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Dear Friends,
What happened? Already the first month of 2009 is history! But what a month it was. I went down to Washington for the Inuguration - it was certainly the place to be, such a thrill being with everyone so delighted and happy, all with a sense of something new, something different. It was almost as though the entire nation let out a deep sigh of relief when the helicopter transporting Bush lifted off the pad and whirled into the distance.
I don't believe Obama has a magic pill to fix all our ills but he certainly has a great and non-confrontational attitude which will go a long way. I was very encouraged that his first visit as President was not to the Pentagon, it was to the State Department because it is our relations with the rest of the world that have been so damaged - we need so urgently to repair our relations with our friends.
I went to DC a few days early just to soak up the atmosphere and to speak. I attended the concert on the Mall with my friends and another day we went to the Kennedy Center and visited some of the monuments. The actual day of the inaguration was freezing and the security over-the-top so we went to an open-house of a neighbour and in the warmth watched the ceremony on a huge flat-screen TV and ate wonderful food.
This past weekend I spent in the Bahamas on a weekend Sober Sisters cruise, there were 80 women with anything from a few weeks sobriety to 44 years. We had a fantastic time and oh how great to feel the warmth of the sun. Today in New York it's 4 degrees F. I am so tired of being cold and I swear this is the last winter I will go through in New York.
I was planning to be in India for the month of March but just the other day that trip was cancelled - my friend who is already there, got ill and has had to return to England. I have scheduled to do an auction in Naples, Florida just before I was to depart for India, now I will just stay on for the month and hopefully get some serious work done on my book.
I had my check-up with the oncologist this morning and it seems that my health is fine and I now only have to see him every four months. The knee is still very painful but I'm progressing with the physical therapy and have taken up Tai Chi for my balance. I've just been allowed back in the pool so can start swimming again. It's going to take a long time for this knee to be 100%.
At this time I'm reading a book called "Bhopal" by Dominique Lapierre about the worst industrial accident ever recorded. It happened in December l984 in Bhopal, India when a Union Carbide factory leaked deadly gasses and instantly killed thousands of people in their sleep. Many thousands died a slow, agonizing death later. Even today children are being born with hideous birth defects as a result of the polluted area and waters. Union Carbide has not done a thing or admitted responsibility. They blame the Indians. Yes, the Indians have to accept some responsibility for not following the strict guidlines which were set down but as soon as the plant became unprofitable UC more-or-less abandoned it without ensuring that the right people were in put charge of such a deadly operation.
Just recently there was a peaceful demonstration in Delhi by some of the residents of Bhopal demanding some sort of acknowledgement for their suffering - the police attacked and brutalized them, so it seems even their own will not stand by them.
I've had this book propping up my computer for well over a year and I finally pulled it out and read it. I cannot believe it took me so long - I think it's an important account of neglect and greed and very frightening. Nothing really ever changes, but maybe I can!
Hopefully, I'll put another update on my site when I'm in Naples.
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With Love,
Lorna |
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2/5/2009
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Lorna Kelly
"Write that book for the Glory of God
and the Good of people"
- Mother Teresa
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