Stephen's Green Shopping Centre this Christmas

A photo I snapped, forgot about, and then discovered weeks later. I have it as the backdrop of my computer now!

A Time to Mourn, Again

Once again, this blog is going to go into mourning as a good friend (who has been kind enough to regularly read it) has had a close relative pass away.

The blog colours will go to black and I'll suspend blogging a while. It seems appropriate.

Please pray for the loss of a father and the comfort of the bereaved.

Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary, be with them in their hour of need.

This Might Give You a Lift...Or Maybe Not...

 

When the Christmas Tree Comes Down

I find this time of year very melancholy. Years ago I wrote a two-verse poem trying to capture this melancholy, but I can only find one verse now:

The time is past for tinsel
The holly’s out of date
The clockwork Santa’s lost the will
To celebrate.
The workday world is rousing;
It hates a paper crown.
What’s left of the carousing
When the Christmas tree comes down?

I do remember that the second verse had one line that went something like: "The Three Kings have left town". 

I felt this especially at Epiphany Mass on Tuesday. Hearing the last Christmas carols of the season made me feel more than melancholy-- almost grief-stricken. I've never been able to get used to transience, and it bothers me more as I grow older. My least favourite word is "goodbye" (although I'll admit it's tremendously evocative in titles; Goodbye To All That, Goodbye Lenin, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, etc.)

Admittedly some of the melancholy had other causes. Recently I've lost some friendships that I had hoped would be lifelong. Not through estrangement, or death, but circumstances. A longstanding group of which I was a happy member has broken up-- my Inklings, you might say. Still friends, but I don't expect I will see most of them often again-- if ever. A breaking of a fellowship.

(My hatred of transcience is one reason that I'll never stop writing this blog, until death or something else intervenes! I don't "do" endings-- if I can possibly help it.)

Should We Capitalize the Seasons and the Points of the Compass?

 It's a question.

The Embarrasing Right-Wing Old Dude Archetype in Comedy

Have you ever noticed how prominent this is, especially in British comedy?

Alf Garnett. Alan Partridge. David Brent. Chris Finch (in the same show). Rigsby in Rising Damp. Bail Fawlty ("if they don't like making cars, why don't they get themselves another bloody job designing cathedrals or composing violin concertos?"). Mr. Mackay in Porridge.

From about the 1970s onwards, nearly every comedy "villain" in British situation comedy is conservative or right-wing. I'm sure I could go on, but I don't have time.

The End of Christmas