My chronicler called the other day and, after beating around the bush a bit, came out and said he was leaning strongly towards recording my family's 2004 as an annus horribilis.
"But we still have two months to go," I protested, concerned that a premature declaration of annus horribilis may be an ill-portent for November and December, destroying any potential for a year-end resuscitation.
He countered that the first ten months were so loaded with misfortune that it was very unlikely that even an abnormally large helping of good fortune over the next two months would be sufficient to get out us out of the red.
"But no one died or came down with a terminal illness, no one's unemployed, no one's...."
He stopped me there, pointing out that the chronicling authorities have long recognized that a year filled with a succession of low- to medium-grade problem events qualifies as an annus horribilis, even absent any high-grade problem events. In fact, he observed, it's quite clear that a year burdened by one or two high-grade problem events, but free of many low- and medium-grade problem events, isn't necessarily an annus horribilis. Frequency, after all, is often a more significant determinant than severity, as it gives one less time to recover.
"But I'm so fortunate overall, I have so much to be thankful for, if you think about it I'm really well off despite all that's happened."
He immediately cited HRH Queen Elizabeth II: if the most privileged person on the face of the earth could suffer an annus horribilis, as she did in 1992, then anyone can. I had to admit he had a point there.
I hear Stephensque could give QE2 a run for her money in the privilege stakes. He is not only rich and pampered, he is also extremely talented and very, very sexy. This year has been an Annus Mirabilis for him, as every year always is! Hooray, hurrah and huzzah for Stephenesque!
Posted by: People Magazine | October 28, 2004 at 01:11 PM
Learning that the StephenEsque is skipping through life, a song on his lips as fortune favors him with a perpetual smile, just made my annus horribilis all the more horribilis. Maybe I'll share a little with him, I've got plenty to spare....
Posted by: Outer Life | October 28, 2004 at 01:55 PM
I once had a case of anus horribilis, but now they have this terrific ointment....
Posted by: fugio | October 28, 2004 at 09:04 PM