Friday, June 11, 2010

Auch die Ewigkeit besteht aus Augenblicken

I had no idea this was happening; living in America I never paid attention to European news.

Every week they find unexploded bombs from WW2 in Germany, and experts must defuse them. This adds up to 2,000 tons of bombs and other munitions found every year, and areas are evacuated so they can be disarmed. These are American and British bombs, still dangerous, and sometimes still killing people.

Three bomb experts were killed on June 1 while trying to disarm a bomb found in Goettingen. Police were still evacuating 7,000 people from the city, but the bomb detonated unexpectedly and killed three, and injured six others on the team.

This one was discovered while construction workers were building a new sports arena. Another had been found days before in the same area, and successfully disarmed.

My man says that most bombs are found during constuction projects and highway expansions, and mostly near big cities, so the chance of one turning up in my horse pasture is very low.

In 2006 a highway crew bulldozer hit a bomb and the driver was killed in the explosion.

They say it will be another 20 years before they stop finding bombs in Brandenburg, a state surrounding Berlin.

There is a particularly dangerous type of bomb to defuse which uses a delay action chemical detonator, and as time passes, they become even more dangerous. These cannot be moved, they must be detonated or defused where they lay.

The search for bombs became easier in 1990 when America and Britain gave Germany photos taken after bombing raids. The photos show the likely location of unexploded bombs. The bombs in this photo are used for training purposes.

I'm reading now that every German state has dozens of experts at defusing WW2 bombs. Accidents are very rare.

I hear about it on the radio, another bomb found here, but until this month I didn't hear of accidents like this.

I was trying to focus on the tragedy this week, because we had our own tragedy here, and it seemed wrong to be so upset about an animal, when people were taken from their families without warning the next day.

I was wrong about the neighbor's dog. He killed Lander. I cannot understand how we could have loved that cat so much so soon, to have suffered so much at his death. My man and I both were inconsolable, and burying him together was almost more than we could handle. I keep seeing the scene as I found him in my head over and over, and it's starting to get better, but it's not going away soon. I am not sure why God let this happen, other than to tell me I am not supposed to have a cat. So I am not sure we'll keep Mercer - she is such a typical cat, in comparison to him. If she could be half the cat he was, she'll stay with us.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry to hear about your poor cat. I know how hard it is to lose one of those one-in-a-million cats much, much too soon, and to not be able to stop thinking about it. I can only offer the knowledge that the loss and pain gets easier to live with over time.

I can also tell you that the "other" cats, the ones who always seemed not even half the cat the other one was-- they can really surprise you if you let them, and sometimes it's only possible once they have all the love for themselves.

Sending you love and hope that you will heal soon, and maybe that you'll get a little sign from him that he's "ok" now, despite it all, even though he misses you, too.

Anonymous said...

I'm sooo sorry to read this. :( Please don't get rid of Mercer. She'll come out of her shell, sometimes it just takes some cats longer than others. Can you keep her as a indoor cat?

Funder said...

Oh Lytha, I'm so sorry! I would be totally devastated. I know you don't love Mercer right now, but you really should give it some time. She'll make it easier.

AareneX said...

Aw, damn. I was getting worried when you were quiet for so long...poor Lander. And poor lytha! I'm so sorry. He was an awesome kitty.

Please know that we are holding you in our hearts, all of us around the world, and we are all knowing peace and love for you and your man and Miss Mercer as well. Keep her nearby; remember that Mercer has lost a friend too, and may want comfort.

Anonymous said...

So sorry for you both in your loss of your fine cat - very sad. Keep your other cat for now and see how she does.

Formerly known as Frau said...

I'm so sorry about your cat that is a horrible tragic loss. I wish I had words to make you and your mann better but I'll I can say is I hope he didn't suffer.

Sonya said...

I am so very sorry..as I said in my e-mail I know the pain you are feeling and Im just so srry you both are having to go through this. Hang in there with Mercer for a little longer.

Autumn Mist said...

Oh, Lytha I am so sorry to hear your sad news. There is nothing worse, is there? Please don't get rid of the other one, though, you will only be even sadder. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Reddunappy said...

Oh I am so sorry you lost Lander :(
You wanted them so bad.
What kind of animal control laws do they have there?

White Horse Pilgrim said...

I'm so sorry about your cat. We're so protective of ours here that they aren't allowed out.

I'm sure that other will come out of his shell. but it can take time.

I hope that you can take some action against the neighbour and the dog. There ought to be strict laws in Germany.

Bombs are found quite often in London too. A colleague discovered one on a construction site. Likewise it was only a few years ago when data was received that enabled better analysis of where they might be found.

Once Upon an Equine said...

What a sad thing that the horror of war lingers for decades after the battles are over. I feel sad for the people who lost their lives trying to disarm those bombs. They were brave and noble to risk their lives to spare others a similar fate.

I'm also very sorry for your loss of Lander. It's difficult to lose a beloved animal; they are like family.

Unknown said...

oh nein, das ist das Traurigste, was ich seit langem gehört habe! Der arme Lander, so eine besondere Katze, warum gerade er? Ist der Hund auf euer Grundstück gekommen?
Vielleicht tröstet euch dieses Gedicht ein wenig:

http://www.casemada.de/regenbogenbruecke..htm

Als ich so lange nichts von dir hörte, hatte ich gleich ein merkwürdiges Gefühl. Und als du dann in deinem Blog über den tragischen Unglücksfall mit der explodierten Bombe berichtetest, da dachte ich, dass einer eurer Freunde oder Verwandten darin verwickelt war.

Dass es nun Lander getroffen hat - ich bin so traurig! Darum ist es umso wichtiger, dass ihr nun Mercer eure ganze Liebe gebt. Sie ist nun einmal anders und hat ihre eigene Persönlichkeit.

sorry, but I couldnt write these words in english...

Kerstin

lytha said...

Your comments are so kind and free of accusation, I'm in tears again just reading them! Thank you for this.

Also, we are keeping Mercer indoors at least until that dog gets old/dies. She is content inside, she never asks to go out like Lander did.

She is getting spoiled now, we are lavishing the attention on her, and last night while playing with her ball, she plunked herself down on the floor, stretched out, Lander-style, completely at ease. That was a good sign to me. Of course when I moved to get my camera, she got up.

There is hope for her, and for us.

Tara said...

Lytha, I am so sorry about Lander, :(
Tara

Mellimaus said...

Oh, that is absolutely horrible! I'm so so sorry about your loss of Lander! :(

Unknown said...

It heartbreaking to lose a wonderful friend like Lander, especially under such horrible circumstances.

I hope Mercer is helping the healing...

Fantastyk Voyager said...

I'm so sorry to read about Lander.

And the bomb detonation is a terrible thing. I had no idea they were still finding bombs sixty-five years later!

cdncowgirl said...

Oh Lytha I'm so sorry about Lander :(