Yesterday I received a sad letter
from the man who tunes our piano.
A snail mail letter – not a Face Book announcement – that he has had to
retire early given a diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease, only six months
ago.
from the man who tunes our piano.
A snail mail letter – not a Face Book announcement – that he has had to
retire early given a diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease, only six months
ago.
This dreadful disease takes away a
person’s muscular capacity slowly and relentlessly to the stage where they can
no longer swallow or breathe. They
can even choke on their own saliva.
And it’s one of those dreadful hereditary conditions it seems where the
diagnosis of one member in your family can signal the possibility that others
might be similarly inflicted.
person’s muscular capacity slowly and relentlessly to the stage where they can
no longer swallow or breathe. They
can even choke on their own saliva.
And it’s one of those dreadful hereditary conditions it seems where the
diagnosis of one member in your family can signal the possibility that others
might be similarly inflicted.
Which brings me to heredity, and
the degree to which we carry our parents’ legacies in our genes.
the degree to which we carry our parents’ legacies in our genes.
I’ve always been wary of the idea
that something you cop is purely the result of heredity. What you cop in your genes that is, with
some exceptions, Motor Neurone Disease for one.
that something you cop is purely the result of heredity. What you cop in your genes that is, with
some exceptions, Motor Neurone Disease for one.
Take a look at my family’s
inheritance for instance.
Alcoholism and heart disease and a propensity towards sluggish
bowels. Beyond the physical, some
of the accompanying behaviours, must be learned.
inheritance for instance.
Alcoholism and heart disease and a propensity towards sluggish
bowels. Beyond the physical, some
of the accompanying behaviours, must be learned.
One of my sisters told me the other
day she thought she might have had a prolapse. That’s one of the ailments that stays with me since I was a
child simply because I could not and still do not understand it.
day she thought she might have had a prolapse. That’s one of the ailments that stays with me since I was a
child simply because I could not and still do not understand it.
My mother once received a letter
from Holland from her cousin who had suffered a prolapse on the dance
floor.
from Holland from her cousin who had suffered a prolapse on the dance
floor.
Something in the words ‘prolapse on
the dance floor’ led me to believe that my second cousin’s insides had fallen
out onto the parquetry. I could see them there in my imagination so many red
jewels sparkling on the dance floor.
the dance floor’ led me to believe that my second cousin’s insides had fallen
out onto the parquetry. I could see them there in my imagination so many red
jewels sparkling on the dance floor.
I did not take the fantasy further
but if I try now I can see my cousin scoop up her insides under her skirt and
flee for the toilet.
but if I try now I can see my cousin scoop up her insides under her skirt and
flee for the toilet.
What then? Call for an ambulance. No spilled blood, no membranes burst or
ruptured, only the presence of internal organs now externalised like bunches of
purple grapes interspersed with blue veins and throbbing like a heart.
ruptured, only the presence of internal organs now externalised like bunches of
purple grapes interspersed with blue veins and throbbing like a heart.
I have feared for a prolapse ever
since. But people tell me it’s not
such a big deal though it can interfere with your capacity to hold off the need
to pee.
since. But people tell me it’s not
such a big deal though it can interfere with your capacity to hold off the need
to pee.
Is this a sign of aging, this
preoccupation with a failing body?
Perhaps it’s not just aging, maybe more a case of ignorance.
preoccupation with a failing body?
Perhaps it’s not just aging, maybe more a case of ignorance.
I could find out more about the
true nature of a prolapse but for the time I prefer my imaginary
rendering. It has so much more
promise.
true nature of a prolapse but for the time I prefer my imaginary
rendering. It has so much more
promise.