I’ve been thinking about countries. I am so fed up sometimes that I loose hope: they say every country deserves the government its citizens elect. Well, I haven’t elected any of the people or parties in government. Do I still deserve them?

An then, I remembered that Pádraig had found the solution to this problem (as he had to so many other problems). The solution was obvious. Lag auf der Hand, so to speak. It was so obvious that you wonder how you didn’t think about it yourself. Like all brilliant solutions and ideas, when you hear them, you say: YES, this is it!

He looked it all up, researched it, went to websites, wrote letters, made enquiries, rang up people, checked out the UN, the papers, even auctioneers and printing presses. Why?

Well, he was going to buy an island of the west coast. Declare independence. Check it in with the United Nations. Print his own money (and then burn it). And invite his friends in as citizens. No elections required. Only if you don’t know Pádraig would you say now that this is an invention of my imagination. (If you know me, you’ll know that I am far too boring and middle of the road to come up with something like this, even in my imagination.) – In Pádraig’s case, this was not a ‘fixe idea’, it was very, VERY, serious. He was getting ready. Not sure what it was – but he got distracted, something else really exciting happened and his beautiful idea, of this beautiful new island nation sprung off this other beautiful, but slightly adrift, island nation, got lost.

So – should we pick this up again? It would be so much more exciting to create a beautiful counter balance to the sometimes infuriating reality of current politics, rather than becoming another sad revolutionary, declare what’s going on to unimportant to be important, and just start something new, positive action rather than revolutionary fervor?

Today, Pádraig was definitely there: loads of squeezes, moving his arm, moving his head, even moving his leg a bit. He sat out about four hours in the viva-la-thekla. The respiratory therapist was with him, and the physio explained to us that there is no wheel chair around that could bring Pádraig out to his date in the rose garden. So what are they going to do? Next week, measures will be taken, or rather: measurements, and then they will built him a custom-made wheel chair! It’ll take a few weeks, but – with a bit of luck – it’ll be ready for his Namenstag, St Patrick’s Day! If not, then not much later. They mentioned something about the cost and the insurance, but whatever happens – we’ll make sure, he’ll have that date! There was such a presence there today, that he’ll definitely make it, if he keeps it up!

Anybody ready to join a run for Pádraig in the Hamburg Marathon?

Today’s German Music Tip
Dreigroschenoper (Berthold Brecht), Wovon lebt der Mensch (1930)

"Ihr Herrn, die ihr uns lehrt, wie man brav leben
Und Sünd und Missetat vermeiden kann
Zuerst müßt ihr uns was zu fressen geben
Dann könnt ihr reden: damit fängt es an."

What’s hot
Marathons
What’s cold
Standing still
The German word/phrase/verse of the day
Leergutrückgabe

Twitter: @forPadraig
#caringforPadraig
http://www.caringforPadraig.org
Upcoming events: http://www.caringforPadraig.org/events