Sunday, December 18, 2005
Don Quixote Syndrome
Tuesday will mark the 401 anniversary of the publication of the first part of Don Quixote by Cervantes. Although the world only celebrated the 400 anniversary earlier this year to mark the occasion when the world had its first opportunity to read the book. Someone recognized that it just could not complete with Kris Kringle over the holidays. Besides the Inquisition also took a dim view of non-religious stocking stuffing. Given the wacky behavior of the man from La Mancha, the forces that be also probably thought it prudent not to unleash a delusional character on a world that had already come to the conclusion that December was a depressing month, especially in a country that was caught up in the throes of the Inquisition. To make a long story shorter we skip to the 21st century. The moose in Norway it seems have a new malady–Don Quixote Syndrome. What all the scientists, medical authorities, veterinarians and ever self-proclaimed psychiatrist have failed to recognize is as plain as the nose on a 747. The problem first surfaced with the moose in Norway. The antics of the moose population there, almost certainly young male juveniles, is very bizarre to say the least. Many are getting punch drunk on fermented apples, others are breaking into stores, some have challenged joggers, especially the ones with cell phones, but the telltale symptom was wooden clothes drying racks. The male moose have been on a rampage attacking these things–apparently confusing them with the rack of another moose. Or perhaps not! In the law of the jungle the juveniles are required to prove their manhood by attacking papa moose. Now I don’t know about you, but if I were a moose I would find it much less intimidating to attack a wooden drying rack than a full-grown bull moose. I might even live to see tomorrow. Now unless you have an eye witness, who would ever know what you had attacked. A rack is a rack and a windmill is a windmill unless you are a knight errant. Moose errants! All of them! Don Quixote Syndrome.
Tuesday will mark the 401 anniversary of the publication of the first part of Don Quixote by Cervantes. Although the world only celebrated the 400 anniversary earlier this year to mark the occasion when the world had its first opportunity to read the book. Someone recognized that it just could not complete with Kris Kringle over the holidays. Besides the Inquisition also took a dim view of non-religious stocking stuffing. Given the wacky behavior of the man from La Mancha, the forces that be also probably thought it prudent not to unleash a delusional character on a world that had already come to the conclusion that December was a depressing month, especially in a country that was caught up in the throes of the Inquisition. To make a long story shorter we skip to the 21st century. The moose in Norway it seems have a new malady–Don Quixote Syndrome. What all the scientists, medical authorities, veterinarians and ever self-proclaimed psychiatrist have failed to recognize is as plain as the nose on a 747. The problem first surfaced with the moose in Norway. The antics of the moose population there, almost certainly young male juveniles, is very bizarre to say the least. Many are getting punch drunk on fermented apples, others are breaking into stores, some have challenged joggers, especially the ones with cell phones, but the telltale symptom was wooden clothes drying racks. The male moose have been on a rampage attacking these things–apparently confusing them with the rack of another moose. Or perhaps not! In the law of the jungle the juveniles are required to prove their manhood by attacking papa moose. Now I don’t know about you, but if I were a moose I would find it much less intimidating to attack a wooden drying rack than a full-grown bull moose. I might even live to see tomorrow. Now unless you have an eye witness, who would ever know what you had attacked. A rack is a rack and a windmill is a windmill unless you are a knight errant. Moose errants! All of them! Don Quixote Syndrome.
