“Declan Burke is his own genre. The Lammisters dazzles, beguiles and transcends. Virtuoso from start to finish.” – Eoin McNamee “This bourbon-smooth riot of jazz-age excess, high satire and Wodehouse flamboyance is a pitch-perfect bullseye of comic brilliance.” – Irish Independent Books of the Year 2019 “This rapid-fire novel deserves a place on any bookshelf that grants asylum to PG Wodehouse, Flann O’Brien or Kyril Bonfiglioli.” – Eoin Colfer, Guardian Best Books of the Year 2019 “The funniest book of the year.” – Sunday Independent “Declan Burke is one funny bastard. The Lammisters ... conducts a forensic analysis on the anatomy of a story.” – Liz Nugent “Burke’s exuberant prose takes centre stage … He plays with language like a jazz soloist stretching the boundaries of musical theory.” – Totally Dublin “A mega-meta smorgasbord of inventive language ... linguistic verve not just on every page but every line.Irish Times “Above all, The Lammisters gives the impression of a writer enjoying himself. And so, dear reader, should you.” – Sunday Times “A triumph of absurdity, which burlesques the literary canon from Shakespeare, Pope and Austen to Flann O’Brien … The Lammisters is very clever indeed.” – The Guardian

Sunday, January 18, 2009

On Becoming A Coward


It’s been a tough few days, folks, and getting away from the hospital for a few hours to receive the best wishes of you all via a bewildering array of electronic devices, and generally mess about with the blog and whatnot, kept me sane. Thankfully Lily was never in too serious a condition, and the pneumonia was caught before it had a chance to take hold properly, but you know how it goes – the old mind runs riot with worst-case scenarios, especially in the wee dark hours. At the risk of sounding too po-faced and / or sentimental about it, I never before realised that you didn’t have to be a coward to feel fear. Well, I do now, or else I’ve become a coward. Still, Lily is back on track, and we’re hoping she’ll be out tomorrow and back home where she belongs. Here’s hoping we never have to go through that again … Anyway, she’s in terrific form again, and that’s all that matters. Thanks to you all for your thoughts and best wishes.

28 comments:

Ali Karim said...

Hey Declan -

I am so happy your little girl is on the mend, and I echo your thoughts totally. My youngest is 10 now, and we had a big, big scare when she was weeks old. As tough as I like to think myself, the inicident when she was ill, humbled me totally.

Children give you vulnerability and also an appreciation of humanity.

Thank fully Lily is better -

Best wishes

Ali

Ellen Clair Lamb said...

It's not cowardly to feel afraid, Declan -- it's only cowardly to let fear keep you from what you need to do. That picture is all the evidence anyone needs to see that you're brave as tigers, and Lily is too. Glad she's better.

Clair

Unknown said...

There's nothing scarier than having your child get sick. Having gone through that a few times, I know. Glad to hear that Lily is doing better, and I hope she has a swift recovery.

John McFetridge said...

Very glad to hear Lily is feeling better.

Stuart Neville said...

I hadn't heard about this until just now - I'm delighted your little girl's on the mend.

Gerard Brennan said...

Great to hear she's come around, mate. And thanks for posting the smiley pics on Lilyput's world. That first one of her in the hospital would break the deadest heart.

Tip her a wink for me.

gb

Donna said...

Great news Dec and wonderful to see the smile back on the lovely Liliput's face again.
Donna

Patrick Shawn Bagley said...

Dec,

There's nothing cowardly about feeling fear for your kids. Both of my girls contracted pneumonia four years ago. They were mild cases, but it scared the hell out of me.

Glad to hear that Lily is doing better.

Janet Rudolph said...

So happy to hear she's doing well. It's so hard, especially with little ones. They're so fragile..physically and emotionally to us. Glad to learn she's on the road to recovery.

seana graham said...

Declan, I missed the scary part of this and I'm sorry you all had to go through it. I hope you and your wife are now getting some rest, and that you both have your girl back home really soon.

Peter Rozovsky said...

Don't know where you stand on supreme beings and all that, but thank God she's all right. I'ii be thinking of all three of you.

Sophie Littlefield said...

that's the sweetest picture i've seen in ages...my baby girl is thirteen but i remember exactly how it feels to worry when they are tiny: blessings on you all...

Uriah Robinson said...

We are so glad Lily is feeling better. The photo shows what a great Dad you are. You look terrible and only a parent could know the trauma you have been through.
When your child is ill it puts everything in perspective. Our best wishes go to you all. Lily looks so beautiful even after she has been ill.

Anonymous said...

Oh god, I had no idea the little mite was sick. How is she doing? And you're no coward - there's nothing more terrifying than a sick baba.

I'm immune to hospitals given all the goddamn time I've spent in them, but I did three nights in Our Lady's with Maebh pre-Xmas when she was just six weeks old and it terrified the bejebus out of me.

It was a bad dose of a viral bug called bronchiolitis, so at the moment it seems as if there are a lot of nasty lung things hiding in dark alleys waiting to jump out on unsuspecting infants.

Get well Lily. x

Anonymous said...

We're all cowards. I worry all the time, from long before mine (or Lily) were born.

She looks very comfy there...

Anonymous said...

That looks to me a comfy baby in secure hands. All the best Declan, Mrs Declan and baby. All the very best.
Arlene

sandra seamans said...

Being scared out of your mind is what parenting is all about. The highest highs and the lowest lows. So happy to see Lily's on the mend.

crimeficreader said...

Pleased to see your beautiful daughter on the mend. My best to you, Aileen and Lily.

Gerald So said...

Thanks for the update, Dec. My best to you and yours.

Anonymous said...

From one proud papa to another - best wishes that the doctor give her "The Big OK" today and she can come home.

ATB, amigo

Mick

Dana King said...

Anyone who says they don't feel fear is either mentally ill, or a liar. It's not fear that defines a coward; it's the reaction to that fear.

A collective breath has been released here to know that Lilly is home and sound again.

JD Rhoades said...

You're supposed to feel gut-twisting, night-sweat terror when your child is sick. That's not cowardice. That's parenthood.

Glad to hear she's doing better. She's adorable.

Anonymous said...

Glad to hear little Lily is doing better-that was an awful pic with the tubes and all.

No parent is a coward, just all too knowing about what's out there.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery to Miss Lily...

Tony Bailie said...

Hope, Lily is well soon. My wife thinks she is the cutest wee thing.
Saol fada chuici

Lrakyawnoc said...

Dec, Gav just mentioned this to me at the weekend. Glad to log on here and hear she's doing better now. all the best, Karlos.

marco said...

I'm glad Lily's well now.Hope she's already at home as I'm typing this.

All the best

Marco

Declan Burke said...

Hi folks - Many thanks to you all, we really appreciate it ... Lily is back home and thriving, bless her. Hopefully all is well again, and she'll back to her best in a day or so.

Cheers, Dec

Slack Bladder said...

Declan,

Glad to hear Lily is on the mend. There is nothing more terrifying and, yes, your mind constantly dredges up the worst-case scenarios.

-Adrian.