More Delights and Disdains . . .
of a diminutive nature of late . . . Number 16
Disdains:
Reading about the UK physicians who deliberately gave blood products, imported from the US and tainted with HIV and hepatitis C, to boys with hemophilia. Nicknamed by the doctors as “virgin hemophiliacs” (bringing to mind child traffickers), these boys were used to test clotting factor that our bodies need to stop bleeding. The doctors abused their positions all in the name of research and without the knowledge or consent of patients or parents. As the father of a son with hemophilia, just reading this infuriates me.
Delights:
Listening to (and reading) Three Months in the Southern States, a diary written by Capt. Arthur James Lyon Fremantle, a British army officer who was a neutral observer of the Confederate Army from April - June 1863. He travelled from Texas to Virginia where he met with Generals Longstreet and Lee as they departed for Gettysburg. His descriptions of spur-wearing brandy drinking Texans, wild horses and 8 foot long rattlesnakes alone make it worth a read (or a listen if you have Audible).
Finishing William Faulkner’s The Wild Palms, a book that follows Pylon’s theme of modern society’s disconnect from morality and its descent into mere hypocritical respectability as found in this quote:
“If Jesus returned today we would have to crucify him quick in our own defense, to justify and preserve the civilization we have worked and suffered and died shrieking and cursing in rage and impotence and terror for two thousand years to create and perfect in mans own image; if Venus returned she would be a soiled man in a subway lavatory with a palm full of French post-cards--”
Speaking of Faulkner . . .
Viewing Perfect Days, an Oscar-nominated film about a quiet-spoken Japanese toilet cleaner in Tokyo (yes, I said toilet cleaner) whose story slowly reveals how he has obtained contentment through his work routine, small interactions with friends, gardening, reading (William Faulkner, Patricia Highsmith, Aya Koda) and music (Patti Smith, Otis Redding, Lou Reed, Van Morrison). If I equate cleaning toilets (something that I don’t want to do, but is necessary to deal with) with having Parkinson’s (something that I don’t want to have, but is necessary to deal with), then the story becomes relatable. A leisurely paced film that encourages us to live in the moment and ultimately rewards with contemplative contentment at the end. (In Japanese with English subtitles). Speaking of music . . .
Viewing In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon, a film that breathes just a hint of how his songs infused the 1960’s. I have a childish impression of his songs being a soundtrack to a world inhabited by my three siblings who were in high school during that wondrous but troubling time. I became a fan during the 1980’s when he released his world music focused Graceland and Rhythm of the Saints.
Lyrics from Graceland, the album’s title song:
The Mississippi Delta Was shining like a national guitar I am following the river Down the highway Through the cradle of the Civil War I'm going to Graceland, Graceland Memphis, Tennessee I'm going to Graceland Poor boys and pilgrims with families And we are going to Graceland My traveling companion is nine years old He is the child of my first marriage But I've reason to believe We both will be received In Graceland She comes back to tell me she's gone As if I didn't know that As if I didn't know my own bed As if I'd never noticed The way she brushed her hair from her forehead And she said, "losing love Is like a window in your heart Everybody sees you're blown apart Everybody sees the wind blow" I'm going to Graceland Memphis, Tennessee I'm going to Graceland Poor boys and pilgrims with families And we are going to Graceland And my traveling companions Are ghosts and empty sockets I'm looking at ghosts and empties But I've reason to believe We all will be received In Graceland There is a girl in New York City Who calls herself the human trampoline And sometimes when I'm falling, flying Or tumbling in turmoil I say "Whoa, so this is what she means" She means we're bouncing into Graceland And I see losing love Is like a window in your heart Well, everybody sees you're blown apart Everybody feels the wind blow Ooh, ooh, ooh In Graceland, in Graceland I'm going to Graceland For reasons I cannot explain There's some part of me wants to see Graceland And I may be obliged to defend Every love, every ending Or maybe there's no obligations now Maybe I've a reason to believe We all will be received In Graceland