Unwired - and sad to be so.

I reckon most life happenings – birthdays, bushwalks, work tasks, farm chores, blog writing, or whatever – have three sequential phases, i.e. the before, the thing and the after. For example Sweetheart Vivienne’s oft said the planning and anticipation of a vacation can be more delicious than the vacation itself. Today I write of the epic and ground-breaking TV series The Wire [1, 2]. I can’t recall when we watched its first episode. Early 2009 perhaps. As it first aired on US TV in mid 2002, we had seven years plus of eager anticipation. Its giant reputation preceded it, so we could hardly wait until we were loaned the DVDs of Seasons One to Four. We were so excited when they were handed to us (in exchange loan for our set of The West Wing DVDs). We devoured those 50 episodes in a few months, becoming ever more involved with the characters, plots and themes. Then there was an excruciating wait until the Fifth Season [3] became available to us. We began it 11 days ago, and two nights ago we watched its 10th episode, the 60th overall, and the last ever. Compared with previous series we’ve watched [4, 5], The Wire’s almost if not the best. I’m sad we’ve come to its end. But I think it did all it could, and more would’ve been an anticlimax. My favourite Season? The Fourth [6]. My favourite character? Lester Freamon (pictured) [7]. Farewell, Wire. And thanks. For I’m much the better for having spent all those hours in your company.

farmdoc's blog post number 519

Last night Sweetheart Vivienne and I watched the third episode of the third series of The Wire. We’re enthralled and riveted. As Farmdoc’s Blog readers know, Sweetheart Vivienne’s forthcoming book – Alzheimers: A Love Story, is being published by Scribe Publications. Scribe’s founder and publisher, Henry Rosenbloom (pictured), is a blogger too. Henry’s Blog makes fascinating reading. Not least his latest post – the 13 September ‘Seeing Life Through The Wire’ which perceptively, accurately and eloquently echoes my opinion of ‘The Wire’. I’ve never met the man. But I think if I had (and I expect to quite soon), I’d like him. For he’s courageous enough, i.e. sufficiently at ease with himself and his reputation, to have written this post – about AFL football – on his (corporate) blog. It too is perceptive, accurate and eloquent. Also a bit tongue-in-cheek. Talking football, last Saturday my team, Collingwood, was knocked out of this year’s finals – by Geelong, very convincingly indeed. No ifs or buts. Beaten by a vastly superior team. Am I surprised? No. Am I disappointed? A bit, because it’s been 19 years since we won our 14th – and latest – premiership. Now the Magpies are out, I’m supporting St Kilda in the Big One. For it’s 43 years since they won their first and only flag. By a point. Against us. Next Saturday it may go down to The Wire too. Go, Saints!