Casual Blog
Watching Sense and Sensibility recently there was one scene where Colonel Brandon was reading out these words to Miss Marianne Dashwood.
It got me thinking about what we may have lost because of Covid, friends, freedoms, choices, etc. Yet if we really look , if we seek, what do we find or discover anew?. Friendships, hobbies, a new way of thinking and doing things? Any change means a new way of thinking perhaps about what we always took for granted . Anyway!
I was tidying up recently looking for something I couldn’t find, and came across an item bought a long time ago. I’d packed it away for safety then completely forgotten it.
Shades of my mum. Heaven HELP ME! She used to do that with our Christmas presents , discovering them sometimes months later, hidden in the airing cupboard. .
However, seeing the ornament immediately brought a friend to mind. She and I had gone on a coach tour, years ago now. Where? Disneyland; Paris, Now, before you all cringe, my other half would die before he ever set foot there. However, Maureen with her sense of humour, at times for the ridiculous, has daughters and as one agreed to dog sit, we were good to go.
We had a magical few days. Ok, Sore feet at night, but we sat on the pavement with the other tourists waiting for the parade to start. We, did the rides we could, tried the various junk foods on offer, only on the last day finding somewhere decent. That mad few days of remembering how we enjoyed ourselves, the childlike joy and enthusiasm we found has helped me realise I have been in danger of allowing myself to forget that crazy moments like this are essential to our health. Laughter is said to be the best medicine, along with our connection to people.
My ornament is now in a glass fronted sideboard where I can see it daily. What else have I sought or found due to loss or change?
BBC1’s Annual New Year’s Day concert comes from Vienna. We have been several times to this magical city. One visit was in a December. It was cold but not snowing. I remember walking along the ring road , heading towards The Opera. Visits to galleries. The Belvedere. The Hofburg Palace, Schonbrunn Palace, the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, The Rathaus etc . This time we revisited Vienna in film cushioned by the beautiful music playing. Talking this over with my other half seemed to rekindle those past times.
I feel sure we will be back in Vienna at some time, maybe seeing the familiar but through new eyes, and maybe even having a greater appreciation of the beauties and freedom around us. Here’s hoping, therefore, that 2022 will be the start or new insightful memories for us all.