In response to Word of the Day Challenge – State
The Red and Green Kangaroo Paw is the floral emblem for the State of Western Australia. They are gorgeous when found growing in abundance in the wild. I remember some years ago finding a paddock of them in a national park a few kms outside Esperance. I stopped the car and took it all in, a feast for the eyes.
The flower symbolises uniqueness and individuality. Never more true than in these times. In the last two years our Premier has enforced hard border policies, and when things were more relaxed, strict entry conditions. He has borne the brunt of many from all walks of life. And yes, there are memes out there of Western Australia, our State, on one side, and The Entire World on the other! But Mark McGowan, Premier has a great sense of humour. The video of him removing his face mask to the theme song of 2001 A Space Odyssey (when wearing masks was no longer mandatory), went viral. He has had the support of some West Australians and he has endured the wrath of others.
There is talk the borders will open early February. Will this generate a state of collective relief or anxiety? There are some sectors in society that are keen for this and then there are others, who are apprehensive. What is evident is that people have started panic buying, yes the old scenario, of a dash for toilet paper, food essentials and when someone mentioned “stock up on analgesics”, the shelves were soon bare. Restricted buying in supermarkets has extended to fresh meat as well (a new restriction). The reality that a lot of our goods come from the Eastern coast has never hit home harder.
What I have loved over the last two years is that … People make eye contact more readily, and from behind the mask, their smile reaches their eyes. There is a genuine connection when this happens.
Be safe and keep smiling.
Until next time
As always
a dawn bird
A Shared Space 
Empty shelves and rising prices have been a sad reality throughout the pandemic, making us more aware of global trade vs domestic supply. What an amazing state flower you have!
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So true, Irene.
Yes, they are a lovely flower and quite unique.
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Supply chain issues are the order of the day it seems. The US has become so dependent on China, that it scares me. We’ve given away so much in manufacturing alone and it seems unlikely that we will ever get it back.
Yes to the smiling eyes and connection… we must keep a focus on our collective humanity! ❤
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I think the dependence on another country for manufacturing is true for just about every country in the world!
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