Another tragedy in America

Tags

children, gun control, mass murder, NRA, postaday2012, shootings, tragedy

Yesterday when I learned of the tragic killings at the elementary school in Newton, CT, I felt numb. It was too horrific to process for several hours. I was transported back to the years where I taught French in elementary school and how safe I felt there and moreover how safe I felt about my children being there. I couldn’t imagine being one of those parents who senselessly lost a child yesterday.

What really blew my mind was the realization that, here in this country, we are experiencing this chilling horrific killings more and more frequently and I am at a loss as to why. More importantly, I am at a loss as to why there is a significant portion of our nation who truly feel that now is not the time for a nation wide debate on gun control. Between the N.R.A, it is a powerful lobby, and the worship of our 2nd amendment, we are seemingly hog tied in a stalemate regarding any meaningful gun control legislation.

The concerns that now flash through my mind is that in actuality we aren’t safe anywhere. My babies could be in harm’s way on their college campuses. I could be shopping at my favorite supermarket and bam, someone who has snapped and has easy access to guns and ammo can come in and good night to all.

These horribly negative feelings will leave me shortly, just as it will leave the minds of most who weren’t directly affected by the tragic shootings in CT, sadly those who lost their family will never be the same again. But we will see more tragedies like this in the near future if we continue soldering on and lose the opportunity to take strong decisive measures to make it difficult to obtain weapons and ammo.

This was so sad to write about however I think that I had to write it, rather than keep it all inside. I was becoming depressed and unsettled by the randomness of the violence.

Hook your reader

Tags

aroma, description, food, postaday2012, readers, smell, soup, writing

”Start as close to the end as possible,” suggested writer Kurt Vonnegut. Write something that does that without spoiling the ending. (Keep your reader hooked until that last line!)

We got back from the cinema and as we entered the house, I could see tendrils of steam rising through the air from the large pot on top of the stove. I could smell the sweet aroma of onions that have been gently sauteing in butter, there is a difference in the smell of onions sauteed in butter and onions sauteed in olive oil, the butter enhances the sweetness almost exponentially and that was what I was smelling. There was another distinct earthy aroma that was hearty as well, I was willing to bet that there was beef involved in a decadent relationship with those sweet onions.

As I was standing in the doorway, slowly divesting myself of the many layers of clothing that had been protecting my innards from the freezing temperatures, all of the distinct smells were successfully distracting me from any memory of being cold.

My nose picked up on another scent, this one was something that I rarely encountered except for special occasions where the men folk linger after a full meal with their cigars and digestif. The smell also brings to mind Crepes Suzette, the smoky scent that cuts through any richness and highlights the buttery notes of any dessert. Immediately after that scent dissipated, it was replaced by the familiar nutty smell that I have always associated with any grain that I have prepared in the past. The golden brown of a nutty Gruyere on tops of anything with the melted tendrils of the cheese delicately folding onto your tongue makes everything special.

I can’t wait to cross the threshold, put my nose over the pot and see the beauty with my eyes; the beauty that my nose has already experienced and introduced to my mind. The deliciousness of the soupe a l’oignon gratinee. French onion soup.