A Long Time Dead


I usually listen to LBC Radio when I’m sitting down to my bucket of coffee and now much reduced breakfast , but there seems a lot of shouting everywhere at the moment. Shouting on the tv, on radio, in real life and in blogging, that I’ve turned on classic fm.
To be honest that was all a bit much too and so I’m now sat in silence 

Last night David Sidaris discussed how he was once berated by a woman for talking about vaginas. He made  a simple enough point, for as a fifteen year old aide in a psychiatric hospital he was once witness to a naked 80 year old woman having “ therapy” a scene which would have turned himself gay if he hadn’t been gay already. 
The point of his essay was simple, for when David left the sadness and restrictions of covid lockdown, the complainer’s power was diminished to nothing. 
I get this…covid was poisonous in so many ways 

Last night, a friend phoned. Like me they have just entered their seventh decade and they were feeling it, like I do after two long day shifts. 
They talked about feeling on the last lap of life so to speak, where they needed to do all those things they’d planned to do, before age and illness and covid and the like could stop them.
I recognised this feeling 
That last Hurrah kind of feeling.
So what do you want to do ?” I asked.
I want to see the Sagrada Familia” they said 
Feelings intertwine..they always do. Mortality, and age and real life and post covid lethargy and a sense of a clock ticking…

“So let’s go” I said

And so we are going to see it in July!  




68 comments:

  1. weaver11:46 am

    Well done John and tell your friends that from me. Now I am 90 and can hardly walk my bucket list is greatly reduced. Even a walk round Tesco with my walker would be a treat. Make hay while the sun shines.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hurrah for Tesco ….treat yourself to one of those electric trolleys

      Delete
  2. Anonymous11:50 am

    Do I remember you went to Barcelona before? Or was that a trip that didn't work out? Or someone else entirely? Regardless, its a lovely city; I remember tiny very fragrant wild strawberries for sale at a street market especially.

    Looking forward to your adventures!

    ceci

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sometimes you just have to go for it don't you, and at our age it's wisest to go for it as soon as you think of it. I hope you both have a brilliant time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks sue, what’s the alternative ?
      Complain you are skint and shout at the moon?

      Delete
  4. sillygirl12:18 pm

    Take lots of photos! We were there several years ago so more things have been built. I hope as I leave this earth I can fly by to see it one more time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I’ve travelled to Barcelona perhaps 20 times but never seen the city x

      Delete
  5. Good for you, 2 trips planned. I need a lesson from you on spontaneity! xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I’m not stopping at 2…I’m on a fucking roll

      Delete
  6. Anonymous12:34 pm

    Now that’s good counseling! 😊
    —Fresca, rare commenter

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Welcome Fresca , I’ll look forward to more comments from you , nice to have you aboard x

      Delete
  7. Tick tock, tick tock, I hear it too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes it’s not a sound I want to countdown to dear heart x

      Delete
  8. As they say: Time is of the essence. You've got some great trips in the works.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I’ve booked my flight with British airways , in the hope that will be no repeat of last years bloody shenanigans

      Delete
  9. My computer was showing me "20 beautiful cities to visit" this morning when I turned it on. But the thought of traveling to most of them seems too much to me. I am thinking of picking the closest one to start...
    Good for you, John. Yes, go while you can!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Next on my list is Venice and Florence , are they are on your top 20?

      Delete
  10. We went to Barcelona for our honeymoon, and loved it. Going to see the Sagrada Familia then was like paying to see air. It would be nice to see it again. Lots of photos please.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I’m fascinated by your description can you expand on that

      Delete
    2. It's still unfinished. No roof when I was there! I thought you'd been there.

      Delete
  11. I will be with you in spirit on your wonderful trips abroad. Seize the day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I may become a male Miss Froy and travel on that intercontinental train

      Delete
  12. A long time dead indeed. Just get out there and do it, whatever it is.
    I too have noticed the prevalence of shouting everywhere at the moment. I understand that the current world situation is enough to make anyone feel depressed but no point in wasting a life being confrontational and miserable. I see people here struggling with life but with a smile and a kind word despite everything.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It feels as though some are feeling backed into a corner. And are snapping at hands

      Delete
  13. I love knowing now that there is an unfinished church in Spain. It's not just me that doesn't always finish things:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lol…..i sort of like the fact it’s unfinished , I see online , it’s concerts and services are fully booked

      Delete
  14. Anonymous3:17 pm

    I wish I had a friend, or indeed, was a friend, like that. Bravo!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well you could be a friend to yourself and say YES to your next dream

      Delete
  15. Barbara Anne3:25 pm

    Most excellent and may the planes fly on time both going and coming home!
    I wonder if I'll have time and energy to make all of the qilts I'd like to make. A bit of stitch every day will get some of them finished.

    Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous4:46 pm

    Two wonderful cities which I have visited.Enjoy.
    Barbarax

    ReplyDelete
  17. You are a good man Charlie Brown!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Good! It will be wonderful to see the building in person.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It reminds me of the alien ship in Aliens..only with colour

      Delete
  19. Traveller5:38 pm

    Oh gawd! More fuel for Anon!

    Enjoy Barcelona. You are certainly getting your mojo in gear.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yes, she will be twisting her knicker elastic with some force tonight I suspect….but listening to sidaris and his pithy review of his trolls ( oh I wish I could write like him ) made me feel miles better.
      It’s easy to criticise others on line, how they interact, how they review a film , how they are……

      Delete
    2. Traveller11:26 am

      Ain’t that the truth!

      Delete
    3. As soon as I saw the headline I thought....ooh here we go,here we go, here we go. Anons knickers will be in a friggin knot for sure hahaha.

      Jo in Auckland

      Delete
  20. Oh John don't think of it as a last hurrah sort of feeling. I'm a wee bit older than you and have been thinking how I want to fill my life with good and joyful things in the last, hopefully, third of my life. Let's hope for tons more of the best life and save the last hurrah for our last weekend on the planet when we should aim to go out with a flourish.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When I use the term the last hurrah, I’m talking about that realistically usable period of time between 60s and 70 s. It was a generalisation rather than a declaration of imminent demise

      Delete
    2. Smashing. Onward and upward.

      Delete
  21. What still haunts me was when after my 56 year old mum was taken from me - I emptied her wardrobes - finding lots of unworn clothing with labels - all sorts of occasions never worn x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perhaps her shopping not the wearing that brought the joy flis!

      Delete
  22. Life starts out as a blank canvas and you should fill it with as much colour as you can.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For this week only, I suddenly feeI that I have a brush of sorts

      Delete
  23. John, make sure to upload the SF app onto your phone before you go and take headphones. Essential to listen to the audio guide, there didn't appear to be any other way when I was there last year

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Will do that’s a great idea . Happy to have any suggestions of decent places to go and eat or stay x

      Delete
  24. Replies
    1. I’m not one of the elite bloggers so can’t leave a long considered reply
      But I will leave u a considered , thank u x

      Delete
  25. Anonymous9:35 pm

    When I was a teenager, my father told me that I should travel before my feet can’t take it or my stomach can’t take it. That is exactly what happened. My first husband passed away at 48 years old and that was another wakeup as to how short life could be. I married again and got doing everything I had always wanted to do, bought a yacht, sailed across the Atlantic from England to Grenada, met three gay girls looking for crew to sail from Hawaii to Seattle, so did that, with my husbands blessing and sailed again with them from Costa Rica to Tahiti. It was so peaceful at sea, we always were lucky weather wise. I am now 82 and have good memories of the life lived so far, so John, just keep on keeping on. G.G. From Toronto

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now blog arses now you know why I do allow anonymous comments …what a cracking one by GG
      I SO WANT to hear more about your story , because it’s way more interesting than anything I could even dream of …
      Thank you so such

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:07 pm

      Thanks John. My friends, when I had some said that I should write a book but I think you should. I love your blog and have been a faithful reader for a very long time.

      Delete
    3. I’d like to hear more about your adventures

      Delete
  26. The weird and wonderful Sagrada that loomed outside our Barcelona apartment windows. There are various things in life to live for and learning late in this decade that construction of Sagrada has been completed is one. If you want to see inside, book well in advance.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Anonymous11:03 pm

    When hubby, now gone for three years and I were anchored in a tiny island in the Grenadines, met a couple who were on a sailing charter yacht and we got chatting..turned out they were also from Toronto and lived within walking distance from us. They took some photos of us and our boat and when we came back to Toronto a few months later found the photos in our mailbox along with a note saying give us a call when you get home. I called her and she told my she was getting ready to go to India with a friend and I said I would like to go there too. Well her friend backed out so she said was I serious and after getting the ok from my wonderful hubby I said yes I was. She invited me to her cottage for a weekend to see if we got along, we did and we backpacked around India for ten weeks and had a great time..Jean made sure we didn’t miss anything, she lived ever day to the fullest.. unfortunately she passed away a couple of years later but while she lived she really lived. G.G.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Oh John, you'll love Barcelona - we went there way back in 2007 and I've never forgotten it. The cathedral is stupendous - the idea that one man could have such a vision, and actually deliver, it is mind boggling. But there's more that's magical there - the Gaudi house (do the tour) and the other Gaudi places - especially the Gaudi Park Guel and also don't miss the Joan Miro Art gallery - a bus ride out of the centre. All so worth seeing. Oh, you sensible man - GO FOR IT!!

    ReplyDelete
  29. You might as well live life!

    have you ever had a disastrous time with someone you found difficult?

    ReplyDelete
  30. Go, do, experience, enjoy,

    ReplyDelete
  31. Bravo for helping your friend's "bucket list" come true!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Anonymous10:00 pm

    We only got to see the Familia from the outside, didn’t realise we had to book! Must go back one day, and be more organised… Karen S

    ReplyDelete
  33. Anonymous12:53 am

    You will love both cities, Rome is just amazing, it’s one of the few cities I could live in, at lunch time find a street cafe and just people watch, their evening meals usually start around 8-9pm and involves the whole family from ( well behaved) toddlers to grandparents, Barcelona has the amazing La Sagrada church, it always makes me think of Gormenghast very gothic looking though I’ve never seen it without scaffolding around it, the art galleries and museums in both cities are a must, I’m so envious of you going to these cities you’ll love both of them.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Anonymous12:53 am

    That last comment was Tweetart

    ReplyDelete
  35. It must be contagious 'm definitely feeling that myself. Time to start the bucket list.

    ReplyDelete
  36. We had an out of town jaunt on Saturday and that was the first since pre covid, felt pretty special that we actually bothered. Not in the same league as you but I realise how introspective my life had become by having to make the effort to drive for 3 hours to get to a family do. Felt great but also felt great to drive home and say...we did it. It's easy to become reclusive I think despite me being a social animal.

    Jo in Auckland

    ReplyDelete
  37. That last bit rang familiar to us (66 and 78 year old couple). We've planned a one month trip to Europe in July, including three days in Barcelona where we are looking forward to seeing the Sagrada Familia too!

    ReplyDelete

I love all comments Except abusive ones from arseholes