British Stuff . Darkness . Fear
Keep Calm and Carry On
On March 5, 2022 by Speranza
This once timely slogan has been relentlessly cheapened and generally relegated to the same tired category as “TGIF!;” but in the early morning light this week as I opened my own personal ‘Pandora’s Box’ (aka my laptop) I have new found respect for these words.
Anxiety . Darkness . Writers
Stop the World I Missed my Stop
On July 12, 2016 by Speranza
I’ve been stalling posting anything this week because I simply cannot write about anything vacuous without commenting on what a terrible few weeks this has been news wise; I’ve watched extensive news coverage on all the tragedy (and then follow-up tragedy) in Dallas, being vigilant to not watch any of the streaming or videos because I am someone’s mother and just cannot if I intend to function for the rest of the day.
This is not even considering the assorted terrorist atrocities.
I feel troubled, sick and totally helpless in equal parts.
Darkness . Public Library . Tales from the Public Library . The General
Curmudgeons Moving Amongst Us
On July 1, 2016 by Speranza
Working with the public over the years has allowed me a broad spectrum view of the descent into crabbiness that affects many people over the age of say, 47. I am not speaking of having an off day here, health crises, true depression or enduring a blue funk.
This is something different.
I believe it’s a habit as much as a condition that some people (usually men, there, I said it) fall into after a certain age and ironically, there is nothing more aging than becoming a Grumpy Old Man in your forties.
Nothing.
For some reason, the bleakness often seems to be accompanied by a sense of certainty about how dreadful life is: the Middle East conflict is beyond hope and can only escalate, check; obsessiveness about the worst weather on record which may be happening tomorrow (and, if it doesn’t, it’s easy to slide that rage right over to the deficient meteorologists for getting it wrong) check; life has passed them by, now that their movie-star good looks have faded and every time they exit a chair or sofa they insist on making a loud “Ack!” or whooshing sound just to be sure that everyone within a few feet knows it, check; taking every opportunity to tell bored, often appalled young people that they should enjoy life now because once they get a) married b) become saddled with kids c) buy a home d) become older than about 22, it’s basically downhill and will be over all too soon. (This kind of torschlusspanik doom should not even be referenced to the young since they are in no place to truly comprehend it), but you know, check.
Darkness . The General
Stormy Weather
On April 4, 2016 by Speranza
I hate it when people blame the weather for feeling down. If you have ever lived in the UK you quickly realize that if you are not going to go out till it stops raining/blowing/raining you are basically not going out for a very, very long time.
Say, your next birthday.
That said, it’s very disappointing to go away somewhere warm as a smug strategy for hurrying spring along only to find that it’s not only still snowing upon your return but there are gusts of wind that are shaking the house till it moans like an old clipper ship.
I always imagine those antique maps with that chubby cloud dude with the big cheeks in the corner, cupping his hands and blowing as hard as he can; but this is just my own meteorological whimsy to mask the terror within.
I just paid for that roof …
Darkness . Full Moon
Full Moon Fever
On February 20, 2016 by Speranza
Often I find myself unable to sleep or feeling anxious (alright, super anxious) for no good reason and then, as I sit upright in bed and see the narrow, silvery light coming through the window in my bedroom making that long stripe across the floor, I suddenly realize that oh yes.
A full moon cometh.