Old Age
It happens to us all. Would you take a symbiote (Tok'ra of course) when you reached your twilight years to prolong your life? My answer is, it depends. On whether Mr G was still around and also similarly tok'rad. For my father in law there is a strong case for taking on a symbiote. We've just reached a milestone - it was ten years ago that he had the first 'attack' of the disease he suffers from. It is a rare form of Sclera Derma, a skin disease. But his troubles don't stop there sadly. Mr G's earliest memories are of his dad being in and out of hospital for various reasons. And now he's been diagnosed with bowel cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy.
And yet I still don't know that he would. Become a host I mean. He spent his childhood during the blitz, watched the bombs rain down on London and was evacuated. He's of a generation that just simply got on with things. When bad things happened, they happened. You didn't stop to naval gaze. Life was for living so that's what you did.
So I can't say that he'd be happy about losing his independence, and sharing his body. And yet I can also see that he would be tempted. Because the one thing Mr G has never seen is his father do is run. A motocycle accident shortly before his parents got married completely wrecked his dad's right leg. They managed to save it, and he was able to walk unaided afterwards, but only just. To be able to run again, and walk normally - yes I think he would consider taking a host. And I know what the first thing he'd do would be. He'd go buy a motorcycle.
Yesterday we should have gone to see them for sunday lunch. But father in law's immune system is non-existant at the moment, and Mr G had a bit of the sniffles so it wasn't worth the risk. Instead we did the suburban thing. We went shopping. At Sainsburys. This particular trip was like going to Disneyland as far as Baby G was concerned. For the first time we didn't put him in a baby bucket seat. Nope. He got to ride in the child's seat in the trolley. You should have seen the expression on his face. A mix of astonishment, awe, and puffed up pride. Look at me, I'm all grown up now!
The poor thing has had two bad nights in a row now. We think it is most likely to be another tooth coming through. That can't be pleasant for such little folk.
Talking about Old Age brought a ditty to mind, one I hadn't thought of for years. I have no idea where or when I learnt this, just that I must have been quite young. It was quite helpful in RE quizzes.
King Solomon and King David
Led merry merry lives
with many many lady friends
and many many wives
but when old age crept o'er them
with many many qualms
King Solomon wrote the proverbs and
King David wrote the psalms
Now there's quite a life and old age to aspire to!
Gipsy joined GateWorld when it was STARGUIDE in January 2001, and has
been watching Stargate since the movie. Originally from New
Zealand (specifically, Wainuiomata), she started backpacking around the
world in 1989 and hasn't stopped yet. Life is spent mostly in London with
husband Mr G and baby G, born in 2005. She is also blessed with a
beautiful step daughter and wonderful step son.
No way I'd take a symbiote. First, I'm not good at sharing- it isn't in my vocabulary. ;) Second, what would be the point of living for hundreds of years, anyway? Watching all your friends and family die? Or worse, being stuck with them for hundreds of years if tey all got snaked, too? ;) No way. I'll take my allotment and be happy with it, thank you.
LOL! Well I can think of quite a few relatives I wouldn't want to spend that length of time with!
But c'mon wouldn't you be tempted? Just think there are all sorts of things to be invented yet that you haven't had a moan about :-) And imagine all the 'in my day' stories you'd be able to tell!
Considering the direction humanity is currently headed? No, I really don't want to see how much worse things are going to get. ;)
I'd definitely consider being Tok'ra'd. (is that a word). Think of all the knowledge and experience you'd gain. It could be really cool. I'd hope that I'd be able to offer my friends and family the same opportunity, although whether or not they'd take it is a big question.
Hmmm is Tok'ra a verb? I'm tok'rad, you're tok'rad, we are tok'rad?
I'm a Tok'ra, you're a Tok'ra, he's a Tok'ra, she's a Tok'ra, wouldn't you like to be a Tok'ra too?
*wanders off in search of a Dr. Pepper*
I just don't know if I could deal with another consciousness in my mind ALL of the time. No privacy for hundreds of years? What if you have a fight? You can't exactly go make it sleep on the couch. ;)
Gipsy I don't know if I would want to be *tok'raed* :-) but I do know Mr G's Dad sounds pretty fabulous...thank you for sharing him with us