But as I often say, let other
pens dwell on guilt and misery[1]. There’s plenty to worry
about, if we choose to, lots to question and second-guess. The truth is, none
of us know what’s going to happen. As I write, I’ve just heard that all schools
and colleges will be closing on Friday afternoon. This may mean that my last
child at primary school won’t have a Year 6 play, reward trips or sit her SATS
at school. Today, as I watched the children running around on the field playing
football, swinging off the gym trail and rushing round in the bushes, I
realised that this might be almost the last time for us. I’ve spent the last 13
years at that school and it could be coming to an end, abruptly, unexpectedly.
In the grand scheme of things, however, this is not big news. I’ll feel a pang
on Friday, but there are other more important things to dwell on.
If you turn your eyes away from scenes of
people fighting each other in supermarkets for the last packet of tagliatelle,
you’ll see heart-warming examples of community spirit, compassion and kindness.
Last week, I heard a story on the radio that warmed my heart. A music teacher
in Italy, confined to barracks as everyone is, came out on to his balcony and
played, “Ode to Joy” on the saxophone to lift his neighbours’ spirits. You can see him here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVmOuQMsrQM.
In the last
few days, Italians all over the country have come out on to their balconies to
sing, play an instrument or wave and smile at their neighbours. The Italians
are a fiercely community-minded nation, big on family, celebration and good
food. La passeggiata, the traditional walk in the evening has
been replaced by community singing and playing from balconies, and by the
posting of encouraging messages.
Closer to home, I’ve been encouraged by
the many Facebook groups set up in our village and nearby to help the elderly,
isolated and vulnerable keep afloat at a very difficult time. Yesterday afternoon, I
read a post on Facebook which made me smile and feel emotional all at the same
time. The lovely Christina Johnston (you may remember her from this blog: https://bigwordsandmadeupstories.blogspot.com/2019/11/hitting-high-notes.html) is a
self-employed opera singer. All her concerts have been cancelled until
September. Rather than wallowing in self-pity, or letting fear rule her life,
she has chosen instead to share her beautiful voice with others who can’t get
out. She’ll be singing outside Mill Lane Nursing and Residential Home in
Felixstowe this afternoon and then again in Ipswich. She has offered to sing outside
any nursing home or establishment where elderly or vulnerable people are self-isolating.
She sings like an angel and she is generously sharing her gift with those who
are stuck indoors. Here’s a link to her singing – enjoy it and feel free to
share. Beautiful things are rare in our world at the moment and they need to be
celebrated. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8za2_4T00jM
The good has to outweigh the bad, or else who are we? What makes us human? As I was about to hit, "publish", another story of kindness popped up. Our local greengrocer in Woodbridge (that lovely one on the way to the Thoroughfare, for the benefit of local readers) is not only offering free local deliveries, but took on all the stock from the Friends' (PTA) group at a local primary school for resale, saving them from a massive loss.
We don’t know what’s going to happen.
These are frightening and uncertain times. But if we can focus on the good –
the unselfish, the giving, the altruistic amongst us – we will get through
this, together.
[1] Not my own line.
It’s Jane Austen. But a quote from one of the classics adds such a touch of
class to one’s blog, don’t you think?
