It is, as I mentioned to my friend T in our writing group last night, an odd time to be living, to be carrying on as though the world weren't being turned upside down for millions of people: the triple catastrophe in Japan, the Libyan situation, instability all over the Middle East and Africa. Our own, homegrown problems seem to pale and diminish, don't they. The ninny son of Billy Graham is suggesting that the Muslim brotherhood has infiltrated the White House, that Obama is somehow turning to them for advice on Middle Eastern policy. Farmers in Sendai are dealing with contaminated spinach and milk. Restaurants in Tokyo are empty. The still, small, quiet resolve of the Japanese people is present in photographs in the New York Times, on blogs, and dotted throughout the Instagram feed. And yet, we live our lives, grow our vegetables, drive our cars, make our deals, love our children, fight with our spouses, watch the signs of Spring.
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| my brother who lives in a beautiful Scottish glen (with Pucka) |
Today is the birthday of my brother. March the 22nd reminds me of daffodils and sunshine and sweaters, of fishing in Scotland with my father when we were small children, galloping along the banks of the Tay in Dunkeld on Arkle and Deadly Nightshade, while he pulled salmon out of the river with the ghillie whose name was Donald. I was always more fortunate with birthdays as mine fell in the middle of the summer holidays and my brother's in the middle of the Hilary term and he was invariably at school, which, frankly, sucked. His third birthday was a very good one. There was sunshine and a cake with marzipan animals on it.
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| brilliant scientific minds reading this: please make a tardis |
We are thousands of miles away from each other now -- he's in Scotland and I'm in Southern California -- but I think of him practically every day. Especially today. And when the day comes that they design a tardis for consumer use -- and mark my words, that day will come -- I will be the first to whizz up to Scotland for Sunday lunch and a belly laugh with my bro.
Dear reader, where would you go if you had a tardis for the day? Please let me know.
Happy Birthday darling! I hope you have a most excellent cake.
5 comments:
I'd be back in Northumberland sitting in the sand dunes making lobster pots out of Rose briar wood with my dad and his brother Adam. In the evening, we'd set out in our little coble and drop them overboard, ready for the morning catch.
Dear Legend,
That sounds just about perfect.
-- Miss W x
I would visit Mars - it looks so beautiful, and you know it would be peaceful.
Halo im silvia..i like your blog
I'd be back in Northumberland sitting in the sand dunes making lobster pots out of Rose briar wood with my dad and his brother Adam. In the evening, we'd set out in our little coble and drop them overboard, ready for the morning catch.
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