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Sunday, May 24, 2009

When Life Doesn’t Disappoint





The one thing that is guaranteed is that life will hand us disappointments, whether we are ready for them or not. Our challenge is to accept them with more grace.

Sometimes, however, life does not disappoint, and this is about one of those times. Of course, as you know I am a Columnist. I think that is a very glorified title that I am giving myself, but I can do so, and so I have. I’m sure there are those who would scoff at that, but for the time being, and for the sake of argument let us let it lie. The point I’m clumsily trying to make is about the lonely life of a Columnist. In many ways it’s similar to broadcasters who talk into a microphone and a camera hoping that there is someone out there listening and watching.

From time to time we are assured when someone gives us feedback, usually because they disagree with something we’ve said, but you will be surprised to know that we live for such moments. At least it’s confirmation that someone is listening or reading our stuff.

The act of writing a column is very liberating because we are able to let go of our views and opinions. It’s not at all the same thing to be a news reporter, and those who do both will agree. The wonderful thing about the Internet and blogging is that anyone can do it.

Over the years those of us who blog or write columns for newspapers hope that we gather loyal friends to whom we make sense. The same is the case for us writers in that we also have our favourite contributors. We get to learn their style, and we can tell from the tone of a particular column whether they were having an up or down day when it was written. Without the contributor knowing we make friends who we sometimes disappoint, or make very happy when our views match theirs.

However, there is a danger to this process. As in every case where we admire the work of someone from afar, the real person might be a total turnoff. I have come to learn this personally because I have met some of my favourite film personalities, and boy was I disappointed in most of their private personalities.

My favourite Columnist of all time is a young woman who came to Spain from England about six years ago. She suddenly splashed onto the newspaper scene as “An English Girl in Spain”, which is the title of her Column in the Costa Blanca Group of publications. I recall reading her first contribution and thinking how fresh her style and opinions were, and I have stayed with her column ever since.

She has told us a lot about herself and the trials and tribulations of her life. We knew she was very much in love with her Spanish boyfriend, and then she told us when that came to an end and I was saddened for her. She told us about her Santiago de Compestelo challenge and I ached for her as she came to the near impossible mountain pass in the devil’s weather. Now, she is missing her family and feeling a bit guilty about living here in Spain when they are not exactly next door.


Then, suddenly one day I was introducing myself to this lovely young woman who responded that her name was Joanna Cruickshank, and I could not believe my ears. Without warning I had come face to face with my idol, and I was suitably gobsmacked. After a bit of a chat it occurred to me that here was a lovely young woman with both feet on the ground and her head on straight with a bright future. I also didn’t realise that I had been giving her words on paper a voice that I could hear as I read them. Her actual voice is different to what I imagined in a much better way.

Through this medium I simply want to encourage her to keep up the good work. I’m sure sometimes she finds herself tired and doubtful of whether she should continue. The fact is that “An English Girl in Spain” is the first thing I read in the Costa Blanca/Costa Levante News, and life would degrade without it.

Now, I’m wondering how my voice sounds to you.

Copyright (c) 2009 Eugene Carmichael