The Gnōmic: On Being Browned Off
The Gnōmic: On Being Browned Off
Welcome to The Gnōmic, the midweek read from Sunday Letters.
Appears in this episode
A Thought
Covid: when will this damn thing be over? I’ve been ok with lockdown, but it’s getting a bit irritating. I’m browned off with the press coverage and the constant stream of concerned voices trying to influence public policy. Every news report includes some corner of society that has a problem with restrictions or vaccine roll-out. I’m not one for the news, but still, I can’t seem to avoid it.
At the same time, I have to consider myself and my family lucky because I know many others were not as fortunate. My mother died in December last, and although that was difficult in itself, she spared us the additional misery that many other families have endured due to Covid. We had her at home, and that’s where she passed away, but many others who have lost loved ones in the last twelve months didn’t have that. Additionally, we’ve managed pretty well financially. My wife is a nurse, so she’s been working away. My work has been affected, but Pascal’s few bob is tiding us over. Lockdown has also given me time to study. In effect, I’m being paid to go to college.
I like my own company, so the adjustment to restrictions was not an issue for me. The kids have been doing well at home too. Although, I’m looking forward to seeing them back at school instead of being stuck in their rooms staring at a screen. I’m also looking forward to meeting the lads and having a few pints o’ the black, maybe one or two with the oul fella too, and a night out with her indoors. Apart from that, there’s not too much this simple man is looking for.
After it’s over, there’ll be fallout for many years to come; I’ve little doubt. My hope is that essential services related to mental health are improved. Currently, the system is woefully under-resourced and too many people are not getting the care they need. If you don’t have the cash, you don’t get the mental health services you need. Things are changing here in that regard, so I’m hopeful nonetheless. In the meantime, here’s to the other side of summer and this whole thing being over 🍻.
A Quote
“There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in.”
― Leonard Cohen
A Book
In Praise of Wasting Time is a short book by physicist Alan Lightman that, as the name suggests, promotes wasting time as a means of self-regulation and replenishment. Apt considering the state of forced idleness in which we find ourselves. Maybe we won’t want to go back to how it was. You can get a copy here.
An Album
I came home from the States in 1997, and these guys were taking over the charts. Although gaining popularity at the time, Radiohead were not as favoured by US radio stations as in Ireland and the UK. At that time, of course, there was no such thing as Apple Music, Spotify, or any other streaming service. The Internet was a mere pup, and CDs or the radio were our only listening options. The Bends took a grip of me like very few albums had before, and I was all-in. OK Computer followed and became the soundtrack to my liaison with a certain Joanne Boyle. This music holds lots of terrific memories.
One From The Archive
I penned this one about a year ago. Interesting to see where my head was and the transition my thought had taken in the first few weeks of the pandemic.
Thanks for reading… see you Sunday 👋
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The Gnōmic: On Being Browned Off