The Glowing Souls Among Us
They are the answer to despair
A mild melancholy sometimes burrows into my consciousness, nudging optimism aside with a dark invitation toward despair.
I’m not given to depression, but perhaps age, loss, and change have a way of tripping the spring in one’s step.
The Banshees of Inisherin is partly to blame. It’s a movie I recently watched with my wife.
The film is a dark tragicomedy about two friends, Colm Doherty and Pádraic Súilleabháin, who live on the fictional Irish isle of Inisherin.
Colm, a musician, has grown bored with Pádraic, who is likable but simple-minded. Colm abruptly ends his friendship with Pádraic, who is confused and crestfallen over the situation.
The movie reminds me of a friend who is struggling with memory loss. He seems to be distancing himself. He sent a birthday and Christmas card but won’t reply to my phones calls, emails, and messages.
His friendship stretches back to childhood.
We used to get together for coffee and reminisce. He’d remember things I’d forgotten, and vice-versa.
But now he is receding, taking the memories I’ve forgotten with him. It’s like a small part of my past is fading, never again to be retrieved.
