Ciclo dei Mesi - 1400
Meister Albert
November
oo oo oo
No sun - no moon!
No morn - no noon -
No dawn - no dusk - no proper time of day.
No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,
No comfortable feel in any member -
No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,
No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds! -
November!
Thomas Hood - 1844
oo oo oo
We had another visit to the Eye Clinic, Beloved's Macular Degeneration in one eye has indeed changed to the wet sort; he is a candidate for treatment by injection and we have a date for the first of three. I am hoping that the treatment will stop further degeneration.
You all know by now what kind of nosey parker I am and how I watch my fellow men. I have a little tale to tell about a man and his wife; she was a patient at the eye clinic, he was her driver. I noticed them because he had a very carrying voice, a dull, slow, monotonous, boom, which sort of thumped you over the head. There was no shutting it out, it seemed to bounce off the ceiling and reverberate around the small waiting area. He was a large man, sitting with arms folded and legs outstretched.
Worthy of further attention, I thought.
The wife went in to see the nurse, her seat was quickly taken by another patient, a very elderly man on sticks, walking with difficulty and sitting down heavily; Boomer engaged him in conversation. Ten minutes later, the wife came back out, she'd obviously had drops in her eyes and was to wait for them to work before she was called back in. There was no free seat now. Boomer sat immobile. The old man offered the wife his seat and, in spite of her protestations, painfully heaved himself to his feet; it took him quite a while. Boomer remained immobile. He watched the whole procedure unmoved, his face completely passive. Luckily, the old man was called in by the time he was fully upright.
I am sure my mouth hung open.
I am sure my mouth hung open.
oo oo oo
The Sun enters the House of Sagittarius
The man born under Sagittarius shall have mercy on every man he sees. He shall go far to desert places unknown and dangerous, and shall return with great gain; he shall see his fortune increase from day to day. At twenty-two years he shall have some peril, but he shall live seventy-two years and eight months after nature.
The woman shall love to labour; she may not see one weep without pity. She shall spend much silver by evil company. She ought to be married at thirteen years, and shall have pain in her eyes at fourteen; she shall be called the mother of sons, and shall live seventy-two years after nature.
Both man and woman shall be inconstant in deeds; but of good conscience, merciful and better to others than themselves.
Kalendar of Shepheardes 1604
The man born under Sagittarius shall have mercy on every man he sees. He shall go far to desert places unknown and dangerous, and shall return with great gain; he shall see his fortune increase from day to day. At twenty-two years he shall have some peril, but he shall live seventy-two years and eight months after nature.
The woman shall love to labour; she may not see one weep without pity. She shall spend much silver by evil company. She ought to be married at thirteen years, and shall have pain in her eyes at fourteen; she shall be called the mother of sons, and shall live seventy-two years after nature.
Both man and woman shall be inconstant in deeds; but of good conscience, merciful and better to others than themselves.
Kalendar of Shepheardes 1604
Goodness, never heard of Kalendar of Shepheards, it definitely sounds highly eccentric! I love the HOod poem, must read and re-read more of his stuff! Ah well, it's nearly December ! :)
ReplyDeleteGood grief, Friko! Some people are just oblivious, aren't they? Amazing what one sees when you're a people-watcher! I hope your Beloved will be okay.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what I would have done (or said) at that display of creepy behavior. Sheesh!
ReplyDeleteI am a Sagittarian, it was fun to read that.
I hope the procedure works and your hubby's eye will remain stable.
ReplyDeleteMy mouth would have been hanging open, too. Not that the big lug would have noticed.
People watching is quite informative. ;)
Love the ancient writings and the painting.
People never cease to amaze! I adore people watching too..
ReplyDeletePeople watching (and listening) have become an addiction. Some of what I see is disturbing, but I see some lovely random acts of kindness too.
ReplyDeleteHope the eye treatment for Beloved is sucessful.
Do you think the thought even crossed his mind to give his wife his seat? Some people are just oblivious and know nothing of thoughtfulness or common decency. It happens all the time on mass transit in San Francisco, especially with younger people. Sad.
ReplyDeleteI hope your husband's eye will be okay.
unbelievable...that she has stayed with this dult....
ReplyDeleteoh well...love is a mystery
I hope all goes well with your love ones'eyes
an altogether worthy and interesting post. Revealing too your compassion in the heaving of the old man to his feet.. . .
ReplyDeleteWonderful to read old texts and sense both our closeness and distance from the authors. . .
We do hope all good things for your beloved and yourself!
To read: "72 years after nature" seems fair & right until one reflects that one' Beloved is such, and oneself closing in. . .
Thank you, Friko-
Aloha from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
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oy on not giving up the seat...hope that all goes well with treatment of your mans eyes...
ReplyDelete"Worthy of further attention." I love that. People are the best entertainment - until you are in the proximity of a big log that that. Some things we witness are truly uncomputable. Hard to keep the mouth shut - since it IS hanging open.
ReplyDeleteHope your husband's situation is helped by the injections. BTW, eye injections do not hurt. I speak from experience.
Is the Kalendar of Shepheardes 1604 a printed item or you just know where to find it. Wonderful
Cheers my dear.
A very bleak poem indeed by Thomas Hood he must've lived in a cave. All the best to your beloved and hope the injections work as expected :-).
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how much information you can find back in one painting.
ReplyDeleteGreetings,
Filip
So Boomer isn't a Sagittarius , then ?
ReplyDeleteGood Luck to Beloved! I hope the injections are relatively painless and totally effective .
I'm glad to have been born under Sagittarius. Although, at 22, the main peril for me to avoid was the step down from the public bar, after a night out.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Boomer has asperger's syndrome - monotone voice and poor social skills.
ReplyDeleteFriko, before we say goodbye to November, we must find some joy, starting now. I didn't find the poem 'bleak' - I found it rather funny. The joy is already finding its way.
Was it Benny Hill who said
ReplyDelete"No birds
No flowers
No wonder
November"
Aspergers would be my diagnosis of Boomer too. A truly sad condition.
Thomas Hood and I are of one mind.
ReplyDeleteHe has it, and he's dead, which leaves me without one.
Hello, my nosey parker.
ReplyDeleteMy husband is a Sagittarius. Indeed, he has loved others well, and is a man of tender mercy.
I don't think Boomer has Asperger's; I think he is a garden variety boor.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy our most days of silence and stillness. Today T-Day will be quite people silly noise filled mess.
ReplyDeleteI hope the procedures go well.. and without discomfort.
ReplyDeleteEverything you described about the woman's husband speaks of self-importance so I'm not surprised. The body language.. outstretched legs claim space.. as does his voice. Arms say "I am not to be disturbed" and his booming voice says "I am to be heard." Funny how some people feel they should demand respect and how little others feel for them in reality. I feel bad for his wife.
It's always a treat to see the world through your eyes. Thanks for that.
Another great post Friko. A mixture of this and that. No journalist does better....
ReplyDelete"Boomer." What a great moniker for for someone who has so little regard for fellow humans, particularly his wife. Can you imagine what her life has been like?
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about Beloved's eyes. I may have mentioned that my MIL has the wet kind of macular degeneration, in both eyes, and the treatment with injections has been very positive, enabling her to continue to read, albeit awkwardly, and to use her computer, with special settings.
Dear Friko,
ReplyDeleteYour posting today took us far and wee, here and there, in and out of musings and art, poetry and people watching. I like these posts when you introduce a new zodiac sign as well as the seasons. There is a calm to them that appeals mightily to me. An acceptance that this is the circle of being. Thank you.
Peace.
immer sehr interessant, Deine Beobachtungen!Ganz erstaunt aber habe ich das Gedicht von Thomas Hood gelesen, denn eben, während eines nächtlichen Spaziergangs, sagte ich zu meiner Freundin: Ich glaube, ich habe noch nie einen so schönen November erlebt...!
ReplyDeleteDir schöne Tage und alles Gute und bis bald!
Renée
Good wishes to Beloved. When life seems hard we can remind ourselves that we are not married to Boomer and the mist lifts.
ReplyDeleteI think November has not been a bad month at all. I don't share the gloomy view of Thomas of it. As a matter of fact, I hope the weather stays like this until springtime.
ReplyDeleteI hope Boomer disappears down a sewage drain and I hope your husband's eyes get better soon. Each man deserves what he gets, after all.
I enjoyed your post very much. I like a woman with an opinion.
XOX
The two of us together, in a bus station, airport - indeed, any waiting area - would be dangerous. I just know that I'd disgrace myself in laughter. I love your observations which so often mirror the sorts of things I see as I go about my day. Coming home from the mainland last week I sat in front of a man who spoke loud and slow on a cell phone for 55 minutes of the ride to the boat. I know a great deal too much about his financial situation, the sort of car he'd rented, his difficulties at work and his rudeness to the clerks at his firm. In the last 5 minutes he slept - also a full pitch.
ReplyDeleteHi Friko .. gosh as Nora says - I agree! .. What a selfish fool - no more thoughts for him at all.
ReplyDeleteI hope Beloved's eye gets easier with the injections ..
Hood's projections were so right for their time and many of ours - just this year the butterflies and bees are around still.
All the very best with things and I love your takes on life .. cheers Hilary
Gloom not dear Friko, for such is the world.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend whose husband also has ocular injections (the mere words make me squirm) and he has done well on them - as if my anecdote adds up to a hill of medical science beans.
Best wishes to you both
Isabel
Watching our fellow man is more interesting than a movie could create...I often hear snippets of conversations when shopping too that have me spinning stories in my head...wondering what their life is like?? If they swear or are rude in public like that what is the home like?
ReplyDeleteHow sad that some are so thoughtless about those they supposedly love. I hope Beloved's MD is arrested by the treatment. Dianne
ReplyDeleteHi Friko and Dianne (last commenter) .. I love the take we could have on your phrase ...
ReplyDelete"I hope Beloved's doctor is arrested .... "? and put in gaol ... that's what I started to read!!
Cheers Hilary
Oh that poor woman, I can't even imagine what his behaviour is like at home!
ReplyDeleteLovely reflections too, Friko. November is sad.
XO
WWW
PS And I do hope the MD improves for Beloved.
I think Boomer would plead ignorant to the effects of his behavior on those in or around his life. I don't think you are a nosey parker so much as you are smart & aware. At times being Aware can be weighted with obligation. ~Mary
ReplyDeleteI pray that the procedure works and your beloved's eye and that it will remain stable.
ReplyDeleteI do so enjoy your perspicacious observations on the passing show of life. Your colourful descriptions capture these moments in time much like a sculptor freezes moments in stone. Boomer's arrogance will be remember long after his passing. What a legacy! The same goes for the poor, feeble elderly man. His generosity of spirit and good manners will carry on through your words for a long, long time as well.
ReplyDelete