Anyone who knows me realizes that I love verbal irony and employ sarcasm more than is probably really necessary in civilized conversation. I love ironic situations – not so long ago I posted a picture of a tiny litter can that was recently installed on a corner in my neighborhood where piles of trash are dumped every day in my Squash Blossom blog. The litter can is often empty while trash is heaped high on the ground beneath it.
I also appreciate irony in literature or movies. I love when a couple discovers the depth of their love by the sacrifices they each make for the other, such as in The Gift of the Maji or Romeo and Juliet. And it was ironic when after spending all that time and energy battling the fish in The Old Man and the Sea, when the Santiago finally subdued the fish and brought it to shore it had been consumed en route by sharks.
Turns out I don’t appreciate irony so much in real life however.
It’s a fine example of cosmic irony that I have managed to avoid contracting chicken pox for my entire life and come down with it this week, days before I am due to leave on my summer holiday — when I was planning on finally getting a vaccination. Sitting here itchy, alone and frustrated I fail to find any real amusement or satisfaction in the situation, ironic or not.
Just goes to show what procrastinating gets you.
I am grounded by my doctor and the airline for at least a week and have been told that I cannot circulate in the world (think Typhoid Mary) or eat chocolate or strawberries because they will inflame the itchiness. This goes beyond just simply irony and verges on cruel.
But I suppose I’m not the only one who’s ever discovered that irony isn’t always amusing.
Dear Jenyfer
I hope you recover soon and in a few years you’ll look back at this time and laugh, and maybe use it as a fun scene in a book. We had a similar experience two years ago. We invited my daughter, her hubby and little girl, my son, DIL, and baby girl to a cruise. Olivia was celebrating her first B’day the day we left and we ordered a special cake and party on the ship for her. Except she had 104 of fever and developped German Measle. Guess what, I spent the seven days of the cruise taking care of her to allow her mommy and daddy to have fun. It was their first cruise. But all in all we had fun.
Hope you’ll make up for your missed time
Mona
by Mona July 5th, 2007 at 3:57 pmThanks, Mona,
by Jenyfer Matthews July 5th, 2007 at 4:42 pmNot sure I’d wish this on anyone though – not even a fictional character!!!
Jenyfer
You WILL look back on it later and smile. Just not for a while. Hope you’re feeling better soon.
by anny cook July 5th, 2007 at 11:56 pmThanks, Anny. Actually what’s even more ironic is that this whole episode has sort of given me a idea on how I can approach a story idea I have for Summer’s younger sister Skye. Stay tuned…
by Jenyfer Matthews July 6th, 2007 at 9:28 amThere you go. All life experience is grist for the mill.
by anny cook July 7th, 2007 at 4:18 am