Bah, scumbags

Various members of my family are going through tough times at the moment; some are too personal for me to write about but not all.

The extended family can now be found in many different parts of the world but we - especially my cousins and I - are pretty good about keeping in touch with each other. If something untoward happens to one or other of us, the cousins are rock solid. And a bit of solidarity is called for right now as one of our number is in hospital  with a long list of injuries, not least of which is a fractured skull. He was set upon at night, by a group of thugs, as he made his way home after an evening out with friends. Michael is my second cousin (or first cousin once removed, never sure which is which - his mother is my first cousin) and is the kindest of young men. Why anyone would want to beat him senseless and leave him half dead is beyond my comprehension.

Michael is recovering, which is great news for everyone, especially his mother (my 'twin' cousin; we share a birthday.) But in one of those extraordinary coincidences that happen in life rather than in fiction, his maternal grandmother - my aunt - is now seriously ill in the same hospital. She collapsed on her way to visit him, suffered various fractures and was found to be suffering from a previously undetected heart condition. (And, yes, the joker in the family pack has already pointed out that, were things not so serious, this story has all the elements of a black comedy.)

To the cousins, she is our beloved Auntie (never Aunt) Rene, now 90, and the sole survivor of eight siblings, the eldest of whom was born in 1904. She is everything an auntie should be - warm, funny, thoughtful, and the guardian of the family memories of a generation. Apart from age-related deafness, she has always been remarkably fit, looks far younger than her years and still has - a genetic trait this - a head of extraordinarily thick, poker-straight hair. (Jet black when she was young, now a soft grey.) There's nothing we like better than listening to her recollections and stories of growing up in London between the wars.

All of which leaves my twin cousin, who is busy doing double shifts of hospital visiting. But she won't be alone. Apart from her immediate family, there'll be a steady flow of cousins, including me, making their way to the city where she lives. It's that solidarity thing.

As for the scumbags who put Michael in hospital, I can only hope that they will be caught, tried and put away for a stretch. A longish stretch. You never know, stranger things have happened. In the meantime here's a little something for them:

 

And I'm keeping everything crossed for Michael's grandma. Get well soon, Auntie Rene; we've not done with the stories yet . . . 

Comments

[Jay]

Oh, good heavens. :( Poor Michael. As to why someone would want to beat such a nice young man senseless, I suspect that sometimes the answer is simply because the victims ARE nice. Jealousy, envy, hatred of what you can't have yourself .. all too familiar these days. Very sad.

I'm glad to hear Michael is recovering, but your poor Auntie Rene! Hopefully she will recover too, and I know she will have a stream of visitors all giving her their strength. I'm sending good thoughts for them both.

I LOVE the postcard! Brilliant. LOL!

[kathleen jones]

What an awful thing to happen to Michael. I've really glad they are both recovering now. Like you - I hope that the Scrubs has its gates wide open to welcome the offenders!
X
kathleen

[Maureen]

I echo all the sentiments expressed above. Positive thoughts aplenty coming from this corner.

[Rattling On]

I'm so sorry to hear that news. As you know, I work with 'behaviourally challenged' children/young people (pardon the quote marks but I am more than a little scornful of the label). I can vouch for the fact that some members of society have no respect for anyone or anything, at any age. We had a whole day dedicated to antisocial behaviour last week. Very enlightening and I could go on for hours. Just let it be said that these young people know exactly what they are doing and get some sort of a thrill from their actions. I try to be an example, sometimes it's very hard to not just throw in the towel. I do hope those who did that awful thing to your cousin are punished, and that your Auntie makes a full recovery.

[Wendy R]

Thank you for sharing your rage and outrage at such senseless and cruel events.

There seems to be no more freedom of movement in some parts of this country.

You did make me think that Michael and Auntie Rene are blessed in their family who love and act for them and are outraged on their behalf. As well as this they must be sweet people to merit such affection.

Without being pious I have the thought that if the nasty people who did this to Michael had ever had such love in their lives they might not have been there to do this terrible thing. I know! I know! Not a reason or and excuse. Just a thought.

My thoughts are with your cousin/twin who must be under so much day by day pressure with all this.
wx

[Sally'sChateau]

In haste (sorry) but all warm wishes and love to Michael and Rene for swift recoveries. xx

[colleen]

One of the nastier facts of London life is knowing that young men are the most vulnerable victims of violence on the streets of London. Your twin cousin will have had her worse fears realised and both she, and her son, have my heartfelt sympathy. Thank goodness he is on the mend.

But poor aunty...oh, dear, Such bad luck for her. She sounds very much like a fightern though.

We mustn't let the bastards grind us down.