The occasional scrivener

2024 was not a good year for our family. Two members have illnesses, one acute, one chronic. None of them are deadly, but they affect us all, leading to a high level of stress and uncertainty.

Yet for others the year has been much, much worse. For the thousands of Swedish tourists in Thailand these holidays, the year was ending in ease and comfort — until the tsunami came. Whatever problems this family has had and still has, we are still together, all of us are alive. Our differences and disagreements can be addressed and perhaps resolved. Bitterness and anger have a chance of being confronted and assuaged. Rifts can heal, if we let them.

I have no way of imagining how it is to lose a loved one — a wife, a son. My mind filled with the horrific images of children swept out to sea and drowning. I hope I can do something to help, but fear the inadequacies of my response to any requests for it. At least we have made an economic contribution.

Today, New Year’s Eve, we will be setting the house in order and preparing a meal for us and our friends. The pressure to make everything perfect is there, as is the possibilities for anger and irritation. I’ll try to keep perspective, not get stressed, and take the time to play around and have fun. Because that’s the one thing many many people are wishing they could do right now, and can’t.

Why should I be one of them?