Not to put too fine a point on it, but 2025 has been, so far, incredibly disappointing. Hoping for a somewhat more positive year than 2024, our anniversary on 2 January was the pinnacle of last month. From there onwards, we were on a very slippery slope heading down...way on down...
Locally, we have had a fit, healthy and active teacher at our school die in her sleep. Plus, Bec, our Jeweller to the Stars in Studio 116 decided to go camping with her family at a beautiful local lake reserve which I have always considered a safe haven for children and adults alike. Before she could say Jack Robinson, she was involved (literally up to her eyeballs) in the attempted rescue of a lad who fell off a pontoon and did not surface. Despite all efforts, the young boy drowned. Bloody hell.
After those events, I felt, very strongly, that we should cancel 2025 and start over. Unfortunately, we have suffered the inauguration of some maniac that enough Americans voted for to become President. I hope they are satisfied with their choice. I am so delighted not to live in the United States for the next four years. Land of the Free...?
The only good news for the rest of the world is that Mister Trump has withdrawn from both the Paris Accord for Climate Change and the World Health Organisation.
With his massive medical background, the President (in his previous incarnation) suggested people drink bleach to combat COVID. Needless to say, some whack-jobs believed him and suffered fairly nasty consequences. And his current pick for Secretary of Health believe the MMR vaccine causes Autism and that COVID 19 was created to benefit billionaires like Bill Gates. As we barely have a cent to our names, I am rather cross to have actually had a dreaded bout of that pesky Coronavirus!
As for leaving the Paris Accord, his decision will probably cause less chaos and division at future Climate Change talks. There is a the conundrum for Climate Change deniers like Mister Trump - global warming doesn't give a shit whether you believe in the science or not. The people of the United States will need to make their own minds up during the next four years.
Very few politicians will respond with rhetoric to a significant tragedy. Over the last few days, we have witnessed, graphically, the crashes of two airplanes and a helicopter in America. Instead of sticking to a circumspect and empathetic reply, Donald Trump has used these tragedies to blame, wait for it, the gender diverse and the disabled for these disasters. This man literally takes my breath away.
Plus, Western Australia will be having a State Election at the beginning of March, which will be followed by a Federal Election before May. Needless to say, we are being deluged with political promises that are not worth the paper they are written on. Although I am grateful we do not have the American system of politics, I dislike the fact that neither major parties, Liberal nor Labor, give a toss about regional Western Australia. They only appear during campaigns and we are soon forgotten after the election is done.
Hence, in Heavenly Beverley, 130 kilometres from the Big Smoke, I can't access a hydrotherapy pool for safe exercise or a manned gym to improve my health. Our hospital relies on Telehealth, a quaintly frustrating experience involving waiting hours to speak to the on-call specialist and then being transferred to a larger medical facility in Northam, 68 kilometres away. Even better, any serious condition could send you (not to jail) onwards to the Big Smoke, which is probably where you should have gone in the first place...
In light of all these events, I have decided that we need proper diversions when the going becomes too tough. Remember Dory from "Finding Nemo"? I believe that Dory's abilities are the answer to these trying circumstances. Her short-term memory loss allowed her freedom to forget the unpleasant, her optimistic nature gave her happiness and she appeared to be able to communicate well with others. In other words, Dory had positive empathy and sound recognition of what was important to her.
I could certainly benefit from Dory's example. I tend to focus about the lack of money/ unknown medical results/the current heatwave/ the uncertain state of the world in the middle of the night. I try to just notice these annoying thoughts, put wings on them, fly them out of my head and return to slumber. If I am uncertain how an important event will work out - I could borrow Dory's "canny impulse for action..." and just ride the wave. If I obsess about unpleasant people/family/rumours/emails, I could just respond with politeness, saving my love, enthusiasm and "fierce sense of loyalty" for my family and friends who really matter.
I suggest there are times we could all BE like Dory...
Sometime during the years we spent in our Dinky Little Doer-Upper in Brooking Street, we unearthed a small broach in the shape of a fish whilst digging in our garden. What did we name this broach? Dory, of course. Whilst keeping her safe for posterity, Michael then created a 2.2 metre diameter of her as a metal sculpture. He cold bent 53 circles of mild steel, incorporated a glorious glass eye, gave her exceedingly luscious lips and a beautifully fluid tail. She was mounted in the front window of the East End Gallery, but Michael was really reluctant to part with her. The solution? Dory was relocated to the front wall of Station House. Shouldn't everybody have a sculpture of Dory on the front of their houses in the Wheatbelt?!
Luckily for us, we don't have far to go to BE like Dory. Just head out our front door and look left. And remember to just keep swimming, just keep swimming...
My feelings at present...
Which was the result of a love affair between a sculptor and a very special fish!
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