I've just spent the weekend at my deceased cousin Wally's house, going through his (and his mother's) papers. Wally was an only child who had no children of his own and here I am, with his history, a house full of stuff collected over almost a century. These people loved me and I loved them, but what am I to do with all this stuff? Every book I toss into the recycle bin, every box of letters nobody will ever read, that I will probably throw out when I am brave enough, wrenches at my heart. I have children and grandchildren who might care enough to preserve something of mine in memory, but Wally did not and that is just too sad.
When the time is right ... when you are feeling brave, you will know what to keep, what to let go of. He was fortunate to have had your love and support ... take care Stafford. xo
His mother was a literary pioneer in her family as was her mother before her, who, although isolated on a dairy farm, before electricity or phone, with all that entails, was able to become an expert on Esperanto! Big shoes to fill.
I just re-read your earlier piece about Wally. You were so lucky to have someone so kind in your family. And you reflect the same qualities of kindness. Take care Stafford- we love you!
Coal is just carbon that the earth has sequestered over many millenium in solid form... As we are an isolated ball of gas , minerals and water in a remote outer spiral arm of the galaxy , as Monty Python would have it , existing literally in a vacuum, so there is no more or less energy on this sphere , assuming the sun has been relatively constant over the last several million years.... A species like ours comes along , discovers it can burn carbon rocks to its short term advantage , so it does so, releasing vast amounts of previously sequestered energy into closed loop system , destabilising said system ... While oscillations of ten degrees are not unusual for the planet in the big scheme of things , foolish species has evolved fairly during a quiet period with a narrow range of , say 2 deg or so.... Unwittingly , it sets the scene for a 4-6 deg fluctuation as the system attempts to right itself over several million years , setting the conditions for its own demise .... Fortunately , the carbon rocks are like a grain truck that has overturned near a family of mice , the grain being finite , as it runs out , the grossly overpopulated , bloated mice population finds itself in overshoot , initiating rapid die off... Which wall will we hit first ? We are not evil , we are just doing what every other species handed a temporary adavantage does .... Use it to expand our numbers as much as possible until it depletes , then die off......strange but true Cheers Mate
Thanks Ned. Not strange, just pure Darwin, as is the unregulated Market. Our teeth say we are omnivores, but many choose to be vegetarians. I wonder if we can also overcome our natural instincts and choose to survive...
I've just spent the weekend at my deceased cousin Wally's house, going through his (and his mother's) papers. Wally was an only child who had no children of his own and here I am, with his history, a house full of stuff collected over almost a century. These people loved me and I loved them, but what am I to do with all this stuff? Every book I toss into the recycle bin, every box of letters nobody will ever read, that I will probably throw out when I am brave enough, wrenches at my heart.
ReplyDeleteI have children and grandchildren who might care enough to preserve something of mine in memory, but Wally did not and that is just too sad.
very sad Stafford :( it is hard getting rid of stuff like that - but in the end it all will go I suppose. Your limerick is lovely as usual.
DeleteSo sorry for your loss, Stafford.
ReplyDeleteWhen the time is right ... when you are feeling brave, you will know what to keep, what to let go of. He was fortunate to have had your love and support ... take care Stafford. xo
ReplyDeleteHis mother was a literary pioneer in her family as was her mother before her, who, although isolated on a dairy farm, before electricity or phone, with all that entails, was able to become an expert on Esperanto!
DeleteBig shoes to fill.
I just re-read your earlier piece about Wally. You were so lucky to have someone so kind in your family. And you reflect the same qualities of kindness. Take care Stafford- we love you!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kathe, today I have almost finished sorting and have decided what to do with it all, so that is a load off!
DeleteI couldn't bear to be the one throwing out those books and papers; I do feel for you.
ReplyDeleteIs it a Porn Shop ?
ReplyDeleteSilly boy, Ned. That is spelt PAWN!
DeleteLovely limerick.
ReplyDeleteSorry for your loss. That first sorting is always hard.
ReplyDeleteThe limerick reads well.
=)
Okay...where's your hat...
ReplyDeleteHat? I need a bucket!
ReplyDeleteCoal is just carbon that the earth has sequestered over many millenium in solid form... As we are an isolated ball of gas , minerals and water in a remote outer spiral arm of the galaxy , as Monty Python would have it , existing literally in a vacuum, so there is no more or less energy on this sphere , assuming the sun has been relatively constant over the last several million years.... A species like ours comes along , discovers it can burn carbon rocks to its short term advantage , so it does so, releasing vast amounts of previously sequestered energy into closed loop system , destabilising said system ... While oscillations of ten degrees are not unusual for the planet in the big scheme of things , foolish species has evolved fairly during a quiet period with a narrow range of , say 2 deg or so.... Unwittingly , it sets the scene for a 4-6 deg fluctuation as the system attempts to right itself over several million years , setting the conditions for its own demise .... Fortunately , the carbon rocks are like a grain truck that has overturned near a family of mice , the grain being finite , as it runs out , the grossly overpopulated , bloated mice population finds itself in overshoot , initiating rapid die off... Which wall will we hit first ? We are not evil , we are just doing what every other species handed a temporary adavantage does .... Use it to expand our numbers as much as possible until it depletes , then die off......strange but true
ReplyDeleteCheers Mate
Thanks Ned. Not strange, just pure Darwin, as is the unregulated Market. Our teeth say we are omnivores, but many choose to be vegetarians. I wonder if we can also overcome our natural instincts and choose to survive...
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