I Feel As If I Am Mourning

[pastafreak]

I've been away from the US for almost 33 years, and I'll admit my connection to it has dwindled over time. I'd guess that is natural. I view it more as a bystander, and one who is glad not to be part of the craziness.
But now, the reality of what was home has changed so much that it is foreign to me. Some of the past may be viewed through rose tinted glasses but much was good...and positive.
Events of the past few days...never mind the last few years...have me so deeply saddened. I worry for my family...I worry for my brothers grandchildren. So young...only 4,3 and barely 1. But, I worried in the same way when I was pregnant in 1985. What was in the future?
I'm not sure I'm able to fully describe how it makes me feel. I just had to let it out a bit.

[choux]

2 part time jobs at £16 per hour should do it...

[sanmac]

Pasta, were you familiar with Mulberry Street as a child growing up in NYC? I have found that street mentioned in quite a few novels I have read set in NYC:
https://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/littleitaly/?cam=littleitaly

[pastafreak]

Hi sanmac...I didn't grow up in NYC...but in a village about 35 miles to the east on Long Island. But I do know Mulberry Street. If I'm not mistaken, the Feast of San Genarro takes place there late summer. I always stuffed myself with calzone and zeppole(sp).

[jno]

one of my earliest books

https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Body-and-Soul/Question1800839.html

Now out of print because of racist depictions. They probably turned me into the bigot I am.

[jno]

sorry, wrong linke

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/And_to_Think_That_I_Saw_It_on_Mulberry_Street

[237SJ]

New York isn't too bad. If you want to see a US city that has gone to the dogs then go to San Francisco. Terribly sad.

[pastafreak]

Odd book jno.

[jno]

all Dr Seuss's book were pretty odd. And if you ever see his film, The 5000 Fingers of Dr T, that's very odd indeed.

[andres]

pasta-- you really should put some of your earliest memories on AB.I think it would be interesting. Sometimes it does you good to get things out of your system.

[pastafreak]

I may consider that that andres...thanks for the suggestion.

[Redhelen72]

Pasta, it must be truly heartbreaking for you to see what is happening in your country.
I really can’t advise you of how to cope or manage your feelings.
Just know that you have friends here x

[ToraToraTora]

pasta I can imagine how you must feel but remember they only report the bad things. Has it really changed that much or are they just reporting it more? Anyway in 1993 I very nearly move to the US for a job, had my H1B visa and was ready to go when the firm I was going to work for unexpectedly went bust! I was disappointed at the time but since then I have increasingly thought I had a lucky escape. TBH though when ever I visit the US I always have a great time even though most of them think you are an alcoholic if you have 3 beers! oh and the girls love the English accent!

[pastafreak]

Thank you Red...it's really rather soul destroying. As long as I know my family is safe and happy, I'll manage. My brother uses me as a sounding board when he needs to rant about the idiocy he sees every day. X

[pastafreak]

TTT...I know all about that English accent. I married one! Couldn't understand a word he said when I first met him.

As I said in my answer to Red...my brother rants a lot over things. Mind you, he's a die-hard Democrat...always will be...so much is going bad from his point of view...and mine.
But we live in strange times...so much is changing.

[Khandro]

I love the old US of A. Someone mentioned Mulberry St. NYC. I once had an apartment not far from there in Rivington St. south of Houston & east of Bowery, but according to what I read of NY - mostly from Taki in the Spectator - it's become a very unpleasant town.

I once worked in Lexington Kentucky for several months -love blue grass - & several visits to New Mexico, which I love also; could even imagine living there.

[naomi24]

A lot of people feel like that about their homeland. You don’t need to move away to recognise the changes, to fear for your loved ones’ future, and to be saddened by it all.