I had planned since last week to write a cheerful St. Patrick's day post full of news of our two parades. E and her Irish dance classmates marched in the National St. Patrick's day parade down Constitution Avenue.
However, the news from Japan keeps getting worse and it's all D and I can think about. The everyday becomes so frivolous at times like these. At night I turn on CNN around 11 pm and watch until I am so tired I must go to bed. Then, first thing in the morning, I check facebook to see if our friends in Japan have news we won't see here in the U.S.--and they usually do.
My mind slips along two grooves. On one hand, it seems wrong to go about our everyday lives when others are suffering. On the other hand, my senses seem heightened to bits of beauty around us. I feel the texture and hear the crunch of the vegetables as I cut them for lunch. The air is chilly but clean and fresh. There is no line at all at the grocery store checkout. The local tulips in their vase are still closed tight.
I savor N's pure joy at discovering three little crocus blooms by the front stoop. He is only 5 but he's taught me so much. His joys and sorrows are felt very deeply, but he always sees the good even when I cannot.
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On giving: I've been reading these thoughtful views about donations for Japan, which, while suffering an enormous (ongoing) tragedy, is the third largest economy in the world. After reading a number of aid-watch blogs, the answer seems to be: give to a charity with low administrative costs, that is transparent in how they use their funds, and do not earmark your donation for any specific disaster. That way, the money will reach those truly in need and achieve its maximum benefit.
The aid groups that are mentioned most often as worthy of support are Doctors without Borders, The Red Cross, and Save the Children.
If you are ever in doubt, I find Charity Navigator, GiveWell, and GuideStar to be useful for choosing charities.
