I had a very strange dream last night. I dreamed that I was on a ship and there was a killer on board, slitting people's throats. It went on for some time and all I remember is that there was so much blood, and I had to triage who I could help, because I couldn't help everybody. I remember staunching the bleeding of a woman whose carotid artery was cut. I wasn't afraid for my own life though, which seems odd, just those around me. Was this about hurricanes and wars and fires?
I was reading about natural disasters this morning, as one does, especially when there is another hurricane heading for Florida again. I wondered if people become less materialistic or more materialistic if they lose everything. Not surprisingly, people have been studying this, especially with the increase of natural disasters.
One study found that people who are forced to confront their own mortality, tend to become more materialistic, while those who experienced gratitude, tended to become less materialistic. This seems like quite a muddy result. Where the people who were forced to confront their own mortality, afraid of death? Were they younger? Did they already highly value material goods before they lost everything?
And were the people who experienced gratitude after a natural disaster already like that before they lost everything? Were they older? Did they care about material wealth prior to losing everything? Had they accepted their own mortality?
So many questions but not really any good answers.
Hubby last night was telling me what would happen in our house if there was a hurricane heading our way. He said that Jack and I, and the animals would be heading out. I asked about him, he wasn't sure about that. He plays a vital role in keeping the diagnostic imaging machines running and would be useful in a natural disaster. I have no desire to die, but would send Jack with his grandma, and I would stay behind to allow a younger nurse, with children, to leave.
Thankfully we don't have to contend with hurricanes in northern Alberta but forest fires are a real threat. The world is getting worse, natural disasters are increasing in size and intensity, and it seems like it will just be a matter of time before all of us will have to deal with loss and our own mortality.
Oh, and Happy Wednesday:)
It's all unnerving. Spokane is a relatively benign area, we're geologically stable, no horrible weather, none of that. West of the Cascades they're in a subduction zone. I was in one earthquake, that was enough. The Gulf has been so hot this season, it's no wonder it's firing off monster storms.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way, living in Alberta, relatively safe, except we do have tornadoes.
DeleteWe were chit-chatting at one of my classes about natural and other disasters hitting Edmonton, so I shared with the group that I fully expect to be one of the first ones eaten by roving, cannibalistic, post-apocalyptic gangs of marauders. Hey, there are worse ways to go. I'm very philosophical.
ReplyDeleteSo in the event of a zombie apocalypse, you are invited to stay with us, merely to be used as bait:)
DeleteAfter we had a flooded basement as a result of unprecendented heavy rain twice within six years - and it had never before happened in this part of the world - we have moved our material goods to higher ground. So now, we can just watch the water rising without materialistic concerns. It seems so stupid, really.
ReplyDeleteI have been very fortunate in my life, only one very small fire (started by my son) and no floods. There's nothing in the basement really that would upset me terribly if I lost it.
DeleteWhen I left my first husband, I left with very little but I have accumulated more over the past sixteen years. I do try to get rid of things on a regular basis though, given away.
I won't deny I have things I cherish and would be sad to lose. At my age, would I try to replace them? Most aren't actually replaceable but, no. I wouldn't. I live where we used to get huge snowstorms and very cold weather. That has been changing, summers are much more humid and we go into extended drought, which can lead to fire. I could not live in the South, for several reasons, but the weather danger is high on the list.
ReplyDeleteI can't leave where I am because of Jack and Katie, so I'll deal with the weather changes that we get. The only things that mean much are my old photos and when I die, I imagine they'll be tossed in the garbage, so why do I hold to them?
DeleteYeah, that study doesn't sound like it was a very good study. I have seen people who have been confronted with their own mortality either by medical diagnosis or just aging and its effects, who began big projects. I see that as a subconscious attempt to cheat death. "I cannot die if I have so much to do!" And what about people who, knowing they do not have long to live, give away their possessions? I've seen that too.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing- I have seen so many people who could evacuate during storms but who did not or do not and I think that's because we have a false sense that we can "protect" our home and our material things if we stay through the storm. I have probably been guilty of that.
Pretty complex subject here.
My dreams have been very odd and cinematic too. I had what I guess was my first hurricane nightmare a few nights ago.
I know, I didn't think much of the study, way more questions than answers. I think a person's response to a natural disaster is very individual. If I've learned anything from nursing, it's that we die how we've lived, for the most part.
DeleteNatural disasters are not always natural. Where I live we're at risk for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions which I don't think are related to climate change. The increasing wildfires and hurricanes are different. Is it too late?
ReplyDeleteAnother article I read mentioned that there is a difference between natural disasters and those caused by human activities. Is it too late? Honestly, I think it is.
DeleteWildfires are always a threat here. We've had to evacuate twice and once had our bags packed but ended up not having to go.
ReplyDeleteWe have wildfires here to but none near Edmonton thankfully.
DeleteYour dreams make my ex-teacher dreams pale in comparison. Big deal if I can't find the right room, have my lesson prepared, or aren't wearing any clothes.
ReplyDeleteToo funny. It was a shockingly real dream and I felt helpless because there were so many people dying.
DeleteI am a survivor of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. We lost a lot. Our home flooded as well as our business. I can tell you the effect it had on me. As I was clearing out our house and moving much of our possessions to the street side for removal, all I could think of was “why do I even have all of this stuff”. I have since made a real effort to not re-accumulate so much stuff.
ReplyDeleteAnd, on that same subject, as a firsthand observer, FEMA under George Bush made unbelievable efforts to assist us. Remember Katrina devastated the coast from New Orleans to Mobile, Al. Almost immediately we were covered up with assistance, water, ice (they don’t do ice any longer), baby formula, diapers, MRE’s. Within a couple of days, A check for $2,000 was mailed to everyone who had a residence in the affected area. This was just to get everybody started. We were later given grants to repair homes. FEMA had crews on the ground removing debris and mountains of household items that had flooded.
Big rigs with trailers that had laundry facilities so people could wash clothes were positioned around the devastated areas.
Thousands of “Katrina Trailers” were pulled in and setup on destroyed property to house displaced families.
Churches sent volunteers and supplies. Law enforcement agencies across the country donated police cars to replace those lost in the flood. Red Cross was a huge presence. They fed me many days.
I feel very sad for the folks affected by the storm most recently. They also should be covered up with assistance and now, we have Florida getting ready to be devastated AGAIN. And it appears FEMA’s coffers are nearly depleted. But not because of disaster assistance……..
I don't know enough about FEMA but I do know that the worst devastation from Hurricane Helene was felt in North Carolina, from flooding. Trying to get to those affected sounds like a logistical nightmare for FEMA scattered through mountains and hollers.
DeleteAs for FEMA's funding, I call bullshit. I'm not a fan of donald dumpster and his propaganda machine, scaring the shit out of people who are already struggling. It's despicable.
You seem to have a lot of trees around where you live. Would you be under threat from fires if they were nearby?
ReplyDeleteI remember vision of mostly black people living in appalling conditions after the hurricane struck. My recollection is Bush was heavily criticised for his handling of the relief efforts. I think it may have been a case of help for some, but not for all.
I agree with you about #45. It is so wrong for him to stir the pot while people are under such threat.
It looks like there are a lot of trees around here because of the photos I take but in reality, Edmonton is surrounded by farm land for the most part. We could still have a fire though and it would be horrendous.
DeleteAs I recall, the response to Katrina was abysmal and almost 1400 people died.
I have thought about this quite a lot recently and my only thought is I don't actually need any of this shit. Give me a backpack and I should be set to go!
ReplyDeleteHumans do like to collect shit. Jared Diamond wrote a book called "Guns, Germs and Steel" and in it a friend of his from New Guinea, asked him why white people have so much cargo? That has stuck with me when I need to decide to keep something or not.
DeleteWhile the news is all disaster, all the time, it helps to remember that most of us are just going from day to day and helping out where we can. There's really a lot of "normality" out there still, but you wouldn't know it from the newspaper!
ReplyDeleteI know, drama and natural disasters grab people's attention, so they get more play time.
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