Some thoughts this morning:
I had a little ‘discussion’ with someone on IG about a week ago. This person lives in Texas and was of the opinion that wearing or not wearing a mask should be up to the individual and that there should be no judgment involved. In other words, “To Each his Own.” You obviously know what I think about that. We politely discussed that issue and then I wished her well and ended it because how can you teach someone about caring for the welfare of others, about the greater good, about the fact that there are times when that is essential, that anything else is bordering on criminal?
That stuck with me this week as I read A Chelsea Concerto, which is all about London during the Blitz. As an American, I certainly have some knowledge of the Blitz, but let’s face it, I’m influenced by a slightly romanticized version of that horrific time, fueled by Hollywood movies and “Keep Calm and Carry On.” The reality was very different. Sometimes I have to put the book down because the enormity of loss that I’m reading about is just too intense. It seems as if everyone was involved in some capacity, volunteering for the war effort; as Air Raid Wardens, as Operators who helped to spread the specific warnings, as nurses and doctors, those who helped the enormous amount of refugees pouring into Britain cope in a new country, translators, and the list goes on and on. I’m thinking those who seem to be fine with that ‘whatever’ attitude about wearing masks during a pandemic wouldn’t have coped so well during the Blitz.
We’re also watching one of the best series we’ve ever seen, A French Village, which is all about a village that is occupied by the Nazis during the war. It’s historically accurate, as a famous and respected French historian advised the writers. The performances are excellent and the grim realities of those jockeying for power, whether German or French – those in the Vichy government who collaborated with the Germans to get along, those who were in the Resistance, local police and German police, the SS and the Gestapo, and those villagers just trying to survive – it’s all fascinating and horrific and heartbreaking and everything in between.
Two different views of that war from opposite sides of the Channel. It’s certainly consuming my thoughts lately. I cannot recommend A Chelsea Concerto and A French Village (on Amazon Prime) highly enough. We are riveted to that series every night. Brilliant.
And now I’ll do a 180 and show you photos of two miniatures I received yesterday, from Tiny Doll House in NYC.
An umbrella for the umbrella stand.
And this teapot made by Keith Brown. The lid is removable.
Today we hit 65 degrees! Crazy, as the temps will soon drop about 20 degrees, but we’re going to enjoy it while we can and hopefully watch the last of the snow melt away.
Stay safe.
Happy Thursday.
Hi Claudia
I am having similar conversations here, but focusing on why so many people are refusing to have a vaccination. My sleeve is rolled up in readiness…..
The novel you are reading reminds me of my mother. She nursed in London throughout the war and, because she could drive and had medical knowledge, one of her roles was to drive to collect body parts after air raids. You can imagine how dreadful that must have been, but she continued to do so for the rest of the war. She promised herself she would never drive again once the war was over, as driving was just too closely connected to the horrors she saw. And she never did.
My Mum would have worn a mask, and have had the vaccine too. Just like driving that awful ambulance, and doing that awful task, she did it for others. She died aged only 48 in 1973. I am forever proud of her.
Siobhan
I literally held my breath as I was reading your comment. So many emotions at once were present. Horror, admiration and respect, sadness for her, and for for losing your Mother at such a young age.I
Thanks for sharing your story. I will not forget it.
🙏💕
Thank you . Claudia has created such a positive space here hasn’t she
Siobhan
Oh, Siobhan, I am in tears. As Claudia said, many of us who did not live through those horiffic days cannot imagine. Simply cannot. And people here don’t want to wear a mask. There truly are absolutely no words. I plan to respectfully share the story of your dear mother if that is okay, and please know I will never forget your words. ♡
My Mum was a wonderful story teller- she would love to have her story shared. Xx
You must be so proud of your Mother, Siobhan and she must have been a very young woman too.
She was lovely
I miss her x
What a story your mother had! She sounds like an amazing person, very dedicated. You must be very proud of her and I’m so sorry you lost her, much too young.
Xoxo
Bless your mother, Siobhan. The woman who wrote this memoir also had to collect and assemble body parts. She had studied anatomy in art school and so they thought she would be qualified. I can imagine how hard that must have been for her.
I’m so sorry you lost her at such a young age, but yes, you are understandably proud of her.
Much love and stay safe,
Claudia
Thank you Claudia
Really cheered to hear that you and Don have had your vaccination part one.
I bet it feels magical xx
Oh my…what courage it took for your mother to do that. Something that I never have thought about. Bless her! ;)
Thank you
hej, siobhan …
may God bless your sweet mother (and everyone else) for all the things she did during an awful, awful time. and may God bless you, too. you lost her much too young.
i wish more anti-maskers could learn about the courage, strength and sacrifices that your family has made and see how they themselves could make a simple change to improve the world and save lives.
sending a virtual hug, if you like, and best wishes.
kathy in iowa
Thank you Kathy
Thank you for sharing your Mother’s story with us . What an inspiration!
Well…I did it! I ordered a dollhouse from Wayfair. The Adams house. Its one story, one room and I think it will be perfect for a yarn shop. The price was right too. I can see this is going to be a long-term project.
I may be way off base but I have come to the conclusion that there are some people with empathy and some without. The Republican party seems to have no empathy for others. The people who don’t want to wear a mask are without empathy. They are thinking only of themselves, and not about the greater good. I also heard a term yesterday that I’d never heard before. Apparently it’s a thing now to declare yourself a “sovereign citizen”. Basically, they don’t believe they have to follow any laws but their own. Scary.
We got some rain last night and other than the large piles of snow here and there it’s all gone.
Enjoy the warm weather. I hope you can get outside for a bit.
Stay safe
Sovereign Citizen? Is that another word for breaking the law? My god.
I’m so happy you bought a house, Marilyn! Congratulations!
Stay safe.
I, too, so admire what the British population endured during the war, without whining I might add. I have read many accounts, and my next read is Chelsea Concerto.
One of the most difficult challenges of the pandemic has been understanding how people can’t be willing to wear a mask. It’s such a small thing when you consider what others have endured. Basic humanity in my opinion.
On a brighter note. I really like the white floor, and had fun imagining the woman who would choose that lovely umbrella.
Enjoy your warmer days , and signs of spring. Peace, and happiness to you both.
People routinely snap on seat belts, follow speed laws and go through all the stuff we have to do to fly. I don’t get it either, Jan.
Stay safe.
The Chelsea Concerto sounds like my kind of book. I have read a lot of WWII history as well as fiction and find that period to be one of great horror, tragedy and resilience. The people of Britain were basically all alone in the fight for a very long time and yet they still hung in there, drove the ambulances, served as wardens, handled rationing and so much more. I quite agree with you — I think much of America would not have done well in the Blitz and will go further to say that if those people — a significant portion, I’m sorry to admit — HAD been the residents of England with the attitudes they have in present society, Britain would have fallen to the Nazis as the rest of Europe did. It’s a frightening thought, particularly when compounded by what is happening today with conspiracy and paramilitary groups (not to mention our own government reps who want to restrict voting, among other things).
It’s times and recommendations like this that make me wish I had Amazon Prime. That sounds like a remarkable series.
I am trying to get my brain around the fact that today is the Covid anniversary. Rick and I celebrated 24 years that day, aware of Covid but unaware of how it would change our lives until later that evening. We were in Canada and watched international news (my friends have better cable than I do!). I got home two days before the border was closed. Reading the comments on today’s post is fascinating to me as some have shared so much about how this year made an impact on them. I know it changed me.
I adore that sweet umbrella and teapot! Quite perfect! Oh! And I have to say, my admiration for your rapid-fire skill at putting together those New Yorker puzzles grows by leaps and bounds with every piece that “almost exactly” fits another — but doesn’t. Not quite! I think I will be doing this one for a very long time! I’m glad I like the puzzle because that’s the only thing keeping me sane! I’ve said you were a puzzle goddess before — but you are a rock star puzzle goddess!
It will be ours – at least officially – in two days. Unbelievable.
By the way, this latest puzzle is a real hard one!
Stay safe, Jeanie.
Just to clarify. All of the commonwealth nations (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, etc.) joined the war effort with Britain in September 1939. The USA joined the war effort in December 1941. My father spent 1939 – 1945 with the Canadian Forces in Europe and Burma only coming home when the Japanese surrendered. It was a very dark time and I think that it is very important to remember the sacrifices people made so that we don’t let it happen again. Hugs to all. Stay safe and wear your masks.
Wow…..all that’s happening in the country and you have no posts about it. Typical liberals.
Perhaps because for the first time in four years, it’s all good.
You may move on, Linda. Don’t need you here. Go peddle your mean spirited drivel somewhere else.
Thank you Claudia, well said.
Kindness, and caring prevails here.
xoxo
WTF is “Linda” talking about??
Anyway…. on to your beautiful post for the day. In my mind I have always considered (Friday) the 13th of March as Day 1. But, I think that is totally, selfishly, because it was the day things drastically changed for us, when schools closed down as my hubs is a teacher. Then began the struggle to adjust and try to accomplish virtual teaching. Oh, those were long, long months. So very sad.
I love WWII history, so we will begin watching A French Village, and I already have the book on order from the library. Siobhan’s comments have impacted me greatly. I will never forget her words from today.
A woman in WI has asked the WI SC to hear her “case” that speed limits infringe upon her rights. I still am not sure what point she is trying to make. (The SC declined.) Same could be said, of course, about No Smoking, or No shirts, No shoes, No service, or taking one’s shoes off in security at the airport, or no pets allowed in this store, or no food or drink allowed in a theater, or the speed limit is 55mph… AND, of course, wear the damn mask.
The umbrella is beautiful!! We had some really heavy rain last night, so it might come in handy!! Take care.
The WI woman sounds like the people who are calling themselves ” sovereign citizens.”
Basically, they believe they only have to follow their own laws/rules.
I don’t want to live in that world, Marilyn!!!! Everyone for themselves….apparently that is how some people like to live. Selfish is another word that comes to mind!
Linda is clearly upset because things aren’t going her way. I suspect I’ll have to block her. Sad, because she’s read the blog for a long time, but I have no time for that BS.
Speed limits infringe on her rights? She’s one of the Q people, most likely, and she’s trying to test the limits – if there are any – of her ignorance.
Stay safe, Chris.
The brolly is very pretty, Claudia.
My mother was eight years old when the Second World War began. She can remember seeing the Christmas Blitz in Manchester in the distance from her bedroom window. An air raid siren has a very distinctive sound, quite eerie and even years later when she would hear the noise in films, she would still feel that sense of panic.
Bombs would often be randomly off loaded on flight back to Germany and there’s a memorial garden in the next village where a row of houses had a bomb dropped on them on Christmas Eve 1940.
Happy Thursday
I cannot imagine how it must have been to go through that, Dee Dee. Don and I were saying just this morning that one would never forget that – that it would live with you for the rest of your life.
Thanks for sharing that with us, Dee Dee.
Stay safe.
hej, dee dee …
sorry that your mother had those experiences. no one should have, especially not children.
peace, peace …
kathy in iowa
Thank you, Kathy x
I watched French Village last year. My favorite series ever. Glad you two are enjoying the performances. The characters stayed on my mind for a long time!
It’s incredible. Just incredible.
Stay safe, Dottie.
I have a lot of family who live in Texas and they are going to continue to wear masks. Unfortunately so many won’t and they endanger others with their behavior. I often think about how large our country is and how diverse. It should be a strength but often it isn’t. We don’t pull together as a nation for the good of all as I see many other countries doing. It saddens me very much.
Me, too. It’s very sad. What have we become? Or were some people always this way?
Stay safe, Linda.
cllaudia. have just read your post here. bravo for it all.
not typing too well. i had a fall from dizziness and struck the right side of my forehaead and face. look like a monster. black blue swelling blood stitches. ick.
but I didn’t want you to think i didn’t care about whay you wrote. i too have always read about the war and the blitz. and have Admired the People.
the snivelling w hining of some people heeer is an embarrassment to me.
sorry about the typing. have a long road to recovedry. but it is what it is.
as the marine said… but did you die? lol.
nope. sending love. xo
Oh Tammy! I’m so very sorry! You poor thing. That must have been very shocking!
My thoughts and prayers are with you, Tammy.
Stay safe!
Oh Tammy….you poor dear. Hope you feel better soon! Sending healing thoughts! ;)
was ab out to leave and saw these replies. before I get off here..
thank you so much dears. but yu know… it’s all relative.
back to whhhat people have Really suffered. like in youuuur post.
it will be good for my patience. workin gon it!
good thing I don’t care anymore ahow I look. cuzy Not good at all. :
hej, tammyj …
sorry to hear your news about falling. i will be praying for you to have a quick and full recovery, that the dizziness and pain are gone and the bruises and stitches heal quickly.
stay safe in every way!
kathy in iowa
have been off thhe inteernet all day. jsut just resting.
good grief.
as always claudia has the most wonderful community h eere.
don’t know why i can’tt type! but i injured my jand too. LOL.
sending yoo all Love and thankyous.
xoxo
The miniatures are too much…so cute. I’m still amazed at the talent it takes to make those…especially the umbrella.
When I think of the vaccines in general, personal responsibility comes to mind. Not wanting to get vaccinated is right up there with mask wearing, speed limits, and traffic lights as far as I’m concerned. Sovereign citizens? Is that what they are calling it now? I don’t understand.
I’ve always been fascinated with WW II…don’t know why. I, too, realize the movies romanticized the war…and the music, oh my. I guess it’s the feeling of community that everyone displayed. With everyone bonding together, fighting a common enemy. I’m not sure we have the stamina in this country now, to do what our parents and grandparents did. The horrors they endured made them into special people. I think about that, because we couldn’t manage to pull together to fight our way out of a pandemic together! We couldn’t all wear masks for the common good! We can’t all get vaccinated either for the common good!! What is wrong with us?
I’m going to check out The French Village. Stay safe! ;)
I’m definitely on the side of wearing a mask, staying 6 ft. away, and lots of hand washing. I haven”t been able to get the vaccine yet…..over 65 but live in CA. and the availability is terrible.
Claudia, I don’t think I can read or see another WWII book or movie for awhile. Finished reading The Nightingale and cried through so much of that novel. My dad was in the English army and captured at Dunkirk. My mom and her family were in German occupied Belgium during the war. My grandmother worked with the Belgium underground and hid many English and American soldiers during the war. The Nightingale was so much like they described their life at that time. Daddy was in German prison camps for 4 years! During that time, his jaw was broken along with his right ankle . He made 17 CDs of his war experiences before he passed away at the age of 93. Love listening to his voice and lovely English accent but the description of war breaks my heart. I have the Certificate that was given to my grandmother, Marie Monier Debbaut, from the U. S. to thank her for her service to the U. S. war effort. It is signed by Dwight Eisenhower the Commanding General of U.S. forces in the European Theater. I did see the movie Dunkirk and cried during that show. I’m NOT a crier but all of it was so real to me based on my families history.
Stay safe.
hej, patty mcdonald …
thanks and peace to you and your family for all that … wow.
best wishes,
kathy in iowa
ps … really glad you have those cds to hear your father’s voice.
also, i will continue to practice those covid precautions for a long time. too many unknowns, too many variants, too many people who won’t take such precautions … stay safe!
Oh my goodness. Of course this was real to you! Your family was right there and your father was a POW. I’m sure you’re far more educated about the war than me. My father fought in the war, but he was in Burma and India and beyond. Even so, he couldn’t and wouldn’t talk about the war for years. It was only during the last years of his life that he opened up about it and showed me photos of his plane and the crew and the Taj Mahal, etc. Interestingly, he began to have nightmares about his war experience. He never romanticized the war, never made light of the atrocities he saw. In fact, we realize now that he had PTSD and he stuck with him most of his life.
Thanks for sharing your personal experience and that of your family, Patty.
Stay safe.
Claudia, I’m sure your dads war experience was just as intense as my dads reality of the war. My uncle, dads brother, was in Burma and India and I believe North Africa. I really don’t know anything about the fighting in those places. My parents spoke often, from the time we were little, of the war in Europe. It was scary for me as a child. In the 1960’s, he had a very serious break with reality that related back to his war experiences. After recovery, he rarely spoke of the war. About 10 years before his death, I was his caregiver and that is when he started to reminisce about the 1940’s. I think it was therapeutic for him to write down and then record his memories of WWII.
Also, I want to say how gracious you’ve been to so many on your blog. I can’t believe how combative some comments seem to be. I don’t always agree with you but it is your blog and it’s your form to express your opinions…not my place or anyone else to argue with you. Your posts are a welcome sight.
My dad had emotional problems the rest of his life because of the war, as well as alcoholism. That he emerged a basically good and gentle man is a miracle.
Thanks for your kind words, Patty.
xo
i struggle, right now especially, with wanting to be/stay informed (including more about history) and needing to limit the sad and awful things i take in. will add the titles to my “tbr” and “tbw” lists for someday.
love the miniature teapot and umbrella … great choices! and is that your wintering-indoors boston fern looking lovely through the dollhouse window?
i don’t get people refusing to wear masks during this pandemic (practically nothing when compared to sacrifices made during wartime). as has been mentioned, we have laws about speed limits, using seatbelts in cars, wearing shoes in grocery stores and that sort of thing. i’m guessing that anti-mask people would be very quick to sue if their doctor or dentist didn’t wear a mask, pandemic or not, and dripped sweat (or worse) on them during surgery. why can’t they see it is not just to help other people, but also to protect themselves and then wear a mask!!?!? i just don’t get it.
i have ordered my last bit of fabric for a while. i promise! excited for it to arrive, get washed and made into pillowcases for my bed, sofa and an old wicker settee … nice, cheery colors and patterns ahead!
and better days ahead for everyone. that’s one of my prayers.
happy thursday.
kathy in iowa
Yes, that’s the fern! I look forward to putting it back on the porch in the next month or two. It’s hanging in there, but it needs to be outside!
I don’t get it either, Kathy. These people who won’t wear masks are self-absorbed and selfish.
Stay safe!
Since you brought up WWll and the Blitz and the common good. I see a correlation between wearing masks and having to use Black Out curtains during that time. My husband grew up in Denmark and it was occupied by the Germans. Everyone had to use Black out curtains every night for years. So the cities would not get bombed. Why…..for the common good of everyone there. Wonder if your neighbor didn’t want not to use them and had their lights on. The whole area could get blown up. Same is for masks, we do it for ourselves and for others. Sometimes I really think our society has turned into just a bunch of self centered wimps.
Yes! A good correlation Janet.
I think a big part of our society is exactly what you described. And its very, very sad.
Stay safe!
I do agree with everything you say about WW2, it was a much more dangerous and stressful time than this over here. You might like a series on Talking Pictures called” Enemy At The Door ” about the Nazi occupation of Guernsey in the Channel Islands, only part of UK to be occupied. Thanks for the poetry book recommendation, I will order it now because I can do with a little shoring up of my spirits. Getting my second vaccination tomorrow and had covid already over Christmas but the lack of social interaction is very wearing now. Bad weather doesn’t help! Please take care and keep well, Megan in Wales.
I’ve read a bit in the past about Guernsey and the occupation. I’ll see if I can find that series, Megan.
I’m sorry you had COVID. I didn’t know you’d suffered from it! We’re a bit restless, as well and we have a few weeks until our second shot and then 2 weeks beyond that…but I’m restless. Don and I will think of going somewhere and then he’ll look at me and say “After our second shot.”
Stay safe, Megan.