IN YOUTH IS PLEASURE
I was reflecting today
about some of the pleasures one had as a youth in those distant pre-adolescent
days about ages 9-12. When one was ill then it was exquisite pleasure not to
have to go to school but be enforced by mum to spend the day in bed. One could
read comic books, other silly or frivolous books and eat bisquets etc. whilst
in bed and not be chided by one’s nanny for getting crumbs in the bed.
How different being
ill as an adult is. There is simply not the same innocent pleasure. We are
loath to be absent from work, being idle in bed or idle at all has lost it
attractions – bisquets or not. We are wont to read not frivolous things but
serious work papers. As an adult, the illnesses we experience are often more
serious and distressful compared to those of childhood – measles and chicken
pox notwithstanding.
So I mused about a
lost age – a lost innocence.
YOUTHFUL ANXIETY
Which is not to say that youth was without anxiety. As delightful as summer days were playing in the garden, going to the park and wading in the brook there were also dangers. There were bees and wasps - a constant threat to be avoided at all cost.
But some of the worst anxiety was engendered by what we called "Sewing Needles"! A flying insect - a dragonfly - to be avoided at all cost.
But in recalling this my musing made clear that the anxiety of youth were as nothing compared as to what would follow as we matured.
But one near adult anxiety was engendered by the ubiquitous "WET DREAM".
At the onset of puberty this phenomenon could lead to a good deal of anxiety.
How was one to explain to nanny or mum the odd stain on the sheets! All the pleasure (if any) of the wet dream was dissipated in this rush of anxiety.
But of course this led to a more conscious pleasure - and as it was "In Youth is Pleasure" sometimes self educed!
