I love the way you acknowledge the almostness of words here to get at these feelings that we have in direct contact with another person (like your grandmother). In person, we don't need words for everything. What a marvel, your grandmother, to have carried what she did in her memory and still made you feel love, not fear, anger, or helplessness.
Thanks for your words, Tara. Yes, definitely not helplessness, although the fear definitely popped up from time to time... She was a marvel - and I sure feel lucky!
As a father, I react similarly to stories of children being killed or wounded or traumatized for life. Even in quieter times, I find myself battling intrusive thoughts about all the worst things that could happen to my kids. Hearing about those very things happening to other children is overwhelming.
I love the way you acknowledge the almostness of words here to get at these feelings that we have in direct contact with another person (like your grandmother). In person, we don't need words for everything. What a marvel, your grandmother, to have carried what she did in her memory and still made you feel love, not fear, anger, or helplessness.
Thanks for your words, Tara. Yes, definitely not helplessness, although the fear definitely popped up from time to time... She was a marvel - and I sure feel lucky!
As a father, I react similarly to stories of children being killed or wounded or traumatized for life. Even in quieter times, I find myself battling intrusive thoughts about all the worst things that could happen to my kids. Hearing about those very things happening to other children is overwhelming.
Yes, it is/can be overwhelming... My nervous system is certainly on high-alert these days! Thank you for your comment, Josh.