Stephen King Is Giving Me Hope

The day of the Euro2020 final, a feeling came over me.

I hadn’t expected England to make it that far – but there they were – in the Finals!

Could England bring football home after 55 years? It was exciting! 

I was hopeful.

But those feelings of hope were dashed when England lost in penalties. 

‘It’s the hope that kills you’ is a football cliché. You may have seen in the last season of Ted Lasso, and apparently it’s familiar to Arsenal fans, too.

When I watched England lose the Euro2020 in penalties, it felt like an apt metaphor for what it’s like to live in England right now. One minute your hopes are lifted – and the next minute they’re crushed.

As much as Italy would have celebrated the win, it felt like England needed it more.

It’s been a tough time for England. And I’m not just talking about football.

It feels like we are still hurting from a long, bad hangover that started five years ago. That’s when our news began to be dominated by Brexit, and the divide in the UK was magnified in flashing neon lights. 

In early 2020, it felt like we’d finally be able to discuss something other than Brexit. 

We just didn’t bank on that thing being a global pandemic.

Politicians were tasked to manage a disaster – and have repeatedly left us wanting.

But every now and then – we get moments of hope.

Last December, it was announced that the Oxford vaccine we’d heard so much about was a success. Christmas had come early – and the feeling of hope filled the air.

But before we could speculate when we’d be eligible for a vaccine, and when we could do things like eat in a restaurant, attend a wedding or take a holiday, the familiar voice of doom returned.

Covid cases were on the rise. 

Lockdown was coming back. 

Christmas gatherings were cancelled.

Suddenly I knew how all those people in Whoville felt after the Grinch stole Christmas. 

Of course in Dr. Seuss’ version, the Grinch gave it back.

We had hope for 2021 in the UK, but the year didn’t get off to a great start. Schools were closed. Parents were juggling their jobs while also providing childcare and educating their kids. People were isolated from friends and family. 

But then we finally started to see light. 

The kids returned to school. 

The vaccines started rolling out across the country.

And we started to feel hopeful once again.

But last week, a dark cloud returned and obscured the view – again.

Though the vaccinations continue, covid cases are on the rise. Fortunately deaths are low, but the number of positive cases continues to climb. Infections in the UK are up 40 percent over the last week – and the number of cases are as high as they were six months ago (when the last lockdown began).

At the same time, the UK Prime Minister has decided it’s time to let up on the restrictions in England. 

Take off your masks. Forget social distancing. Hit the clubs. 

July 19th was ‘Freedom Day’ (which had already been delayed from June 21).

Nice ‘Back to the Future’ pun top right…

I thought when we opened up again it would be with the backdrop of high vaccination rates coupled with low infection rates. 

But that’s not where we are.

And I find the current reality in England at odds with my normal optimistic demeanour.

What is the logical next chapter in this story?

Is the hope killing us?

Sometimes it feels that way. 

But I’m trying to focus on another message about hope, that was written in 1982:

“Hope is the good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”

Author Stephen King wrote that.

Yes, the same Stephen King who wrote Carrie, It, and The Shining also wrote a beautiful novella called Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption. The full title of the story includes the line: Hope Springs Eternal.

You may be familiar with the film version where Andy Dufresne and Red cling to hope – and how it leads them (eventually) to freedom and a beautiful beach in Mexico.

Though the last 18 months have been difficult – and I know we have more difficult times ahead – I’m trying hard to hold on to hope. 

I hope I can make it to the US border. 

I hope to see my parents and give them a hug. 

I hope the Atlantic is as blue as it has been in my dreams. 

I hope.

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