We’re All Mad Here

`But I don’t want to go among mad people,’ Alice remarked.
`Oh, you can’t help that,’ said the Cat: `we’re all mad here. I’m mad.  You’re mad.’
`How do you know I’m mad?’ said Alice.
`You must be,’ said the Cat, `or you wouldn’t have come here.’
Alice didn’t think that proved it at all; however, she went on` And how do you know that you’re mad?’
`To begin with,’ said the Cat, `a dog’s not mad.  You grant that?’
`I suppose so,’ said Alice.
`Well, then,’ the Cat went on, `you see, a dog growls when it’s angry, and wags its tail when it’s pleased.  Now I growl when I’m pleased, and wag my tail when I’m angry.  Therefore I’m mad.’

I’ve absolutely loved Alice in Wonderland since I was a little girl (and yes, I’m well aware I’m once again harking back to my “lost youth” – one day I’ll run out of stories so don’t fret). It was (and is) a beautifully magic story, albeit a little bit sinister , especially the 1951 film.

It makes me remember my first (and only) trip to Disney Land Paris when I was about 6; the “cultural Chernobyl” of France. Everything was really bright, really garish, really plastic and totally histrionic, but me and my little sister adored it, or at least the bits we were allowed on. (UNfunnily enough, despite being a child orientated theme park, most of the rides had height restrictions). It was also their 5year anniversary, so embracing the enchanting hocus pocus lark of the place, me and my sister tramped around in little pink commemerative tees for the whole time we were there. In relation to Alice again, one of the days we were there, I remember being chased round this maze by the Queen of Hearts, or at least some guy in a dress, and being absolutely terrified.

Everytime I look at that quote I smile. Everyone has a little bit of madness within. Some people have a bit more, some people have a bit less. He was a very clever bloke, that Lewis Carroll. Knew what he was nattering on about and did it eloquently so.

In other news, I feel absolutely shite. Again. Mustn’t worry though, although the initial prozac peppered window of a 6month recovery didn’t work all those years ago, apparently there’s hope in the world. Pity the past years don’t give much in the way of evidence to the contrary. Despite arguably being a work of fantasy, I still reckon Lewis Carroll was a bit more realistic about madness then all these mumbling white coats.