Saturday

2 December 2017

— Skype (one of my cats) asleep in one of my canvas tote bags.

Good Morning All,

I ventured into Copenhagen yesterday to get a new pair of Jacoform shoes, the ones with the wide toe area and a slight incline in the soles so that you are always walking a little up hill (good for one’s Achilles tendons.) After that I dropped by to see a former student and friend, who’s been having a tough go of it the past several years. Despite her being long-term unemployed and not in the best shape mentally, she was remarkably upbeat. She seemed much like she used to be back in school. Certainly the best I’ve seen her in years. The only downside of the Copenhagen trip was a parking ticket. But, hey, what’s 510 kroner ($82.00), these days?

It may not astonish you to learn the response to the Saving Humanity challenge was somewhat less than overwhelming. One person wrote to ask if any of my students—when faced with the task—had inquired whether humanity was actually worth saving. 

Here’s a response I liked a lot, not only for its choices, but also for the reasons behind the choices: 

First criterion:  more important to have skills and personalities that would help people survive the 3 years in the fall-out shelter than have skills that could be useful when they emerged.  If they didn't survive in the fall-out shelter without killing or maiming each other, all was lost.  Second: there needed to be people who could start repopulating the world, have babies in other words.  Third: innocent until proven guilty, in other words, ignore hearsay.  Here are my choices in the order I picked them and the things I liked about them.  Note:  inside refers to the fall-out shelter, outside refers to the world outside once they emerge.

Mark Ott: handyman (very useful inside & out), spell-binding story-teller (entertainment for those 3 long years), popular among the women folk. 

Mary Ott: doctor and mid-wife (the other doctor, Mohammed Mufala, had a history of heart trouble & believes women must know their place - a source of great conflict inside)

Emily Rondel: degree in botany, useful hobbies of cooking & gardening, board game knowledge useful for those long 3 years, librarian (librarians tend to be naturally curious & pick up a wide range of useful bits of information while doing research for others), not too old for child bearing.  One withered hand would not keep her from being able to turn a crank.  Will be in conflict with Mary but usefulness outweighs that.

Joseph Nakagawa: psychiatrist (could be useful for people to talk to & thus relieve some tensions, especially while inside), leads choral & drama society (he could get people involved in singing and putting on skits thus relieving boredom while inside)

Charlotte Larsen:  proven ability in bearing children, (Yes, someone else might have to raise them but with only 7 people left in the world the idea of small nuclear families will have to vanish for a while.)  still fairly young, useful hobby of fashion design (Yes, really! Think clothing design instead.  Their clothes aren't going to last forever and there might not be stores nearby to replenish with.)

Rick Rawls: accomplished guitarist (entertainment for those 3 long years inside), French cuisine (another cook), Boy Scout Master (might know useful outside survival skills)

Sally Mortram: young - will reach child bearing years when some of the women are reaching the end of theirs (note: women paralyzed from the waist down can still bear children and experience sexual pleasure), very smart, especially in math (might be able to figure out engineering problems?), can grow tomatoes and pumpkins (useful outside), probably has strong arms from pushing herself around so can help with the crank.

Alternate: Sarah Fairly:  nurse, loves kids (useful for childcare) hates most males & has a great appetite which is why she only made alternate

I agree with most of the choices, but do somehow wish I could find room for Bill Wiggins and my personal favorite, Tessie Blaine, who would very likely ensure life did not get too boring down there under the ground.

Go Well and Stay Well,

Bhekaron

P.S. I’m attaching the fallout shelter candidates once more, just in case I can tempt you.

P.P.S. Two Holly snaps: