Baltimore

Donald and Harley and I had plans to be in Baltimore this week. Plans change. My cousin Laura​ called it "fate." 

I had plans to see some family, probably would have been able to drive across the bay to see friends on The Eastern Shore.

Am I glad we're not in Baltimore right now? Of course.

Am I sad about what's happening there? Of course.

Am I angry about it? Of course.

Do I understand why it's happening? I think I do. Although I would never presume to understand on the level of those involved.

That doesn't mean I agree with what's happening, but honestly, who didn't think that sooner or later the top wasn't going to go flying off a pot ready to explode?

I love Baltimore and always look forward to the times we're able to spend time there.

I remember, vividly, when what we're seeing there now happened in the 60s. I was a teenager living in Cambridge, a couple hours away from Baltimore, when there was rioting, looting, burning, curfews and the National Guard was living in tents put up in our school yards while these things were also happening in Baltimore. Those memories are part of what made me who I am today. I remember, and I understand. Again - do not think I'm saying I have the same level of understanding of those involved - not even close. I would never presume. Nor will I judge.

Meme of Tears

Linda Richards tagged me for this Meme of Tears.

Linda asks (after Sandra Ruttan asked her), "What's hit you on an emotional level and made you cry?"

Sometimes when we're tagged in one of these memes, its tempting to ignore it and you're certainly welcome to do that!!! - Really! I, however, want very much to respond to this one, and Meanderings and Muses is the perfect spot for me to do that. But this is also going to be one I need time to think on before I start scribbling away.

Linda writes about walking down to the Inner Harbor in Baltimore on the final day of Bouchercon and having a good cry. She writes about it quite elegantly and I'm betting it will touch you and probably make you cry too. The woman writes like an angel. I, like Linda, tend to cry a lot, and for a lot of the same reasons she does (more on all that later), the irony is that I spent a bit of time having a huge boo hoo at the Inner Harbor during Bouchercon also. Not on the last day, which is probably a good thing - she and I might have met up and cried such buckets of tears together the water level in the harbor might have risen to flood level, and destroyed the City of Baltimore. And then what would Laura Lippman do?? She might have to move to a different city! Oh NO! And what would become of Tess??

enough of that. I'm getting goofy (imagine that).

When I get off on one of these tangents, Donald jumps in with "You really have read too many books." For shame! We all know that can never ever happen, but you see where he's coming from with all that, I'm sure.

Meandering back to the point . . .

please take a minute to read what Linda has written about what's hit her on an emotional level and made her cry. You'll love it. And in a few days, I'll maybe be able to write about it for myself. And maybe even be able to do it without crying.

In the meantime - y'all consider yourselves tagged. What has hit you on an emotional level and made you cry. An event, a book, a movie, a TV show - any or all of these?

Don't forget - this coming Monday Pat Browning will be here to kick off the Meanderings and Muses 2009 Dream Team. Pat is the author of ABSINTHE OF MALICE, a reissue of FULL CIRCLE (published in 2001), and introduces the Penny Mackenzie mystery series. Pat is currently at work on the second book in the series.