Ready for the apocalypse
Apr. 7th, 2020 06:28 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mtbcA couple of weeks ago I mentioned feeling reasonably okay living in these cautious stay-at-home times and, the week before that, I had happened to mention enjoying science fiction.
As a kid in England, perhaps thanks in part to the Cold War, I grew up with the British post-apocalyptic fiction of the era, not least including the novels of authors like John Wyndham, and as an adult I have watched many of the science fiction shows and (less commonly) movies that are set after some terrible event. I am of a generation that associates what is now the
Four years ago I wrote here of the dreams I remember,
During the year after the quote above, I wrote here,
My parents passed away previously and at times they each received chemotherapy. While of course I wish they were still with us, it is also a relief to not be worrying about them now. They knew worse times than I: for example, during WWⅡ my father had his school and best friend bombed and his own father was twice on a ship that was sunk; he always warned me to be ready for bad times. At least in this case I trust that the coming months will bring good treatments and improved outcomes for those suffering the worst of COVID-19.
As a kid in England, perhaps thanks in part to the Cold War, I grew up with the British post-apocalyptic fiction of the era, not least including the novels of authors like John Wyndham, and as an adult I have watched many of the science fiction shows and (less commonly) movies that are set after some terrible event. I am of a generation that associates what is now the
peace symbolwith the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
Four years ago I wrote here of the dreams I remember,
Science fiction themes are common for me. In particular, varieties of alien invasions and occupations of Earth. If one does ever happen, I'll sure be mentally prepared for it. These are stressful but not nightmarish; I very rarely have a nightmare.Indeed, in normal times the
what ifquestion often crosses my mind, even in simply looking out of our front window or opening the door to the outside it readily occurs to me to imagine: what if that were a risky act because of some strange adversary?
During the year after the quote above, I wrote here,
I have mentioned having undergone a breakdown many years ago. One legacy of my slow recovery from that has been an additional way of coping with things: an ability to accept possible outcomes that I might once have considered unthinkably dreadful.Our present adversary is a different kind of invader, an unthinking microorganism, but it is a new aspect of my environment and it may kill me. It took me a while but, given the above background, I am finally realizing why I am taking the current changes and risks in my stride, why taking it seriously is not so stressful.
My parents passed away previously and at times they each received chemotherapy. While of course I wish they were still with us, it is also a relief to not be worrying about them now. They knew worse times than I: for example, during WWⅡ my father had his school and best friend bombed and his own father was twice on a ship that was sunk; he always warned me to be ready for bad times. At least in this case I trust that the coming months will bring good treatments and improved outcomes for those suffering the worst of COVID-19.
no subject
Date: 2020-04-07 06:29 am (UTC)“The thoughts of others
Were light and fleeting,
Of lovers' meeting
Or luck or fame.
Mine were of trouble,
And mine were steady;
So I was ready
When trouble came.”
AEH.
no subject
Date: 2020-04-08 12:19 am (UTC)I'm good with change, and that serves me well.
no subject
Date: 2020-04-08 06:09 am (UTC)