies together and made everyone seem a little stronger somehow.  Hard to explain. 

It is the way we Americans felt for a long time after 9/11.  Honey

[CZBZ]

Please visit this website if you would like to make a donation:


Australian Red Cross

The Power of Humanity

 

http://www.redcross.org.au/default.asp

[SydneyFireworks]

Awww, thanks CZ for linking the Red Cross site - much appreciated!

Hugs
Syd

[practicaljude]

Hi Syd,

I've been watching the videos and can't believe how the fire is still burning!  One man, who video-taped the fire around his house (probably many saw this one) ended by saying he had lost everything so he might as well walk into the town to see who he could help. Another man gathered neighbors into a bunker.  Who would think a bunker would we used to save lives in this day and age.  What about the guy that jumped into his swimming pool?  Smart move for survival but still such a danger with the smoke.  Oh the stories...siphoning water from a car radiator to extinguish flames on a neighbors clothing...and they go on and on.

Then there are the stories of how police are attempting to keep residents from going back to their neighborhood because it is too devastating to see the burnt bodies.  Oh, this is awful...so very, very sad.

Yes, did I read the Queen parted with a million?  The Australian people will need a lot more than that.

Jude

[SydneyFireworks]

Hi Judy

Yes, the fires are still burning - in fact there are two big fire fronts that are in danger of merging into one huge entity that will threaten several more towns.  At the moment the temperature and winds are favourable to the firefighters, so we all hope they can prevent that happening.

The stories you heard are all true, and there are many, many similar stories, including one of a child (least, I think it was a child), who jumped into a wombat hole as the fire roared up the gully on their property.  The fire passed over very quickly and the child climbed out of the wombat hole entirely uninjured.  Jumping into a swimming pool is a hit and miss affair - during some bush fires in Sydney a few years ago, four people died after jumping into their pool - smoke, and the fire heating the pool water were the causes, I believe.

There are two key reasons police are keeping residents from going back - as you stated one is to prevent them seeing the bodies and the other is because many of these towns are crime scenes (some of the fires having been deliberately lit) and they don't want people disturbing any evidence.  The police are saying it could take up to two weeks to discover all the bodies in the rubble of homes.

I just heard that probably a million animals (koalas, wombats, kangaroos and what-have-you) would have perished in the fires.  I have an amazing photograph of a firefighter hand feeding a koala with bottled water.  Apparently the little guy drank three whole bottles before he was done!  Not sure if we can put images on here - I'll give it a go in a separate post.

I heard the Queen is dipping into her purse.  Good for her!  Not sure how much though.  The Red Cross fund alone is now almost at $50 million which is fantastic.

Hugs
Syd

[SydneyFireworks]

hmmm, I have no idea what I'm doing!!!

CZ, is there a way to upload an image?

Syd

[practicaljude]

Hi,

No pics here yet but I found it online.


http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10556177


 
Jude