Another year over, a new one to come

Here we stand, on the cusp of another year, as 2018 beckons to us with its questions, and challenges yet to be seen, heard or met. Indeed, life is itself, according to Tennesee Williams, just one big, “unanswered question, but we should believe in the dignity and importance of the question”.

So I guess he’s encouraging us to be bold, and give the challenges that present themselves during 2018 our complete attention, because to not do so would be both disrespectful to the importance of the challenge.

Yet, as we look back on 2017, many of the answers that have eluded us appear to be those concerned with questions that are not relevant any more. C S Lewis, the author, of The Chronicles of Narnia, and many others, was a scholar and a theologian of great note. He commented along the lines of it being amusing how, though nothing changes from a day-to-day perspective, when we look back, we actually see so much has changed.

The little things seem to fade into the background of time, don’t they? Just look at your kids, I mean you don’t see any real difference in them until the day someone comments upon, “How they’ve grown up.” Then you notice how significantly they have changed. It’s a pretty sobering scenario, not unpleasant, but just makes us aware of another of our very human frailties I think.

Speaking of frailties, I was in Dubai recently, while shopping with my wife, Lena, I saw a hairdresser that was turning out really sharp looking haircuts. I said to her, “They look so good, I’m going to come back in the morning, when they aren’t so busy, and I’m going to get myself one of those cool haircuts.”

Lena came along too, and as the hairdresser asked what look I wanted. “Make me look 20 years younger,” I said boldly, “short back and sides please. Shave, and full maintenance.” He nodded, saying, “Okay sir,” and went to work. It was great. A good haircut, shave, beard trimmed down nicely, and I was so relaxed, enjoying it. I noticed the guy had a piece of string in his hands that he was twisting around his hands. I thought, “Oh, that’s a bit different, it must be part of the face massage thing…” as he stretched the string tightly alongside my head.

“Aaah!” A searing pain shot from my ear. And another, and another!

“He’s ripping my ear off.” I thought, blinking back tears, and then realising he was somehow, using the string to pull the hair from my ears. I looked questioningly at Lena.

“It’s called threading,” she answered. “You okay,” asked the hairdresser with the glimmer of a smile, or sadism, I’m not sure which, as he walked to my left side.

But you see. I’m a man, and there is no way I’m going to admit it’s hurting too much, to him, or Lena. “I’m too macho for that rubbish,” I thought, only relaxing a bit when he finished my left ear. “Oh no,” I screamed noiselessly, as he reached for my nose hair.

I see 2018 as an unwritten book. I’ll have a draft copy. Then, as the year rolls on, just keep revising my memories, always appreciating who and what we have, and have had, and continue to set goals. No matter how modest they are, we must have stimulation, otherwise why get out of bed in the morning? We may as well pull the covers over our heads, and just stay there.

On this, the last day of 2017, I would take the opportunity to wish Abdullah, Rajesh, Yeru and the team at the Observer, all our friends, their families, our family here and overseas, and my colleagues at Unizwa, a Happy and Prosperous New Year. God bless you all.

Ray Petersen

petersen_ray@hotmail.com