GOOD GRIEF

Have you ever watched the weather channel when they are not talking about weather? Holy moly, what a gloom and doom channel. If the weather isn't scary enough, their specials explore all possible catastrophes that can befall the planet.

I have tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Thumping my skull  helped tone it down but it is still basically there so I always have some sort of white noise going on in the house to disguise it. Either the TV on in another room or music helps to make me forget it.

Yesterday, I had left the TV on the weather channel for a change while I was working on the computer in my bedroom.  I was inadvertently picking up bits and pieces of the shows.

I was stunned to hear all the ways I have to perish in the next few years.  Yes it was educational but do I really want to know how sink holes are formed and that they could be under my house poised to gobble up my home like a deranged Pac-Man?

True the piece on fracking gave me useful information about the earthquakes caused by the process to secure shale oil and natural gas. Should  fracking come up on the election day ballot, I can now cast a more or less informed vote.

Hearing about all the massive asteroids heading our way are food for thought as are the melting ice caps. What makes me all warm and glowy is that some of these scenarios are man induced.

All of these options were laid out one after another for about 90 minutes as I half listened. I kept waiting for something positive.  Where is Al Roker when you need him?

It reminded me of when my parents took me to the Hayden Planetarium in N.Y. when I was about seven years old. At first it was cool sitting there with the universe presented gloriously on the ceiling for us to enjoy. I felt like we were floating in and were an actual part of space. It was such a magnificent show as we romped among the constellations.

Then the lecture began. The Seven Ways the World Will End.  Rather sketchy family entertainment that was recreated on the ceiling in stunning detail.

Burning, freezing, pandemics, exploding into a pile of debris, being sucked into a black hole, nuclear war, and volcanic eruptions. Things to give a 7 year old a variety of nightmares to enjoy. Barring war and pandemics, most of these the lecturer cheerfully explained would not likely occur for a billion years or so.

A woman in front of us jumped up and worriedly asked. "How many years?"

"A billion," he replied.

"Oh thank God," she sighed in relief as she sank back into her seat. "I thought you said a million."

I guess time is a matter of perspective.

So I turned off the TV and am now listening to music. Ahhh, much better. At my age, ostrich behavior has advantages.

Those things I can affect by the voting booth I do my part. Those I can affect by my actions I employ, while the rest I pretty much ignore. Now I do prepare well for emergencies but I just don't anticipate catastrophe that I have no control over. I can't vote an asteroid to take another path nor keep the earth from opening up beneath me.

Do you want the know the worst case scenarios of things you have no control over or are you content to just let things happen at their own speed and just hope you have enough food, water and clean underwear to last?