This episode is about inheritance. All of us are amalgamations of our parents, who are, themselves, a mixture of their parents, and so on. As a result, we are their mirror image. That includes the beneficial, benign, and malignant. I, for one, have a family history of breast cancer, thyroid cancer, colon cancer, asthma, seasonal allergies, and a male-pattern underbite that sees my mandible creep forward as the years go on so that eventually, I’ll have the same smile as a bulldog. Some of these disorders have come to bear, and I deal with them as best I can. Others, well, I hope they don’t.
We are also recipients of the planet they were stewards of. Unlike some jewelry or timepieces that have been well-preserved and looked after for generations, the world has seen better days. The Pacific garbage patch, microplastics literally in every source of potable water, the wildfires that sweep over the Western part of the country, and the retreat of the ice caps. I can still remember news articles from decades ago with conservative politicians outright denying climate change. Most are dead now, no longer accountable for the state of things. So it goes.
I wanted to know, even if it was just a scenario played out in my mind, what happens if we turn things around? Except, it’s not preventative, not, quite, in time. More like, drastic, emergent action was taken to prevent humanity from tumbling into extinction. Stasis, you could stay. Then, we have the gall to continue to bring children into such a world.
Imagine a cookie that drops to the floor. Your favorite brand, just to help you visualize it. Maybe it gets kicked around a bit but never stomped on. It develops a thick coating of mold and dust so that it looks like a furry, gray hockey puck. You take notice one day, brush off as much of the detritus as you can, then place it before your child, pleased, at your accomplishment to provide for them. What would you expect their reaction to be? Don’t be surprised if that confectionary antiquity is not received like a gift from Santa on Christmas day.
As an aside, I like the title of this piece because it jives with my lived experience. It explains why, even though our parents warn us with wisdom derived from their own mistakes, children must make those same mistakes themselves.
This episode is called The Lessons Best Remembered Are Self-Taught.
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CREDITS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
How Does This End? is a StumbleWell Production with original written works by Christopher Narvaez. This episode was recorded and edited by Christopher Narvaez with the final sound check by Hallease Narvaez. Our cover art for season 2 is designed by Edgar Lushaju, check out his work on Instagram @drawhapa. The music is from Epidemic Sound. Try it out for free on your next project: http://share.epidemicsound.com/s8W7c
