What a gorgeous day today. I managed to get my work done early, and just spent an hour or two reading Umberto Eco's Foucault's Pendulum in my sunny backyard. It's quite an entertaining read, yet sufficiently intelligent to steer clear of being a guilty pleasure.

It would have been an ideal afternoon, if it hadn't been for the wind, which made it difficult to keep my place, and the gnats which continually attempted to mate on my page. The bugs were annoying me, until I remembered their two week lifespan. I figured that they'd better live it up while it lasts. Mate with impunity, gnats, but know that soon your day shall come.

Just in case you're curious...A brief intro to SMA and me.

I am handicapped (or disabled--I can never quite remember which one's politically correct). Either way, I have a disease. As you will all likely know, I am confined to a wheelchair and severely physically limited. I was diagnosed at age one with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a genetic disease which affects "voluntary muscles for activities such as crawling, walking, head and neck control and swallowing." To put it simply, messages from my brain to my muscles don't always make it. It is a degenerative disease, which means its all downhill from here physically speaking, but the descent is so slow and gradual to be almost unnoticeable from month to month. Along with it comes a susceptibility to respiratory illness, especially pneumonia.

SMA is a pretty serious disease, I suppose. But, after some thought, I've come to the conclusion that it really isn't as bad as it sounds or seems. In the first place, I can function quite well in the modern world. I still have both social and mental abilities. Physically I'm pretty useless, but thanks to modern technology this is no longer a big deal. I have mobility in a wheelchair, computer technology to allow me to take part in school, and so on. And although I am physically weakened by SMA I suffer no pain or discomfort at all.

Secondly, I have a loving, caring family who are good to me far beyond what I deserve. My mother, especially, has sacrificed countless hours getting me up every morning, making sure I'm eating well, putting me to bed each night, etc., etc. In everything my family puts my needs before their own, to the point that I'm pretty sure that I have a hugely inflated idea of my own worth. Not just my immediate family either. My extended family has been a blessing to me beyond value. As has my church community, and, of course, my friends. Everyone around me is happily willing to help me out in any way. In fact, I’m convinced that being in a wheelchair has made life easier for me rather than harder in many ways.

Thirdly, and most importantly, God has adopted me into his family and blessed me richly. Without his promises of renewal, of new bodies and a new earth, it might not be so easy to shrug off a physical disability. A man I used to attend church with, who was paralyzed in a trucking accident, told a story that illustrates this nicely. In rehab, where the paralyzed have to learn to live with their limitations, he said there are two kinds of people: those who have or join the Christian faith, and those who commit suicide. I’ve never, ever contemplated suicide. In fact, I’ve never struggled with my disease at all (besides a few moments in youth when I wished I could climb a tree). The ultimate reason for this is because God has been good to me. I have SMA, God gave me what I needed to deal with it now and he will restore me in the life to come.

Hallelujah.

Halfway there...

50% of my undergrad is now behind me. This fact leaves me both elated, and nervous. I can't say I regret finishing my last exam this morning, but the thought of being done school terrifies me. I don't mind having the summer off, but to think that, D.V., in two short years I'll be leaving Redeemer behind! It's scary stuff.

Not that after my undergrad degree I'm leaving academia for good. I'm quite convinced that a Masters Degree would be a fun thing to pursue (although in what field I have not yet decided). But my time at Redeemer thus far has been stimulating, rewarding, and enjoyable. I'm not going to want to leave when the time comes. If only tuition was halved I think I might stick around for a (long) while. I'd really love to do a triple-honours (religion, history, english) along with a double major (philosophy, poli. sci.) But I suppose my time at Redeemer is one of those good things that must come to an end.

Not yet, thankfully.

There's nothin' like studying Modern Political Theory while listening to Gregorian Chant. Nothin' like it at all.

PHL355 and the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

This past Friday evening I caught Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (@IMDB or @rottentomatoes) before it ended its theatrical run. Highly recommended, especially to all those with me in Philosophy of History this term.

The plot centres around a broken relationship. The question the film asks and answers is whether sorrowful memories caused by such a failed relationship are worth keeping. Nietzsche would answer in the negative, of which the film is aware. A character quotes a line from Beyond Good and Evil: "Blessed are the forgetful, for they get the better even of their blunders." Eternal Sunshine is a highly entertainig refutation of Nietzsche. See it.

I'll leave you with the source of the films (great) title:

How happy is the blameless vestal's lot!
The world forgetting, by the world forgot.
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!
Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd;
Labour and rest, that equal periods keep;
"Obedient slumbers that can wake and weep;"
Desires compos'd, affections ever ev'n,
Tears that delight, and sighs that waft to Heav'n.
-- Alexander Pope, "Eloisa to Abelard" (1717)

The Last Day

- Today was the last day of classes at Redeemer University College. It was bittersweet. I must admit a great feeling of relief upon handing in my last paper, but also a bit of grief as my last class (Modern Political Theory with Dr. Koyzis) drew to a close.

- On a lighter note, I noticed that William Hung had his album released. For those of you who aren't in the know, he is a failed American Idol contestant, whose spirited but pitiful presentation of Ricky Martin's "She Bangs" drew the thumbs-down from the judges but won the hearts of viewers. He became such a pop culture phenomenon that he was signed to a record deal, and produced Inspiration.

I'm ashamed to admit that I saw his American Idol appearance. He had a refreshingly upbeat attitude, but he can't sing at all. He admits it openly. He also has horrible taste in music, it seems. His album of covers includes "She Bangs" "Bailamos" and various other pop tracks that shouldn't have been recorded once, not to mention twice. (Although, to be fair, he also butchers The Eagles' "Hotel California" and Elton John's "Rocket Man" which were both excellent songs.)

The reason I'm interested in the William Hung phenomenon is that, like him, I have no musical talent. I figure this qualifies me for a record deal. If you guys don't see me at Redeemer next year, it's probably because I'm recording my debut album: Travesty