Side Bit:

And in local news – America.

Published 1st September 2024 By Dr Custard Honeyroll
Share

Watching the ever-evolving wrestling between the democrats and the republicans is like watching an oncoming dust storm. From a distance it looks interesting and a little bit unusual. As it hurtles closer, the interest starts to shift to concern and the unusualness to ‘unprecedented’ (that freshly revived word now dancing all over the place in the news. If words could get lifetime achievement awards, it’s acceptance speech would ask COVID to stand and take a bow, but of course it would not forget to mention climate change).

Other words receiving some sort of recognition for valor might include ‘bubble’, ‘AI’ (I know – it’s two words. Shoosh), and ‘escarpment’. The award for ‘escarpment’, of course, would be a local one, announced at a Southern Highland’s community event and taking home a worthy prize such as locally popped eggs, a handmade skivvy, or perhaps a year’s worth of ham.

I’d argue that it is no coincidence that preparations for both the American election and our own local show are this year gearing up together. Of course this has happened before. But this year we are witnessing an unprecedented battle where every orangey sunset bumps our shoulder and asks us to vote ‘escarpment’, while seemingly every flipping news outlet pulls attention toward the international stage. Well good luck to you, mister oncoming international dust storm. I’m busy with the local show.

 

Question/Answer: 

Dear Dr H,  

Why is it that when you look directly look for a thing or directly look where you imagined it might be, often times it will not be there, but if you often aimlessly wander with no particular hope of seeing a particular thing, that thing will likely appear in your peripheral vision?

OK, not a thing. I’m talking about a platypus. Many dusks have seen myself and my neighbours fruitlessly searching for a sighting, only to hear that others, who have not even been trying see this creature nonetheless do – but in a flash, by accident, out the corner of their eyes, etc. 

Seems unfair.

Yours;

Platitudapuss.

Dear Plat (if I may);

I’d count you among the lucky. The elusive creature is still occupying that space in your heart and mind as ‘yet to be …’. Now, you are yet to see the local platypus of lore. You possess a purpose, a frisson and even, if I might be so bold, a yearning, which upon satisfaction will disappear, only to be replaced by confirmation. Not ‘yet to be …’ but ‘done’.

I’d venture that when we humans hear any story of sightings of practically anything that are ‘yet to be confirmed’, we are somewhat thrilled. And we keep watching, listening and hoping – which watching listening and hoping persists even if just as a small spark in the back of our minds over our morning coffee.

A ‘confirmed sighting’, on the other hand, settles the matter. That is that. Oh well. No more wondering.

Even more stultifying is when a huge amount of confirmed sightings occur. Then our attitude toward, in this case the platypus (but also toward other previously elusive, threatened or possibly extinct beings) risks becoming that of our attitude toward Bin Chickens or Corellas – dreadfully unappreciated and woefully unwatchful.  

Clearly this phenomenon does not apply to all desired sightings of all things. But I hope you get my drift.

Yours;

Dr.H.

Share