Is it just me...

You know, I read and I read quite a bit sometimes. I mostly try to stay on top of events just to sort of re-calibrate my focus on what I need to do in order to be prepared for life's little hic-cups on the way.

I'm not one to be surprised by events whether they are good or bad as they happen, I just kind of gather up all the info I can get my hands on and come to my own conclusions and I prepare accordingly.

Case in point, being a resident of Alberta I have witnessed a few natural disasters un-fold during my time here. Just recently, a massive forest fire ripped through northern Alberta forcing the evacuation of Fort McMurray, a strategic and economic anchor that puts us as well as Canada on the map. A few years previous to that, another forest fire ripped through the Slave Lake area forcing the evacuation of that city as well. We have endured floods that kept a large chunk of Calgary under water for months.I could go on, point being is we get our share of crap also.

The reason why I am talking about this is because even after all the hardship that some people have to go through, a good majority just still don't get it. I watched a news program where they were interviewing people who were still at HOME in Ft. McMurray nervously glancing over their shoulder watching the flames coming that were now inside city limits, and saying "I'll wait until they give the evacuation order!"
Listening to interviews given by fire-fighters stating that some residents said that they still had to pack a few more things, when the order to evacuate went out. I won't get into how some people dodged a bullet, but the evolutionary process catches these types, sooner or later. I am amazed still to this day that there were not massive deaths on the highway (the only one) that was completely engulfed leaving literally hundreds of vehicles burnt to a crisp.

Come on, really? The warnings to prepare to leave went out with ample time to get ready. Yet people sat on their decks sipping whatever cool-aid they were addicted to and did not take anything seriously. Same thing in Slave Lake, High River (flooding).

I am curious to know how many people are prepared to leave in eastern Edmonton where that whole area is known as 'refinery row' where some of the worlds largest petro-chemical plants are located with a number of refineries also located there as well. I suspect that there are not too many. An unusually high rate of childhood asthma per capita, but the 'powers that be' say it is just a coincidence. (Another topic for future discussion).

I have touched on this state of preparedness in conversations with some folks about having a bug-out bag ready to rock and roll just in case. It amazed me the response I got from a good majority of them. I have been called a dooms-dayer, and 'your a kook' and you're one of those types. Yes I like to be prepared because I don't like to be caught up in a catastrophe when I can, through preparation, down-grade the event as a necessary inconvenience. I just think being ahead of the wave is some what prudent.

Well, I think I said enough about scenarios that should wake people up. What I don't understand (call me naive) is, despite the inherent concerns that surround us that can greatly and gravely affect us, how come the majority still don't seem to get it? It's funny how people can 'prepare' for a vacation a year in advance right down to the tiniest detail and yet cannot comprehend the logistics surrounding an event. Has fear in the human psyche been totally eradicated, are we so wrapped up in our own little world that care and caution are thrown to the wind? Doesn't anybody ever ask 'what if' anymore?

Is it just me or has complacency taken hold and people only live for the here and now?

Gene aka 'Hummer'