How many angels can dance on the head of a pin. A medieval question. Philosophy or physics.
It is a beautiful image of course. Dancing angels on shiny pins.
Angels. Ghosts. Infinity. Transparent. Pointless.
A man shot his wife, his grown son and his neighbor early Christmas morning in the same town where my Mother in Law lives. A tiny country town. Sparkling with Christmas decorations. Not a pretty town except in autumn. A working town with empty shop fronts and a grocery store. A few hundred people. The museum and a little library, the post office and a bank. Ordinary. Quiet. No night life. Windows closed and curtains drawn. Sidewalks rolled up at dusk.
Then an eruption of such violence early Christmas morning. A working man shooting his son, his wife and their neighbor in the head. Point blank. Cleaned up then called the police.
A few hours later on Christmas morning, we were surprised to have to take a small detour to get to her house because of road blockages and police tape, after discussing the situation we concluded that it was all still rumor, we had no facts, we guessed who might have killed whom, concluded we would wait for news and continued with our day. No consideration for our own safety. These things happen to other people of course.
The News did not mention it. There were no police on the street asking if anyone heard anything. No Hollywood reporters. No detectives in trench coats. No bright lights or hazmat suits. The poor bloody bodies had been removed I guess. Just a few police cars parked with flashing lights and yellow police tape tied to trees.
We had our Christmas lunch. The police lights occasionally flashing through the alley. Chattering on – the weather was warm – ball throwing weather.
So TonTon has gone to live with my Mother in Law- maybe for a while – maybe a very long while. I delivered him on Christmas Day. I would like to say it was because of the violence but mainly it was because she had been feeling lonely after losing her little old dog a few months ago and Ton was getting old and achy and snappy with boisterous Boo so it seemed a natural pairing. The discovery of the murders as Ton and I drive into town just underscored the necessity of a dog for her. Though I miss him. Maybe I was thinking of safety after all.
But I have always had a dog in my life and so has The Matriarch so I know the feeling. And then this violence – only a few houses from hers. She needs a well trained dog.
The angels dance on in a merry go round of pointlessness caught forever on their pin head, while we shuffle around on our mortal coil.
This morning – feeling the need to move – I am writing to you in the train. I will be back later today to shift pigs and so on.
Have a day! Wherever you are. Just grab it and have it.
Love love
Celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
47 responses to “HOW MANY ANGELS”
Your Ton is such a touching gift to your Mother-in-law. So sad for the lady down the street. Take care.
I wonder what it takes to make a man so homicidally angry that he shoots not one but several people, and is still self-possessed enough afterwards to clear up and call the police. How did he make those actions alright in his mind? Those dancing angels should stop their cavorting and turn their attention to looking after people in danger from their nearest and dearest, whether armed with guns or fists. Angels should guard, not gyrate on pinheads.
The animals will miss their Ton Ton escort in from the fields at the end of the day. You will miss your smart, intelligent dog, but I can tell from how you’ve written that you’re well satisfied with the solution for both him and the Matriarch. Good work, Miss C.
Our former Prime Minister Malcolm Frazer used to say that life was nor meant to be easy . . . I have oft wondered whether it was meant so difficult at rimes tho’ ? Some times methinks one just has to BE hour by hour and day by day doing small things and making small changes to make current matters more liveable . . . glad to hear Ton will be warm and loved during the cold months to come . . . let other matters also be slowly solved during the coming year both at your place and here . . . best . . .
My husband and I spent today burying the cremations of my nephew who died of glioblastoma. He “lived” with it almost 3 years—quite extraordinary. He leaves a 46 year old wife, and 3 children, two in college one in high school. It was bitterly cold at the grave site.
When I think of your extraordinary generosity in relinquishing TonTon to your mother-in-law, I am so very touched. Ton is such an extraordinary dog-person actually. Good for both of them clearly but not so good for you. You have made so so many hard decisions, Celi, I admire you so much. We can’t decide what day it is!
What a rough day for you all. And his children so young. Very hard. Seems fitting that it was bitterly cold .
I simply have no words. I don’t understand.
Dear C,
I’m so horrified to hear about this. I’m glad TonTon and the Matriarch have each other. Happy and Peaceful New Year to you and yours and all of us on the Farmy.
xox maggie
Oh NO! Much love to you and yours Celi (and bless you for sharing your cherished pup in this way… HUGE hugs!)
Such senseless violence. So sad.
Here on the hill with the busy street in front of us we are all too aware of the pain and violence that goes on in the city rarely an hour goes by that there are no sirens flying up and down the hill. Much of it is drug related which just makes that spark of violence that much quicker to catch flame and result in horrors to all involved. There is no way to know what set that man off, being a prison guard certainly didn’t help anything, and sadly I doubt it would have mattered if he hadn’t had a gun. For whatever mercy there was it was a quick death. I’ve seen the end result of knifings and beatings, and I’d rather be shot once and done. There is nothing to excuse the act and I can only pray for the victims and their killer.
I’m sure TonTon and your Mother-in-law will be glad of each other. I know you’ll miss his help around the farmy. Perhaps another good dog for you to train and keep Boo company. I know I miss Smoky a great deal and we now can not have another dog here for the foreseeable future.
“And we now can not have another dog here”? Oh Aquila, how sad! But I was also wondering about a new canine companion on The Farmy… (Perhaps we could share the lovely ‘puppy-ness’ with Miss C?; )
It would be nice to share some puppy-ness with Miss C. I suspect it would depend on her available time.
This isn’t a very safe place for a dog. Smoky got out a couple times and almost got hit each one and he was already a definitely senior dog when we came here. My spouse is not good about using a leash and with a very busy and a busy street (we’re just up from the intersection) it is harrowing to have a dog loose here. There is no yard, just a paved parking area and no fence. Maybe in the more distant future if we can get a house again a dog will be more realistic.
Very sad to be without a canine companion, but it’s a very wise decision on your part and hoping you don’t have too long a wait. In the mean time, sending hugs and best wishes for a Happy New Year!
How awful for the family and everyone in the community.. We all get touched by these senseless acts but knowing the people involved makes it so much more confusing and painful.
Three more angels on the head of the pin. You are wise… and kind… The Matriarch and Ton are good together.
She has been complaining that he gets her up too early. She has townie hours!
That Owl! Ton will be very loved and appreciated ….
I’m so very tired of the violence.
Well said
Aye Theresa, that and the seeming acceptability of unacceptable behaviour…
What a sad way to mark the start of Christmas day. Who knows what quite desperation or anger fueled that act?
I pray for those lost, living and dead.
May the new year be a blessed one of kindness and good will towards our fellow men.