Tag Archives: Leonard Cohen

Driving

16 Tuesday Dec 2014

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imagesToday was the day of the Weihnachtsfeier on ward 2L. (Why does that remind me of the 13 steps up and 13 steps down in the yard?) We got ready for 2.30 and went out to the corridor from where we could watch through the glass into the dining room where the hospital choir, Oberärzte and all, had assembled to sing Christmas carols. They sang really well. It almost felt a bit like Christmas would feel. A few people were crying a bit, I held back the tears.

We discovered there is a (protestant) priest in the hospital, he read out the nativity.

He also quoted Berthold Brecht – which I found surprising for a priest, given Brechts opinions about the church and things (just check out ‘Galileo’).

Though the whole affair was a bit strange, standing in the corridor, no access to tea and biscuits (!) for us, it brought a sense of Christmas and the festive season. I was thinking all the time that we really should be “Driving home for Christmas”. That’s what Christmas is all about. It’s not, not about being in a hospital, on the ward (or is it “in” the ward?).

Well I’m moving down that line
And it’s been so long
But I will be there

images1Beside ‘Stille Nacht’ they also sang ‘Halleluja’ by Leonard Cohen, which I also found strange and very much along the lines of the nuns singing the Beatles’ ‘Imagine’ without getting the line ‘…and no religion too’! 🙂

There was a time when you let me know
What’s really going on below
But now you never show it to me, do you?
And remember when I moved in you
The holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah

I mean… Yes, there is a Hallelujah, but even though it all went wrong, I’ll stand before the Lord of Song, with nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah…

It’s this thing about the English language, you get bits and pieces of it and you go “hallelujah”, it’s Christmas!

Most of the patients, there were about a dozen or so out of the around 30 on the ward (by the way: would it change the meaning if I’d said “in” the ward?), most of them a multiple in age of Patrick’s, most of the patients just enjoyed this half an hour of distraction.

There was even a group from the hospital’s kindergarten who sang a few songs and got a few presents in return. Everybody was happy.

Half an hour of distraction. A glimpse of what has been going on in the world outside for weeks. A glimpse of what life could be. Feeling, empathy, love, life and all. Well, we’re moving down that line. And it’s been so long, but we will be there.

This is the second Christmas Pádraig is in hospital. This year, he is so much better than he was last year. Next year, he won’t be anywhere near a hospital. We’ll be driving home. Or better: Sailing Home. In the Dreamboat. Promise.

[Don’t forget to tell everyone about the Dreamboat and Amhrán do Pádraig!

Today’s German Music Tip
Stille Nacht
What’s hot
Weihnachtsfeier
What’s cold
Weihnachtsfeier
The German word/phrase/verse of the day
Weihnachtsfeier

Perfect

10 Sunday Aug 2014

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nobody2We all agree about some things. For example, we’d probably agree that every day is different (unless you’re celebrating Groundhog Day in Pennsylvania:). We all disagree about other things. For example, we’d probably disagree about who is the most perfect person on the planet – or even in our lives.

I’ve thought about what would be a perfect life. And what would make a life a perfect life? Is ‘perfection’ dependent on ‘duration’? Or has it got to do with ‘impact’ or with ’emotion’ or with ‘memory’? Would you’ve had a perfect life if you had loads of adventures; made loads of experiences; really deeply touched others so they’d never forget you and would even tell their children and grandchildren about you; inspired others so that they did things they never even dreamt about before, they never thought they were crazy enough even to try, they never believed they would be capable of? – I know one thing: a perfect life hasn’t got to do with how much money you made, what kind of car you’re driving, what kind of important job you are doing or how much money you could sell your house for.

Then I thought: perfection probably doesn’t exist in people. I think even Jesus had moments where he really annoyed others and didn’t quite do the ‘right’ thing.

And then I remembered Leonard Cohen’s song/poem which really sums it all up for me.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack in everything,
That’s how the light gets in.

Forget perfection. Look out for the crack. That’s where you’ll find true friends. They’re never perfect. But they’re there for you when you need them.

Pádraig didn’t manage to get out today, the ward was too busy to allow a nurse to be freed up for the ‘walk on the wild side’. We’ll be working on getting clearance to take him out on our own; from our point of view, he should be stable enough, and we’d be happy to take the risk. That mightn’t be enough to swing the doctor’s opinion, but we’ll give it a go, who knows! We also realised that the hospital food is not so great: too sticky in the mouth. He still needs something that goes down really easy – like ice-cream, or at least yoghurt or Ready Brek. Otherwise, a perfect day – as much as a day can be ‘perfect’. These days.

Nearly forgot: Check this out:

http://www.blogawardsireland.com/best-blog-post-2014/

Not quite sure how it works, but I think it needs your vote:)