The Book of Life, Not To Be Confused By The Book of Life...

Recently, I received a notice from World Market about "The Book of Life" sweepstakes that they were hosting.

I got all excited about it - what could be better than Oxford in the Fall, France, Madison or even New Haven? 

I was a little let down when I see that it was for an upcoming movie called "The Book of Life" wherein it appears that characters are featured in something about the Dia de los Muertos (day of the dead). 

I was, as my fellow "people of the page (thank you, Anne Rice) would know, I was a bit disappointed. Recently on of my favorite authors, Deborah Harkness, penned and released the third installment in the All Souls Trilogy, The Book of Life. It is, for lovers of the genre, one of the smartest, well written books I have read in a long time. At no point is the reader left in the doldrums. What appealed most to me about this series what the science behind it. For a brief suspended-reality moment, you actually believe that there are genetic subgroups living among us. The characters are perfectly flawed. They do not fit into any of the regular stereotypes of their respective species. The humans are not all bad, the daemons are not all crazy, the witches are not all evil or all hippies, and the vampires are not all aloof (or in the words of Matthew Clairmont - they do NOT sparkle). As a character driven novel it is a marvel. Thank you, Ms. Harkness for the entertainment and good storytelling over the last few years. I, for one, look forward to your next book.

What gets me is that the movie is being released after the book. So will this have people diminishing the novel while looking for the movie-tie in toys? Or, hopefully, will bring this talented writer to a new audience...time will tell. 

Walking A Mile In Their Shoes

I have recently been troubled by back problems. It has a tendency to slow me down. I do find that walking with a cane helps. However, I really had to stop and have a moment when my son asked me "if walking with a cane was embarrassing". Until that time I really hadn't given it much thought. I have used one (a cane) in the past when the old knee injuries popped up. I had just considered it functional. But when he asked me that question, it gave me a new perspective. Just how do people who use a cane see themselves and how do others see them. 

In my upbringing, I was taught to respect my elders. They had earned it. To this day I stay true to that message. As I advance in years, put more mileage on my body but more experience in my head, I have more empathy to those ahead of me. I think that they are, for the most part, deserving of my respect. Getting old ain't for sissies as the old adage goes. Don't get me wrong, there are some elderly curmudgeons that have lost me in the respect department. 

As a rule, and I try to impart this on my son often, when I see a person who has found it necessary to be assisted by a cane, I try to give them room to move. I will hold a door if the situation calls for it. Remember, you are now down to one hand if you are using a cane. I don't crowd or give them the impression that they are in my way. That is just plain rude. 

Being in pain, using a cane, and having to move slowly while my son pushes the grocery cart, I learned that not everyone has that same amount of respect for the disabled or elderly as I was taught. We were grocery shopping in a busy big box store today. I found it slow going and the pain was making me somewhat cranky. I was hyper aware of the people around me. And, recalling my son's questions, a bit self-conscious. Is this what it's like for all the others I see with walking aids? I found that some people were a little less tolerant to my slowness. They crowded me with their baskets. The made their displeasure at my pace well-known by loud sighs or words spoken "under their breaths" but just loud enough for me to hear. 

It hurt. No, it really did. 

I was somewhat put out by our modern society. I did notice that it was mostly individuals younger than myself. Older individuals had a bit more understanding of my situation. The actions were widespread across race and sex. 

I told my son that it was a bit of an eye opener. I didn't want to be treated like an invalid, but didn't want to be the object of inconvenience, either. 

I think it's important that we go back to teaching our youth manners and respect for individuals that are not as fit as others. We often find ourselves living in our little bubbles, a lot on our minds and to-do lists. We rush about with no concern for others. I'm not perfect, I do it too. But after having walked a mile in the shoes of someone with a minor disability (yep, there were none of those little hovercraft basket bike things available), I got that much needed reality check. I hope to put my experience to good use. Like Bill and Ted say, "be excellent to one another!" 

Just remember, however, when all else fails, that cane makes for a good attitude adjuster!