ANGELA MOLLARD
HOME-SCHOOLING FOR GROWN-UPS
One of my favourite lines of poetry was written by someone called Mary Oliver.
“Tell me,” it reads, “what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
Isn’t it a lovely line? The words are simple but they invoke a great feeling of hope and ownership over the lives we lead.
I’ve reflected on that line many times over the years and yet I know almost nothing about Mary Oliver. So that’s one of my intentions during this coronavirus crisis – to find out more about Mary.
While some will be exhausted by our current restrictions as they juggle work and raising children, others will view it as an opportunity to brainstorm a new business, start a new skill or gain more knowledge. Whether you use the time to do something or do nothing, or to simply keep your household ticking over, is a decision for each individual.
But after years of busyness I can see some value in slowing down and recalibrating my life according to what I’d like to do rather than what I have to do. And what I’d really like to do is learn a little more and try some new things.
For instance, I’m keen to make a soufflé. I love to eat them but they’ve always seemed tricky to master. Likewise, I’d like to teach myself some Spanish, as one of my goals when I’m older is to walk the famous pilgrim trail, the Camino de Santiago. How much more satisfying it’ll be turning up at a village each evening and being able to communicate with the owners of albergues. In fact, what even is an albergue? And are they cheaper than Airbnb? (Another thing for my list.)
Like many, I am worried about my income as the economy weakens under the strain of COVID-19, but if I can’t enrich myself financially, I intend to do so practically and imaginatively. Many organisations are tapping into this desire to upskill or learn new things, with one of my newspaper subscriptions now featuring a ‘corona college’ with lessons in history and practical subjects covered each day.
As Mary Oliver wrote before her death last year aged 83: “When it’s over, I want to say: all my life I was a bride married to amazement.”