66 Comments

This showed up in my inbox at the perfect moment. Every word of this resonated with me. These are difficult days, and I feel like I have whiplash from trying to deal with every day life while confronting the horrors of the world. Thank you for putting it into words.

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Whiplash is exactly the right word to use.

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Dear Zibby, your heart and soul so clearly shows up in today’s post. And then another school shooting happened and it’s difficult not to be overwhelmed. So we put one step forward at a time and try to be and bring as much love to the world as possible.

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Feeling it. All of it. I too have a 4th grader and an 8th grader who go to a Jewish school. I drop them off each morning only partially consoled by the armed security guards who dot the perimeter and then I pause to think about how sad that makes me. It is their norm. I open the news and not only read more about the hostages who were brutally murdered but also about yet another school shooting. How is this our world? Their world? What will eventually give to right this place that is spinning on its side? Too many questions and no answers.

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I think about this every time I pass the Jewish schools and daycares in my area. How are people just accepting that we need security to protect Jewish kids? Everyone has gotten too comfortable with the status quo when things really need to change. Sigh.

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Thank you for this heartfelt message. I needed it today. I don't have small children. My kids are grown, one is leaving for Australia on Friday, my eldest is pregnant. I'm going to be a grandmother, again. I have a full time job that I like, and I have a long awaited dream coming true, my novel will be published in January. I should be jumping with joy and yet I feel myself hunkering down. How do you come back from October 7th, from this weekend of heartache, of knowing that Hersh, Ori, Eden, Almog, Alex, and Carmel were executed? And that Eden was 79lbs, just about killed me. It's much too much.

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Feeling it all. You put it so well. And maddened by the complete silence on social media by non-Jewish publishing people about the hostages.

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Yes! This is my biggest takeaway this morning from this piece. How do we not know about that starvation? How does Hamas continually get whitewashed? Where is the outrage for the brutality?! Students demonstrate to defund Israel? How do we not see and share the injustice?!

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It is too much.

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It's not a lot. it's TOO MUCH

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It is indeed a lot. The horrors feel unending. I just have to grasp onto the smallest of joys even for a moment. Like a life rope. All I know to do.

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I am glad you're there, Zibby

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There is just too much going on in the world right now- my husband frequently states, “this is all in the

Bible.”

My brother in law along with his wife and three boys live in Winder, Ga- and we had the scare of our lives today as our youngest nephew is a high school junior. We felt very helpless being here in PA-Waiting to hear he was ok…

I just need the world to

Take a beat!!!!!

You will get through this Zibby, we all will- though it may be trying..

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Hear you loud and clear. Thank you for your honest thoughts on a really hard time in life and in the world. See you next week!

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Yes. We are all in this together. 💙

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So eloquent, Zibby. Holding you in my heart - it's so clear that you want to do good AND do a good job at it all...you're right, it is a lot.

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Yes. Yes. Feeling so much if not all of it. Also feeling (once again) amazed at your ability, Zibby Owens, to hold it all and let it all go into such poignant words. 💔💜🌹

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Night Zibby

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Zibby, we are kindred spirits! I completely understand!!! -Debra

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