Ghost into the Fog

Rian has, lately, been thinking over Madness.

What makes one Mad and not Eccentric, yes? Where is the line drawn?

An Eccentric causes no harm? And a mad soul cannot tell harm from bliss?

When does eccentricity, or, for that matter, depression turn into something more?

And, yes, can Madness be a passing thing? Managed by a change of circumstances or pills in a bottle? Or does it linger in the blood even after the obvious symptoms are muffled?

In fiction Madness can be a romantic thing. The woman locked in the attic, with secrets in her eyes. The child that has gone mute over a witnessed tragedy. The gentleman who cannot stand the colour black.

In life it is perhaps more of a pitiful mystery.

Rian's father went briefly mad. HIS father vanished for a year during his college sojourn, a year that was 'never spoken of'. Both reassimilated well. So, a passing thing? Or did they still twitch inside?

But there is also the family legend of the Mad Wizard in the North....some odd Irish Uncle, yes? Do you suppose he was gently eccentric, or insanely dangerous?

And if it trickles through the Wexford blood, does it dilute into Rian?

I should prefer gently eccentric over speaking to lampshades. But perhaps one would never know the difference.