I went to Lviv for a change of scenery, greedy for warmth and uninterrupted electricity, and to recharge and recalibrate, to come back to myself. I went to Lviv, ultimately, because I could. In fact that’s why I do a lot of things. I grew up in the US with its “can do” spirit, believing that I really could do or be anything I wanted if I put my mind to it and worked hard. Only this “I can” often stands on ignorance of actual material facts—from the specificity of one’s physical body to events that are happening around you to the challenges posed to your freedom by the people with whom you share your life and world. “I can” has no power when it doesn’t acknowledge its flip side: “I can not.”
Jan 15, 2023·edited Jan 15, 2023Liked by Larissa Babij
I looked at my mother, White Anglo Saxon Protestant, and can now see her French Huguenot, that came into this country through the South Carolinian coast. Her line perhaps exiled from Nova Scotia to South Carolina, exiled, what became known as the Acadian Diaspora. Perhaps, however her line came straight from France to South Carolina. Probable. The family name is on a French Huguenot Church there.
I watched my mother walk away from an automobile accident the other day. I later saw the car. She should be a cripple, her left leg perhaps missing. She is left handed. I saw my mother the other day, a first generation French Huguenot into the United States of America, who somewhere, she is not even aware of, her bloodline lay on the streets of St. Bartholomew.
I saw my mother the other day walk up the steps of her home where I was waiting, a stranger of a family had seen her, recognized her, and brought her home. I helped her up the steps. I saw my mother the other day, and all of me, the whole of me, a woman came fully into my body. My hand with hers as I helped he walk up the steps.
I am firmly Catholic now after witnessing my mom, of the Jesuit order, the saints rise first. We write, we scribe, we document the narrative of diaspora, our generational responsibility as women.
The story about your grandparents is very intriguing. I can't begin to imagine. It's a testament to the "go with your gut" mentality.
How does it feel to be in such similar circumstances 70 years later? Friends and neighbors dead in the streets and YOU (all of you) are marked for murder for the simple fact that you're Ukrainian.
Your grandparents' former enemy to the west is now helping but your long time comrades to the East have grabbed that baton.
Have you know this story from childhood or did you just recently hear it?
I continue to applaud and marvel at the stoic perseverance of the Ukrainian people. So many people that stayed behind somehow just make do with what little they have. Their ingenuity comes out as survival takes over as their number one priority.
This would be nice if US would honor it’s commitments to nations seeking freedom and justice,
What concerns me is that to many in US congress are only interested in lining the pockets of those who support them, and doing what it needed to keep their sear in o grass.
Some how contrives like Ukraine hope is that US sees keeping your country safe benefits them.
The President of Ukraine is a hero, and wil go down I history as one of the great leaders for democracy.
You are absolutely right. True generosity IS the courage to share. Thank you for your courage and generosity. I really do appreciate it. It reminds me to open my eyes AND my heart. Stay alert, stay safe and strong. Jim.
a Kind of Refugee / 15.01.2023
Thank you for this powerful missive...and for the link to send $.
What more do you think US should do for Ukraine? What would you like us to tell congress.
Yes, turning away from a friend who needs help is disturbing. I hope your friend got was needed.
Bette MULLEY
marywmulley@gmail.com
I looked at my mother, White Anglo Saxon Protestant, and can now see her French Huguenot, that came into this country through the South Carolinian coast. Her line perhaps exiled from Nova Scotia to South Carolina, exiled, what became known as the Acadian Diaspora. Perhaps, however her line came straight from France to South Carolina. Probable. The family name is on a French Huguenot Church there.
I watched my mother walk away from an automobile accident the other day. I later saw the car. She should be a cripple, her left leg perhaps missing. She is left handed. I saw my mother the other day, a first generation French Huguenot into the United States of America, who somewhere, she is not even aware of, her bloodline lay on the streets of St. Bartholomew.
I saw my mother the other day walk up the steps of her home where I was waiting, a stranger of a family had seen her, recognized her, and brought her home. I helped her up the steps. I saw my mother the other day, and all of me, the whole of me, a woman came fully into my body. My hand with hers as I helped he walk up the steps.
I am firmly Catholic now after witnessing my mom, of the Jesuit order, the saints rise first. We write, we scribe, we document the narrative of diaspora, our generational responsibility as women.
The story about your grandparents is very intriguing. I can't begin to imagine. It's a testament to the "go with your gut" mentality.
How does it feel to be in such similar circumstances 70 years later? Friends and neighbors dead in the streets and YOU (all of you) are marked for murder for the simple fact that you're Ukrainian.
Your grandparents' former enemy to the west is now helping but your long time comrades to the East have grabbed that baton.
Have you know this story from childhood or did you just recently hear it?
I continue to applaud and marvel at the stoic perseverance of the Ukrainian people. So many people that stayed behind somehow just make do with what little they have. Their ingenuity comes out as survival takes over as their number one priority.
This would be nice if US would honor it’s commitments to nations seeking freedom and justice,
What concerns me is that to many in US congress are only interested in lining the pockets of those who support them, and doing what it needed to keep their sear in o grass.
Some how contrives like Ukraine hope is that US sees keeping your country safe benefits them.
The President of Ukraine is a hero, and wil go down I history as one of the great leaders for democracy.
You are absolutely right. True generosity IS the courage to share. Thank you for your courage and generosity. I really do appreciate it. It reminds me to open my eyes AND my heart. Stay alert, stay safe and strong. Jim.