(personal reflection)
Following on from last week, an ECG confirms that I have (dramatic pause) a normal heart- much to general surprise. My uncontactable doctor’s reception, with the “unmanagable” volume of calls, phones me twice, with the same info, so I’m really sure.
More digging holes in the garden and lifting heavy objects, the actual “green” things are not my responsibility, although there seem to be more of them than ever, however as part of the general tidy and clear policy, I rediscover my bicycle pretending to be a heap of dirty metal. I am inspired to take it for a short spin, and my thighs are deeply unimpressed at this foolishness. I clean it to reduce the weight and strain by about a stone, I may even go back out this year.
Amid this productive domesticity, I find myself attending another 60th birthday, of which there are no shortage this year.
This particular event is beyond busy with standing room only, clearly an expression of the popularity of the birthday girl, and her widespread social circle(s). At one point I find myself perched on a window sill (inside!) sharing the space with another old friend who has also run out of standing room. Our raised perspective gives a view across the celebrating assembly.
Briefly, I am overcome with something like Deja Vue, but it is not a sense that I have experienced this specific moment before, but rather an overwhelming feeling that I have sat with my friend so often, and shared many celebrations over many years; “Encore Vue”* perhaps; then the moment passes and someone has to join the bar queue.
I feel thankful and very fortunate to have shared so many good times with so many friends.
Next week on IaDL: Another birthday?
*”Encore Partage” might be better, but a/ Partage is too obscure a French word (I had to look it up – “shared” ) b/ The French certainly have an expression for this anyway.
Dalmallyfest the Asylum 