Greetings, Wenchlings! (That's a picture of Charlie with me at the wedding. My hair was tidy before the wind.)
As for blogging, don’t mind me if I’m giddy. I’m in that submersion phase of a book when any form of coherence is remarkable. I have the book, more or less – that means Lady Beware is more or less in the form of words. Unusually for me, it’s rather fragmented. Rather in the English sense, ie very. I’m a linear writer. I’m a fly-into-the-mist writer. But early on, fragments kept coming to me. Plus, this interleaves a little with To Rescue A Rogue. I hate having another, fixed-in-print reality to have to work around, even though I’m sure it’s good for me. I’m also sure I’ve vowed never, ever to do this again. More than once.
Enough of that, but thank you, thank you, thank you, Nina-Wenchling, for another great idea for a blog topic. What would we most miss if we lived in the past?
I’ve never wanted to be tossed back into the past. I can see way too many problems in that. Now being a time-tourist and sliding back in a cushion of security to see what it was really like, that I’d pay very good money for, but we’re going to play the other game.
So, my question: what three specific things would you most miss and why if you were thrown back to 1806 for a year? I’m going to exclude all things medical. Or rather, take it for granted that you'd miss them. 1806 dentistry or surgery. ::scream!!!!!!!!!!!!::
Without deep thought – remember where my mind is – here’s my three.
Rapid communication with scattered family and friends. I don’t mind whether it’s phone, e-mail, or mind-meld, but being without that would feel like being put in isolation. (Remember, I’m an immigrant. A lot of my family and friends are far, far away.)
Complex music. I’m not deeply musical, but we have such access now through technology to the best of music. Being limited to what someone local can play or sing would be a deprivation.
Artificial light. Check this out. I love these cards and I sent this one to a few people last year.*
Every time there’s a power cut, I think of this. I know I can knit or do something else with my hands – though I find most of those activities need good sight now and then. I have played board or card games with family, which is fun. I could always meditate. But I think not having really good light in the darkness hours would steal a large part of my life, especially in winter.
Over to you. 2006. What would you most miss?
*I made a couple of annotated pictures myself last Christmas. As I'll be changing my 2005 Christmas page sometime soon, check them out here before they go.
And Nina, you get a prize for a great topic suggested and used. E-mail me and tell me what book of mine you'd like. If I have a spare copy, it'll be on its way to you,
Cheers,
Jo -- plunging back into the mip.