The Charles Dickens quote, from a Tale of Two Cities, became suddenly applicable to my life. It was the Best of Times, but it rapidly descalated. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”
Dickens began his book in this way to develop the them of daily. “His pairings of contrasting concepts such as the “best”and “worst”of times, “Light”and “Darkness,”and “hope”and “despair”reflect the mirror images of good and evil that will recur in characters and situations throughout the novel. tions throughout the novel.”
For scores of reasons Thursday February 23, 2023 marked the best of times. Everything came together on that day. It will be explained later, in a subsequent blog. Friday was to be a continuation – let the good times roll and all of that. Friday morning an appointment with my valued physician was scheduled. She had been on vacation when I fell on my face two weeks ago. I had not received medical care for my injuries. The bruises on my face were almost gone, my right hand was painful but did have the use of my fingers allowing me to type at my furious pace.
By the way, To let the good times roll is to have fun or live fully; letting things that are going well proceed; if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Well, it was broke.
You: What was broke?
Me: My right hand.
You: How, what happened?
Me: The fall of two weeks ago.
I emailed my cousin, informing her of this tragedy. It is quicker and easier to cut and paste from that email, so I shall. The subject line was: My hand is broken, the right one.
She: So what happened?
Me: It was from the fall two weeks ago. Saw my doctor she ordered X-rays. I may have to endure surgery. Will know more on Monday. I am devastated. No idea what this might mean.
She: So sorry to hear about your hand. Did it bother you after your fall? Such a bummer as it will make things difficult for you in so many ways. 🤞 whatever happens it will heal quickly.
Me: It did bother me but I have a very high pain threshold. I can have needles stuck in my face and not even wince. It freaks people out. I think the cure is going to be worse than the ??? I cannot remember the expression. I am thinking of going on another legislative tour to see what our Great Uncle did with his hands again. It would yank me out of this depression I think. . Depression makes pain worse. The good news is that it is slightly warmer here. What do you have planned for the day???
She: Well hope all will be well in the end. If you have to have surgery, I’m sure the pain is something you will have to put up with…….keep thinking positive.I will be spending my day inside waiting on the snow storm we are to receive…….somewhere between 3 cm to 30 cm! Of course it all depends on where you live & if the forecast is correct! I need new boots but I’ll never find any now – that will be next winter’s MUST DO! Dryer finished time to fold ugg!
Me: I promise to keep thinking positive! Good suggestion! Wow so much snow. Here the weather predictions accurate as no oceans around us -just land masses which make it predictable. I have extra boots but I have big feet and live now in Alberta. Not worth shipping them to you. My laundry is still washing. Folding it up is boring when it is dried.
It is now minus ten. I think I will stay in but go peddle on the stationery bike on the gym here. That will make me feel good about myself and get my knee in shape. Sunrise so pretty this morning with the pink and the snow. It was inspiring!!!
That describes what is happening here on the home front. Technically home front applies to the people who stay in a country and work while that country’s soldiers are fighting in a war in a foreign country. There is no war going on here in Canada, although there is one in the Ukraine, and Palestine is a war zone for Palestinians.
I shall touch briefly on the good times. With the assistance of LOL, my blog computer person and my AAA, I have been able to retrieve material from an old, and I thought defunct, iPad. It included two MacBooks, (now on this blog under the Book section) and old photos which I can email and then download to iPhotos. Much to my amazement there was a selfie taken ten years ago, in 2013. I do recall those days – the worst of days, darkness, despair, foolishness, incredibility, the winter of despair.
I decided to contrast that selfie with photos of myself taken recently. Two of the chosen were taken during my Umrah pilgrimage, one after my return to Edmonton. Definitely the three illustrate the best of times, wisdom, belief, light, the spring of hope.
The last line of The Tale of Two Cities is unusually applicable to my life as well, as illustrated by these photographs. “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.” I do look lighter, younger. I am doing a far better thing than I have ever done, by continuing to write this blog. The Islamic faith does promise a far, far better rest than I have ever known.
I am not sure what the morrow shall bring. (Morrow in this instance means the near future.)
The uncertainty of whether surgery is necessary, when the surgery might take place. the uncertainty of whether this will temporarily result in my not being able to use my right hand. This might be my last blog for awhile. I guess that old and familiar song by Billie Holiday might be appropriate.
I’ll Be Seeing You.
I’ll be seeing you
In all the old familiar places
That this heart of mine embraces
All day through
In that small cafe
The park across the way
The children’s carousel
The chestnut trees
The wishing well
I’ll be seeing you
In every lovely summer’s day
In everything that’s light and gay
I’ll always think of you that way
I’ll find you in the morning sun
And when the night is new
I’ll be looking at the moon
But I’ll be seeing you
I’ll be seeing you
In every lovely summer’s day
In everything that’s light and gay
I’ll always think of you that way
I’ll find you in the morning sun
And when the night is new
I’ll be looking at the moon
But I’ll be seeing you.
YouTube the song, it is most sad, but beautiful in so many ways. Think about it.
