Grateful for a very ordinary day

(ecologichomemakers.wordpress.com)

Even as the Queensland floods and Christchurch earthquake

are still in our thoughts each day,

we have awoken to new devastation in Japan and beyond.

I think the thing that really gets to me

is the thought that so many of the victims

in each of these tragedies

woke in the morning on those days

and started their ordinary tasks on their ordinary days.

It could have been you or me,

simply chatting on the phone to a friend,

hanging out the washing,
exploring a new city as a tourist,

driving to an appointment,

shopping for new shoes,
having a business meeting,

 stopping for a quick takeaway coffee...

That is when it hits home.

These aren't people who were doing anything risky,

anything out of the norm,

anything that should end in tragedy.

Today I have hung out washing,

I have made some party games with the kids in preparation for a future weekend,

I have sat at lunch and played referee to fighting siblings,

I have grabbed 10 minutes to knit

and we are planning to take the family to the beach tonight for a play
and a treat of fish and chips.

And I am grateful.