Winter Musings I keep thinking about an article I just read about Hilary Mantel. Mantel, who wrote the highly acclaimed and beloved Wolf Hall Trilogy, passed away in September 2022. In this article, her husband of almost 50 years describes how he went out to drop some items off at a charity shop and when he came home he found her on the floor having suffered a severe stroke. She never woke up. I keep thinking about how at this time of year we are busy making plans, setting goals, and yet none of us know what our futures hold. Mantle and her husband were planning a move to Ireland. They had bought a house and were in the final stages. That is why he was dropping off donations; the last few things to do. It strikes me as so poignant. Here we all are, living our lives, and at any moment it can all change. This is not something new to me, and my guess is we can all remember a moment where in an instant life is ruptured, but reading this article served as another reminder. Though we are resilient, life is fragile.
Loved the Ann Patchett broadcast. Don't you just love the politicians who enact laws to protect you? There’s a lot of sex and violence in the Bible. I wonder if that will be banned in FL, too
The only heart-breaking thing about that was the excerpt from what would have been her retelling of Pride & Prejudice. What a loss for everyone! She was a really spectacular human.
Loved the Ann Patchett broadcast. Don't you just love the politicians who enact laws to protect you? There’s a lot of sex and violence in the Bible. I wonder if that will be banned in FL, too
Oh, man. I remember reading that article about Hilary Mantel's husband, and I was just gutted. This one, right? https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/apr/22/my-last-words-to-her-were-i-wont-be-long-hilary-mantel-husband-on-her-last-days-and-the-novel-she-left-behind
The only heart-breaking thing about that was the excerpt from what would have been her retelling of Pride & Prejudice. What a loss for everyone! She was a really spectacular human.