This story shall the good man teach his son

August 8, 2023 12:51 PM

Today 8/8 is Father’s Day in Taiwan. St Crispin’s Day is not until 25th October but here’s a somewhat rambling reflection All things are ready, if our minds be so by The Reluctant Carer on what it takes to care for an aged, frail, previously absent [merchant seaman] father. The point, for all the warlike connotations of that speech is that your brother can be anyone – and so is everyone your brother. “This did the good man teach his son”, and I never even realised it was happening. For all they cannot do, words somehow did all that, and then did all this too. cw: blood, bathroom. Why not give the reading a heroic soundtrack?

The cited blog overlaps with an anonymous book The Reluctant Carer (2022) documenting (with laconic hilarity, stoic grit and many comms fails) how a 40-something London media person returned to the provinces to look after his parents and himself and stayed for nearly two years. The System is failing, but carers are caring: some for money, some from duty and some for love. Agincourt was all over in a day but caring continues for years. Eventually his father died Good Grief and R. Carer’s life continued.

posted by BobTheScientist (2 comments total)

That was lovely; thank you.

I look at the faces of family and friends, and so many of them are getting older. I suppose I am, too, and someone must be noticing it in me. All of us will help someone, and then need help in our turn. I hope I can provide it -- and accept it -- gracefully.
posted by wenestvedt at 1:15 PM on August 8, 2023 [3 favorites]

I am touched that this scene and this music, which I love so and find stirring and exciting, speaks so differently to this man in this way. Astonishing.
posted by Comfy Shoes at 3:18 PM on August 9, 2023 [1 favorite]