(This was actually typed on 24/07/13, last week. I was too lazy to post it until now, for which I apologise.)
I am safely in Sweden now, and I somehow forgot how much I missed Göteborg. It feels like coming home after a very long time away.
We visited Moony's grandpa yesterday, because he's recovering in hospital from a stroke. Luckily, he seems just fine, and we're hoping he can go home in just a few weeks.
It turns out that Swedish hospitals are very different to English ones. But that may be because we were in a different ward to ones I am used to, from when my father was hospitalised for a little while. The environment seems warmer, and apparently it's normal to go have tea or coffee and biscuits in a lounge that the patients can get to.
It was the stroke recovery ward so all the patients were fairly elderly, and one woman was actually Norwegian. Moony's grandpa introduced us as his granddaughter and her friend from London, later her boyfriend from London. He kept commenting on my glorious hair and teeth, which is fine for me since my hair is the most important thing to me about my appearance, and Swedes have great teeth, so if I'm getting a compliment about mine then this is a big deal.
The outcome of being surrounded by these people, though, was like I was the one in hospital. I was surrounded by people talking to each other and laughing, yet I couldn't understand any of them. I felt like I should be able to, that understanding was just out of reach, but I couldn't get to it.
There was also an adorable interracial old couple. The husband was the patient, and he was cuddling his dark skinned wife, commenting that she was the most precious thing he had in his life or something. It was heartwarming.
Today, I have been up since 4am(ish) and am spending a majority of the day in the restaurant area of Moony's workplace. Her shift is 6-15 and if I stay home I'll just sleep so we decided on this. This shift is four days in a row, and while I relish the chance to see her work and to finish some of my summer reading stuff for school, I'd obviously prefer to be at home asleep.
These past two days have made me realise just how young and unaware I really am. I don't have a job, I just bullshit my way through school (ask anyone, this really is my method) and laze around at home. I don't know which of my friends have jobs and I don't know what jobs my family even have. I simply don't think it matters. But apparently it's something I will come to realise does matter as I get older...
I can get dressed easily, at least in physical terms since I have a daily 'am I dysphoric this morning' battle, but Moony's grandma needs assistance and takes a while to get ready.
Lord Henry, in The Picture Of Dorian Gray, comments that youth is the one thing worth having, but you never realise it until it is gone, and I'm starting to understand what he meant.
I have my own issues to deal with, but they are mere trifles against the difficulties some people face with age.
Did you know it's practically proven that if you live long enough, and nothing else kills you, you're near guaranteed to get cancer?
I don't think anyone takes the time they have with enough understand of just how precious life is.
To once more quote Lord Henry, 'Live! Live the wonderful life that is you! Let nothing be lost upon you. Be always searching for new sensations. Be afraid of nothing.'
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