Essays on freedom and personal fulfilment by Chris Barclay
Grief is the virus that surges and retreats without cure. It lingers dormant in the dark recesses of memory. Tears are the vector that spread its contagion among us. It seems I’ve beat it then there’s a welling up in my throat. I feel the tremor and then a convulsion that chokes me. There is […]
Continue Reading2010 is the year I move my money. I’ve been too complacent for too long, and have been allowing those institutions who, while benefiting from huge taxpayer bailouts, to use that money to enrich themselves while drastically reducing local lending and fighting legislation that would regulate the reckless investment practices that got us into this […]
Continue ReadingMy wife and I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of emotional support this past week from many in our online social networks. What has surprised me is the depth of response from childhood friends that I haven’t seen for 25 years, as well as from those with whom I was never particularly close. These […]
Continue ReadingPain meds wore off around 4:30 am. Inched out of bed. Stepped out into the courtyard to gaze at a brilliant tapestry of Winter stars. Caught the lingering sweetness of night blooming jasmine from the garden. Made a cup of ginger tea. Turned on BBC, caught up on e-mail from the US for a couple […]
Continue ReadingIn the fog of first awakening from surgery, I recall seeing a masked ICU attendant hovering above me. “When does the operation start?” I croaked. “The surgery already finished.” Said the attendant, writing down something on a metal clipboard. “It’s 5pm, everything goes smoothly.” I smiled big, both for Nat and at having no recallection […]
Continue ReadingThe Chinese say losing something small prevents losing something big. This has become my mantra of late. And my wife reminds me of it when I obsess about forgetting my sunglasses at the airport. She’s right; this has probably kept me from losing an eye. If it sounds superstitious, I prefer to think of it […]
Continue ReadingIt all started in the womb apparently; A random confusion of signals That triggered the cellular mutiny. Jaundice was the warning And then pain that brought Howling fits late into the night. Don’t blame yourself, the doctor told us; This condition arises without clear cause And is as rare as a Tahitian black pearl. Somewhere […]
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