Dystopian Reality #climatechange #newnormal

On By Alethea KehasIn Reflections
Image by Jean-Louis SERVAIS from Pixabay

It is one of those increasingly rare days here in New Hampshire when one feels like normal has returned. At least for a moment. The edge of anxiety has lifted with the smoke filled air and the apocalyptic haze has gone elsewhere. It is a summer day of yesterdays. Instead of fire, I can smell the clothes drying on the line. Above me, the blue sky has broken free, and the air quality index has registered as “good.” For now, the angry red sun has calmed.

It is a good day to breathe. A good day to be outside in the shade and marvel at the life that persists and even thrives. Here in New England we have received record breaking rains. It is a good summer for mushrooms and mosquitos, but not for sensitive lungs. Torrential rains cycle through several times a week, flooding the banks of rivers and washing away roads. Entire cities have been submerged, becoming islands to the helpless and hapless. Landslides have taken down hills that have never experienced instability.

Even though it is a “good” day to breathe and to allow the increasingly steady state of anxiety to abate, just a little, I am acutely aware that it is no longer a normal day. I can recall, maybe a mere decade ago, thinking how lucky we are, here in the Northeastern part of the continental U.S., that the effects of climate change have been subtle. And, dare I say, even gentle.

How much has changed.

I am in the midst of a summer of rain and thunder. Of smoke and haze from nearly 900 fires burning in the land north of where I live. A land that is supposed to be colder. On Monday, as the sky broke open in more angry torrents of rain, I stood beside the open window and smelled fire instead of water. The impossible has become possible. The threat, now a reality.

No longer are we in the phase of forewarning, we are living in the landscape of dystopia. A landscape of our creation. Do not try to preach to me about climate denial. I will not hear it. Wake up to your senses. Breathe in the unease around you. Feel the deadly rise of Fahrenheit and smell the smoke of a raging Earth.

Complacency is not an option.

19 thoughts on “Dystopian Reality #climatechange #newnormal”

  1. Powerful reflections about life in what were once “safe places” during these challenging and extraordinary times, Alethea. Here on the southwestern tip of Lake Superior, we’ve had smoke and drought. Luckily, we have access to water to keep gardens alive, at least for now.

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  3. The damage we are doing to our world is outrageous. People do need to stop, look around, remember how it was and then hopefully do something.
    On the plus side, I am on the Cape and not NH today, and it was by far the best day down here this year. Just a beautiful day, the type people used to come here for…. But I am sure the rain will be back, or the ultra hot and humidity.

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      1. Me too, though I am not going to hold my breath waiting… Actually, it is funny that the Friday Fictioneer story I posted yesterday was pretty much that theme – the world leaders meeting to try to fix it after it was too late…

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  4. It sounds like climate change has become very much of a reality for you Alethea there are certainly many more places now experiencing the effects,,, we are in the midst of our rainy season and all is normal for us at least for now.

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  5. Thank you for this reality and wake up call. Mushrooms, mosquitos, and roaches are abundant here in the south. We each must do our part as much as we can to help Mother Earth back to a healthy balance for all.

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