The Diary of Nathaniel Bryceson (Part 8)

[Steven Bryceson]

Wow, what an entry! I had such a shock when I read it though as I had a dream about a dead horse last night!!

[deb usa]

Hi Steven

that's bizarre! 

deb

[Daisy Loo]

that is very spooky Steven!  -
can I be cheeky, and ask if NB's quirky insanity passed down at all??? 

[Ruskie]

Daisy, no I don't believe we found the Vaggs in 1851 .... 

dee-jay - good find - Matthew Ward asked Nathaniel for some rent money way back in February. So he must have been with Matthew and his mother then. He refused to pay anything towards the rent but was happy to pay rent for a room of his own.

People seemed to move around quite a lot - often not too far, but maybe for a cheaper rent or better room, so it's still not clear how long Nat was living with Matthew and his mother. I would love to know if the three of them lived in the garret, or just Nathaniel alone? 

Steven - what on earth made you dream of a dead horse?  I'll be interested to know your answer to Daisy's queston. 

[Steven Bryceson]

I told my wife my dream this morning. There were two horses in it and one died. She interpreted it in terms of my anxieties about looking after 2 cats, each one belonging to two different neighbours, prompted by one of the neighbours returning home and coming to see me on Monday evening. The horse link related to my preparation to take the lead role as Curly the cowboy in Oklahoma, for which I am busy learning lines! We were aghast when we read the entry on Tuesday evening. By the way, yesterday (Tuesday) was my 40th birthday. Mental illness affected my great grandfather (NB's grandson), Leo Bryceson, and of one of his daughters. Leo had a nervous breakdown when he was 40! Please God, I shall not suffer the same!! x

[nestagj]

Steven - do not worry - my interpretation of  "odd" was that he was a bit bookish, liked to wander around graveyards and was a bit of a loner not that he was mentally unstable ! For him to mention it like that makes me wonder if he has heard such a description of himself before........personally to write such comments about himself suggests a mental stability and sense that he was comfortable in his "self". That I find impressive in a 19 year old from any era!

I think that if being bit bookish, liked to wander around graveyards and was a bit of a loner was thought of being odd then I would definitely be described as such.   
N

[deb usa]

Hi Steven

I second Nestagj's comments!

Belated Happy Birthday ...40 is a really great one!

I have also been dreaming up a storm ...seeing old school mates and my grandparents.

deb

[Steven Bryceson]

I am totally with you on this: regonising one's mental instability is a great sign of having a truly healthy mind! Or maybe I am just a little crazy?!#

[deb usa]

 

I think to question your sanity means you're sane.

deb