On Friday lunchtime I stood proudly as part of a voluntary team collecting on behalf of 2022’s Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal.
My second voluntary role of the year (I’d undertaken a similar role the previous week) a brio augmenting episode made even more worthwhile by the magnanimous patrons of Morrisons supermarket, Morley.
I’ve not researched this, so the observation’s subjective, but I’d venture the town on the south west Leeds border wouldn’t be classed amongst the most affluent of our metropolises boroughs. Despite this, though, scores of locals dug deep into pockets, contributing towards the charity providing end of life support for patients and families.
In what seems an increasingly awful world, epitomised by the dreadful events playing out in Ukraine, not to mention deceitful politicians holding people they represent with utter contempt, witnessing these benevolent individuals generosity goes towards restoring an element of faith in humanity.
Standing store in situ adorning a yellow Marie Curie tabard and collecting tin in hand, the romantic in me evoked notions of these benefactors as bags for life bearing angels, contributing toward those at end of life.
Some aesthetically not matching stereotypically sanitised images we ordinarily form for angels. There’s no chaste white outfit and wings on view. However, within these thoughts were adages about judging books by covers; not to mention actions speaking louder than words. After all, did the devil not wear Prada?…… Incidentally, that question wasn’t rhetorical, I actually don’t know the answer.
These benevolent people’s gestures contributing towards supporting Marie Curie nurses. Individuals whose calling is to ease the oft emotionally/physically draining final days of a patients life. Supporting the distraught family and friends they leave behind.
These anonymous contributions given not for kudos, attention or acclaim. Merely a simple “Thank you” from my fellow volunteers and I, along with the provision of a Marie Curie daffodil badge in recompense for their donation.
If curiosity killed the cat then Curie would endeavour to ensure its final hours were as comfortable as possible…… Actually, as I’m pretty sure Marie Curie nurses only support people, scratch that moggy analogy.
Following a heart attack in January 2019, I’ve reached a far more reflective phase of my life. No longer does GJ Strachan get tetchy over minutiae such as someone dissing his hamster Reg, or indeed involve himself with domestic disagreements over the merits of dandruff being a suitable substitute for parmesan cheese on Italian cuisine.
My new inner calm has even extending to not having an OCD attack when finding the Marmite jar on the wrong kitchen cupboard shelf…… Although I can’t promise to maintain that calmness level if finding the jar’s front label facing the storage unit’s rear.
If the latter comes to pass there’s every chance I’ll feel as hacked off as I was on Thursday evening after choosing to watch a woeful Leeds Rhinos rugby league performance against Hull FC on TV. My displeasure exacerbated further by, on the very same evening, Leeds United edged further towards relegation after being thrashed 3-0 at home by Aston Villa……. Actually, coming to think of it, I’m probably not in as a reflective/calm place as I initially thought!
On that bombshell I’m going downstairs to ensure nobody’s disrespecting Reg!
