Okay, the title of this post doesn’t immediately appear to align with the circumstances I am about to initially describe but please come with me on this musing as it should hopefully make good sense eventually. I should say however that the next paragraph is tragically sad and what follows may not be appropriate reading for one who has recently suffered loss.
I sat with family for a number of days recently alongside my better half’s father, who lay largely unresponsive in a hospital bed taking his last breaths in this life. Suffering with dementia and having not taken food or liquid for a good few days his time was clearly short. As extremely sad as it was, I hoped it would be the beginning of a new adventure for him, and while he has left us now, he will live on through his family, friends and achievements.
Like me, my father-in-law greatly enjoyed JRR Tolkien’s work, and while he lay unresponsive his son thoughtfully played, in the hope it would give his father pleasure once again, an audio recording of The Fellowship of the Ring. The story was quite apt for our circumstances in a number of ways, with my father-in-law seemingly playing the part of Bilbo Baggins and myself that of Frodo Baggins.
As many who have read the iconic book will know, it begins with the chapter ‘A Long-expected Party’. A party organised by Bilbo on the pretext of celebrating his eleventy-first birthday, but actually affording him the opportunity to initiate his ‘Plan’ by saying goodbye to friends and loved ones, as well as goodbye to unloved ones, such as his spiteful detractors the Sackville-Bagginses.
Then, after announcing his departure Bilbo vanishes from the party in a blinding flash of light, thanks to his magic golden ring and the help of his good friend Gandalf. Later, Bilbo discreetly passes into the night like the rustle of wind in the grass, leaving The Shire for his next adventure, leaving his young relative Frodo to continue the fight against the malevolent forces in the world of Middle Earth.
Malevolence that exists in its various forms in our own world, be it the selfish, the wilfully careless, or the oppressive. It includes the Sackville-Baggins’ types in life, those we all meet from time to time, such as online trolls who seek to spread ill will under a cowardly veil of anonymity, misrepresent people as well as attempt to divert good people from their own ‘Plan’.
Quite what pleasure malevolent people derive from the grief they sow I cannot fathom, as in many ways my father-in-law and I are their opposite. So like my father-in-law throughout his life, where he helped many and enjoyed preserving knowledge (he was a historian), I intend to continue with good work in my own way, and not let detractors or otherwise divert me from my own ‘Plan’.
The good people reading this will hopefully be reinforced in doing the same with their own ‘Plan’, and while this may be wishful thinking, perhaps some of those leaning towards darkness in life may move closer to the light and the pleasure it affords. In the great words of Hamfast Gamgee ‘If that’s being queer, then we could do with a bit more queerness in these parts.’
Rest in peace my beloved father-in-law, or as I prefer, enjoy your next adventure!
