Way back in the 1980’s, when my ex and I were happily entwined, we used to watch a wonderful ITV series about a man who could not stop worrying about everything.  He ended up going to see a therapist, who was more of a mess than he was, and the general theme of the thing was that he was frozen into immobility by his endless worrying. And his partner, a perky young thing, would always have to take off all of her clothes.

Well, back then, we didn’t have any worries.  We had money, the government was behaving itself, and although the IRA was still busy in our neighborhood, they managed to conduct their business without hurting people, for the most part. And we didn’t have children yet.

Today, I’m totally distracted. The killing of Osama Bin Laden was, I suppose, necessary. In the circumstances (dark, confusing) it would have been risky to try to capture him alive and put him through trial. I suppose one must assume that an effort was made to do the capture thing, but as the US believes in the death penalty, it is too easy to believe that the judge and jury were on site. I don’t want to think that. I prefer to think we can be better than that.  Hard to argue this, though, with the many many wars being inflicted on each other all over the world. I worry that we are slipping into evil, into the horror of kill or be killed. Or that it’s already gone too far…

And then there’s the election. Here in Canada, we’ve lost so much of our democracy, as Harper gently and secretly dismantled it. If he should win a majority government, I fear for our way of life. I fear for my rights as a woman and a person with a disability.  I worry about my children and their ability to operate in a fascist state. Because, alarmist ranting aside, that is where we are heading with the Conservatives. The lying and obfuscations and the complete disregard for the people are scary.  How can they expect to govern if they won’t talk to anyone? Ah yes, well, if you say nothing and carry a big pair of scissors, you can cut programs and ministries and rights and supports and perhaps no one will notice. The pettiness of Harper is amazing, also – the things he does to those who oppose him go well beyond the usual shunning.

It’s all worrying. And there’s nothing I can do about it, having cast my vote. All I can do is hope (and pray) that the wisdom of the masses holds all accountable. And knit like a madwoman. And paint, and type. And walk the dog til his little legs cry for mercy. And play fighting games on my Wii. And try not to think about tomorrow. After all, as Scarlett says, tomorrow is another day.

And that’s what worries me.