Meltdown

Grilled Cheese Sandwich, NY Pizza, & Nuclear Reactors

This whole weekend I have been obsessed with all the developments in Japan.   I have friends from Japan who have family near the catastrophe, so in part it was a removed concern.   But to be honest there is something so shocking and horrific that just draws us in.   A lot of people say it is the "train wreck" syndrome.   And maybe that is it for some; but I would be willing to bet it is a response more out of natural human fear that it could happen to us.   I think the TV with its continuous breaking news provides some sort of comfort.   It is like some sort of life line that tells the rest of us the world has not ended.   We all have this sense that it could happen to us.   Especially in the past decade the good ole USA was forced to realize that we were not immune to horrific disasters.   9/11 broke the fairy tale and then it has been a domino effect every few years with Katrina, Southern California Massive Wildfires, Housing Market Bubble burst, then the economic meltdown.   Maybe I am the only one that thinks this way but the last few years as I look at things all around the globe happening I cannot help but wonder how much more can this old earth take.  Which brings me to the meltdown factor.   The earthquake and tsunami terror in Japan was unspeakable to fathom. Yet, perhaps selfishly, I am focused on that nuclear reactor plant in Japan & not just the one in Japan but what about the ones in other places with well known shaky ground like perhaps say CALIFORNIA?!   Now I sit and I listen to "professionals," and scientist say how Japan was so advanced in their earthquake preparedness and how they built this Nuclear reactor plant with that technology.....and yet they all agree that they are surprised at how all those technically advanced safety measures have failed.   Yet when the news anchor volleys the question about just how safe we in the States are in regards to our Nuclear reactors and safety backup measures then they are quick to re-assure us that it would take much more than just a large earthquake to defeat our "advanced" safety measures.   Now I am confused; did they not just say that Japan was the most advanced nation in regards to their preparedness and technology securing the safety of their Nuclear reactor and how in fact they were surprised this crisis at the plant was unfolding given the "advanced" safety measures in place.    Well that does not really give me a lot of confidence that the US has a more secured Nuclear Safety plant technology especially when they say that Japan was the most advanced Nation in this regard.   So are "they" in fact saying that actually the US is more advanced, or just taking 2nd place by default since Japan's claim seems to not be holding up.  

To be honest none of it really gives me much confidence.   My suspicion level rose higher than the "alert," levels during the 9/11 crisis months that the United States really has strong plans in place for a lot of issues.   My suspicion level went through the roof when the levies broke in New Orleans during Katrina & then more recently the meltdown of the banks and financial institutes in 2009.

Last night at some point during the madness of being glued to CNN, BBC & then tuning into NPR online I realized I had to let go and stop my own mental meltdown.   That kind of stuff is out of our hands and all we can do is take responsibility in how were perceive it and approach our own survival plan if the ground begins quaking in our own back yard.   For me I realized I had to resort to humor.   I begin to read quotes by Erma Bombeck and my favorite diva Dolly.   I turned off the TV and news online and cooked.   I begin to laugh at myself as my mind started to wander into that area of "what if?"   What if we survived some horrific catastrophe but yet there was no electricity and grocery stores no longer existed or we could not get there to even loot them then how in the hell would I get my grilled cheese sandwich?  I also doubt I could order up my favorite oozy gooey NY pizza to be delivered.   I could not believe how superficial and far fetched my mind can wonder.   But I did have one more thought that was oddly comforting.  What if maybe like roaches and Cher that pizza delivery would also survive a Nuclear meltdown.   Ahhhh crisis averted!