Of Comedy And Tragedy

As I write here, Richard is playing on the computer next to me. His game has a super-computer in it that constantly offends the player in one or the other way. Well, one of it was that piece of philosophic algebra:

Comedy = Tragedy + Time

Image by Anni Murray

And once again, my mind went wandering. How many events in my past seemed like utter tragedy and possibly the end of the world at the time, but in hindsight, whether it is five minutes, an hour, or 10 years later.

I remember all the break-ups with boyfriends in the past. Some were mutual, some initiated by me, but mostly I was plain and simply dumped. Of these, some I got over quickly, others brought me to tears thinking about it even years later. About some of them I laugh today, because the guys were laughable at best, in hindsight. But I'm thankful to all of them, since without it I would not be married to the most wonderful guy in the world today.

Many years ago, in my early 20s, I have read a journal I had written about 10 years earlier. Oh, and all my worries and the little tragedies of my daily life as a 14-year old were somewhere between funny and embarrasing, believe me!

I am also watching this in the girls. Sometimes, the smallest things can be a catastrophe, exclaiming that this is so horrible and will destroy their lives (well, the latter is more Lily, Violet is not quite as dramatic). Today, Lily asked if she could have a Princess Lillifee bike like her friend has. I told her no, but she would get a different bike. Needless to say, the disappointment and tragedy that has followed, but I'm sure once she's presented with "her" bike, she'll be happy beyond anything.

It is said that time writes history, not necessarily events. If one compares history books about the First World War from the 30s and 40s with the ones today, history will have changed. I would love to see a history book from 100 years into the future on our time to see how it is perceived by then, events like the Iraq War, the Arabian Spring, the Economic Crisis.

What kind of history book would you like to read? Have you written journals and read them years later? What is your opinion of your younger self?