An “Optimist” – a small Olympic class boat we got as a present from our German family who thought it would entice the kids to pick up sailing. It didn’t.
Honestly, for how much longer are you going to read this blog? Have you ever asked yourself this question? Or: for how much longer is he going to keep this up? One question I have asked myself sometimes late at night. Sometimes, I think I’m going to run out of stuff to write about. Then, there is so much coming into my mind but before I can remember it, it’s gone.
Yesterday, I picked up the latest issue of ‘ZEIT Wissen’ which had a lead article on Optimisim and Pessimism which got my attention. They interview psychoanalyst Wolfgang Schmidbauer on what they called 
“one of the central questions of our time”. I didn’t want to buy the journal but flicked through the article. Schmidbauer made a few points that got stuck in my head. He said that, in principle, pessimists were right: even your life starts with a birth that is so dangerous that you can count yourself lucky for having survived the hours of suffering before seeing the light of day. From then on, each day gets you one day closer to your death. But, just getting closer to your own death would be too easy. Instead, as you are slowly dying, you see your parents, your family, good friends, acquaintances all disappearing around you, before it’s your turn. Schmidbauer asks his interviewer, how anyone, anyone could not doubt even for a split second that the pessimists are right. The outlook is not great at any rate. But being right is not good enough, he says, pointing out that Optimists have more fun. People who can ignore, at least for periods, what is going to happen to them, on a random day in the future, are happier, often healthier, and generally good company – that is, except pathological optimist who just do not ever life in the ‘real world’. When the interviewer asked Schmidbauer whether he is treating those way-over-the-top ‘optimists’ in his practice, he answered: “They never show up in my practice. Why would they?”
Pádraig is waiting for this Sunday to come, and with it some of his dearest friends, as well as his aunt now living in Australia. He continues to sit out, getting physio now even on Saturdays (not everyone gets that), and waiting to leave the high dependency ward in order to start proper early rehab.
I forgot to mention that I met Joe O’Connor, SUI President, during the week. We want to work with the SUI to make students going on J1s to the USA this summer, and purchasing J1 packages, aware that they should not rely on the promise of a 6.5m euro cover as part of their J1 package. Pádraig, and us, thought that in case the worst possible thing would happen, at least he would be covered by this multi-million euro five star policy. It turned out that he wasn’t. Because in the middle of the small print somewhere on page 13 or so, cycling without a helmet was excluded as a ‘sports activity’ – even though he was not doing any sports at the time, did not do anything illegal, he was, like thousands of other young Irish students, just cycling to work on a bright morning in June – an ‘activity’ the travel agency had sold him a whole five star package for… but then declined cover.
Just in case you were wondering: I’m not planning to give this writing lark up anytime soon. And I am trying to be optimistic, without burying my head into the sand. “Living one day at a time” (Reinhold Niebuhr) I hope you’ll keep reading, and keep staying with Pádraig.
Today’s German Music Tip
Crazy Horst, Nirvana (2013). Georg Dittmar alias ‘Crazy Horst’ recorded this song in Soundworksstudio Husum (just up the road from Tating; remember Tating?) with Frank Bossert. Published on the famous Silverware Label. This fantastic song is the record holder for the song with the lowest number of hits on this blog: 417. Crazy Horst played recently in Lütt Matten in Garding, one of Germany’s smallest cities, with one of the best music scenes, in Lütt Matten and the Kontor, next to Tating (yes, Tating.)
What’s hot
Optimisim
What’s cold
Pessimism
The German word/phrase/verse of the day
Zuversicht
Twitter: @forPadraig
#caringforPadraig
http://www.caringforPadraig.org
Upcoming events: http://www.caringforPadraig.org/events
Hospi-Tales 
Reinhard, sometimes i feel like a voyeur to your blog. i have never met you or Padraig. I heard about this blog through a friend who knows you through work. But every night i look out for your blog to hear your thoughts and find out how you and Padraig are doing. i am glad you are planning to keep on writing because i plan to keep on reading and thinking and praying for you all. And i look forward to the days when you describe the rehabilitation and there are no more crises
Here we are, Sam. Two people who have never met. Connected through Pádraig’s life. – You know, this morning, just before I read your wonderful message, Pat and I had talked about this and imagined the day that I would write about Pádraig’s rehabilitation, really good, incredible news… The day will come, no doubt, and I will keep writing at least to that day, the day we are all waiting for. Thank you for your lovely message! – Reinhard
I read your post, I open the link of the song you put on the botton and I am writting to you, to Pádraig, to Pat to anybody who wants to read, how long, I don´t know as long as I feel like. I am sometimes optimist and sometimes pesimist the point is how to “look on the bright of side of life” when times get rough”… just in case it will help here one of the most beautiful songs:
besos y abrazos
¡Besos y abrazos, Ana! – Thank you for reading! – Reinhard
It’s great to be Optimistic Reinhard- reading this blog would be no fun if you were Pessimistic.
I know Joe O Connor well- he does great work for USI. If theres any way I can help let me know
Hallo,
A personal note. Anne Phelan recommended your blog to me and told me about your son’s accident. The husband of a friend of mine has been in hospital for over 18 months from head injuries he sustained in ann accident. He has not spoken since an accident.
You and I met once on a train between Limerick Junction and Dublin. I am a cousin of Anne and Mary’s.
Michael Commane.
Thank you, Michael, for your note. Please pass on our best wishes to your friend and her husband. We can imagine what they are going through. – Reinhard
We’re not going anywhere either 🙂 I’m sure I’m not the only one who doesn’t comment often in the absence of anything new to say, but who reads every day and greatly appreciates your updates. Most of us probably won’t meet you until Pádraig’s welcome home party but by then I think we’ll all feel like old friends!
I hope to stop reading your blog soon. At least I hope you have no reason to blog about hospitals and rehab, once Padraig is well. But in the meantime I will be reading. I find your observations and your writing so astute and articulate, and I’m so grateful to hear what is going on for you, Pat and Padraig and others in your world. I wish I could do more, but for now I can just read and keep you all in my prayers.