The Angel

Once a year, as a matter of fact, everybody should have somebody to sort things out and to see how life’s going. Who looks if it makes sense to you. Who, for instance, sees whether you need a vacation and, if that’s the case, makes a little plan together with you. Such an evaluation would be quite difficult without any help from outside. It’s often about dreams that do not need to be achieved instantly, and it seems to have no influence on daily life. Not to speak about the possibilities to get there. We put aside those issues and before we know another year has passed.

That’s how, in November last year, my wife and I found out that it had been two years since our last weekend off – I mean, just for the two of us and without children. Indeed a very distressing luxury problem. We almost thought we had the right to go on holiday. Of course that is ridiculous to say, because if you don’t have the money at all, you just can’t go, even if you have the same, or even more, ‘right’. For us, it just would be a good thing to take a break. And so, after we had arranged a few things, we booked for a five-day trip to Lisboa.

But, how easy it would be if somebody helps you with that. Such a person would be a sort of an angel. Or a television host, like in those programs in which somebody is being helped for having some kind of trouble, whatever the reason may be. The television host comes by and says: ‘Look outside, there’s a cab that will bring you to a hotel so that you can loosen up a little bit.’ Those people of course are very happy, because they really need it. But they didn’t think of it, because they had worries about money, or other things. That’s why people often can’t do what is good for them. Even in Holland, one of the richest countries in the world, there are many people that can’t afford to go on holiday. Where is their angel? No, it doesn’t seem right all the time.

I can imagine how such an angel would appear at my door. What important questions would he or she ask me? I have been thinking about that, and here’s my list:

1. Have you recently been on holiday?
2. Have you recently been to a party?
3. Have you recently had a compliment?
4. Have you recently been loved?
5. Have you recently done something that made you happy?
6. Have you recently done something weird?
7. Have you recently had a nice day?
8. Have you recently had the feeling that you are appreciated?
9. Have you recently had the feeling that you have a rich life?
10. Have you recently been dancing?

Question number 10 is special to me. Once upon a time – listen to my wrecked voice – I was on a holiday in Ireland. At that time, I was a student and made a trip together with a friend. I remember Galway for a number of reasons. The city was pretty cool, we ate some pancakes in a creperie from Brittany and we went to a movie theatre where we saw three short films. It is because of one of those films that the question ‘Have you recently been dancing?’ is listed here. The film is a humorous story about a 20-year old boy that is run over by a car. When coming at the gates of heaven, he is examined whether he complies with the conditions required for admission. Now, what’s the case? These conditions turn out to be totally different from the things we are worrying about in life. The boy is refused, because he has… not been dancing enough. And that’s what I like about it. I really think we are making a fuss about the wrong things. Al least I do.

And that’s why it’s on my list. Somebody is ringing my door. I open it and see my personal angel. I serve coffee and we sit around the table. Next, the list is being discussed. I have a clear idea of how the conversation would go ¹:

Angel
‘There’s a lack of […] in your life. Go take care of that, will you?’

Me (shocked and giving hundred reasons)
‘But that’s not possible, because of […]’

Angel (with a patronizing finger)
‘No, no! That’s not important. This is.’

Of course, the angel is just holding a mirror. Because you are reminded of your own wishes that you recently have neglected. Since I have seen the short film mentioned above, I always have had the feeling that I have not been dancing enough. You will ask yourself, what I mean by ‘not enough’. Well, you know of course the proverb ‘A day is lost if one has not laughed.’ Just replace ‘laughed’ with ‘danced’ and you will understand. That’s one of the reasons why I gave a dance party last month, together with my brother-in-law. Man, we have been dancing that night! Next to the fact that it was a wonderful party, that really should give me high scores in dancing. I mean, when my last hour has arrived and I am standing in front of the gates of heaven.

Corresponding cartoon: