Whether you think I’m wrong to say black lives matter, or that indefinite detention of asylum seekers violates international law, or that Trump is the worst leader the US has ever had, I think we can agree that we live in perplexing times. We all need a break from reality from time to time, and research shows that women are drinking more alcohol and finding other ways to escape. I’ve put on 3 kilos since March 2020 and am determined to shed that.
One way is of course to increase exercise. I try and do some weights and take an hour’s walk at least 3 times a week. When walking I really enjoy the podcast series Revisionist History by Malcolm Gladwell and his team. The latest in Series 5 is Dragon Psychology 101, about the psychology of hoarding. Fascinating.
Some of you reading this blog already know that the people hoard thinking it’ll come in handy one day or because things are loaded with emotions for us, and for hoarders these emotions are hyper developed. My parents were borderline hoarders – my father accumulated a vast library of books, and mum displayed hundreds of framed photos all over the house. I vowed never to follow their examples.
But in this time of COVID-19, I have started to understand mum’s love of photos. Instead of devouring chocolate and nuts like I usual do, there is another way to bring a rush of endorphins. When I feel like snacking I’m instead going to reach for photos of my grandbabies. Just thinking of them make me smile, and viewing images of Felix and Harriet give me such a burst of pleasure.
The featured photo was taken a few weeks ago when I started visiting the grandbabies again. After weeks of not seeing them, we struck on a compromise of going on walks together but no physical contact. Now with hardly any community transmissions where we Iive, I can kiss and hug them again, savouring every moment. Yes, I do look demented, and I am frequently laughing my head off at their antics. What I particularly love about the photo is the little dimple in Harriet’s elbow. Her big brother had that too. In case you are curious, that dimple forms in the tip of a bone called the olecranon process. Long may the dimple last!
P.S. Thanks to my big brother David for the name of that bone!