Recent reading includes Stephen Levine's fascinating exploration of death and dying from 1982, still feeling contemporary today and especially relevant in the midst of the international flu pandemic causing extreme reactions by governments like Italy, now basically closed down ... other countries weigh up similar actions in this interconnected world ... main message being self-isolation at the first signs of the new virus - dry cough, fever, breathing difficulties ... and how to discern when such symptoms are common cold, other flu and so on ... seen as an opportunity by overstressed folks grateful for an unexpected rest from the daily grind, as long as full wages are paid ... though large corporations in hard hit sectors such as aviation invite staff to volunteer for unpaid leave ... already unwillingly isolated folks, especially elderly, more likely to be less gung-ho at the prospect ...
Meanwhile, in Weardale, two minibuses set off full of elderly folks for some assisted shopping in Durham at the quieter than usual retail park ... without any signs of panic, and conversations generally philosophical and phlegmatic at the prospect of the latest virus finishing them off ... in some cases the quotidian loneliness a less preferred option ... and deeper conversations uncover culturally unexpected beliefs in karma and reincarnation, loosely held perhaps, but comforting nevertheless ... Levine's book develops the theme, exploring the essential question of ego and its false nature ... whilst a snippet from a Radio 4 mini-documentary about life amongst underprivileged teenagers in Warrington explores the craze for dangerous riding of unlicensed motor bikes around the streets, often recorded for fame on social media, a validation that the otherwise unsuccessful youngster is actually recognised as good at something by the sub-culture if not mainstream society ... an ongoing theme seen half a century ago when a young, naive, newly qualified but disenchanted teacher from the sticks found employment in an adventure playground in an estate off the Caledonian Road behind Kings Cross station in London ... health and safety was less developed in those days of libertarianism, dawning of the Age of Aquarius and all that ... a window opened for children's rights, the scurrilous Little Red Schoolbook hit the streets and sparked school strikes and raised consciousness, before being banned as obscene as well as revolutionary ... several boxes were rescued from the publisher before the book burning began, courtesy of Portuguese emigre red and best friend at teacher training college ... who appears elsewhere in the story when the Carnation Revolution kicked off and a trip to cheer the rebels on was undertaken with Pedro along with enthusiastic young people from around the world ... back in the children's play part, this playground was basically a fenced off cobbled bit of road between tower blocks and a village of post-war prefabs, much loved by the tenants and due for demolition ... the structures were built by the children with the support of the two paid staff and the donation of wood and other scrap, plus a lorry load of scaffolding ... the beauty of the system was its ever changing nature, as the children built and demolished as they wanted ... a warming bonfire was usually burning ... children seeking sympathetic adult attention had two to choose from, and those unable to cope with the discipline of school had an informal option ... not easy work but rewarding ... and amazingly nobody was killed, whether through luck, fate or just because the children knew how dangerous it was who knows?
Language casts its spell and once Health and Safety becomes a thing, with departments of government as well as businesses employing people who may be held responsible if something goes wrong ... litigation may follow and all the unexpected consequences of diminishing personal responsibility sprout unchecked ... promotion of Illness and Danger is clearly not an option and so, for perfectly good reasons, freedom wanes ... back in virus land the search is on for a vaccine, to go alongside the current flu jab widely promoted though not supported here and time and energy to research the data is lacking when exercise and fresh air in the sunshine awaits ...
Looping back to the reformed wheelie biker of Warrington, he reveals that despite having few financial resources, he spends £950 on a pair of trainers in some deluded attempt to find meaning in his life ... perhaps only different in scale to wealthy folks spending thousands on a watch or a handbag ... and a related thought arises that smart phones and the cost of operation appear ubiquitous around the world. .. is any of this really real?
As for a Spring Adventure, plans have been made and expectations, being the root of disappointment, not held ... whatever the consequences of going or being grounded, what can't be controlled is best allowed .... in this deluded reality its all dramas and we are not to know them or their purpose prior ... how we tell them later is up to us ... or the fragment of the whole this bundle of roles and memories carries around, preferably lightly ... when that dies, as it must, the show goes on, it seems ... how the learning of one brief life is carried on yet to be revealed ...
No comments:
Post a Comment