As you may surmise by Norma's back porch photo, it is a rainy day.
I like to sit at the table under this window and write rainy day questions in hopes of finding an enigma. They often look like this:
This second photo was taken when the sun was out, but the idea is sound. "If we lived in a just world, more people would be jailed for crimes against themselves." This premise was questioned 2 days earlier, and over it, in shadow: "Accident or belligerent reality?"--(Trap, pg 41)refers to a play I wrote (performed in 1966) --not sure what the heron has to do with anything (or am I? --parentheses are fun!).
Other lines emerge --as when one falls in the dark: She: I found you on the bedroom floor! Geo.: And here I always thought we met in a library. Much as I would like to follow my inner voice and say she is wrong, I concede my inner voice is wrong far oftener.
Rain resumes and all enigmas seek the same shelter --the human mind-- towel each other off and huddle for warmth.
Considering the reconstruction Mr. Lightfoot has undergone in recent years, it is a credit to medical skill and his determination that his voice is still more beautiful than most.
You and Mr. Lightfoot took me back, Geo. A different time, different hopes and goals, different expectations. I had always thought by my age I'd live a simple, contemplative life. My year in Japan gave rise to that hope. It's been unrealized. I know now that in my last moments I won't know how things will turn out, no matter what. I do know that my kids will be ok, and they will comfort each other, as I think the presence of Herons comfort other Herons. Have you ever noticed that they give each other distance, out from the river reeds as they fish? But close enough to see each other. And upriver, those Herons fly at night, and their tears, for all of us and the planet, nourish the river.
A beautiful comment, Mike. We tell our children the world is immense and they should get to play in all of it. Then, by golly, they do. Your kids, my kids, scattered into the future. Sure glad modern communications kept up. The contemplative life, the river charging out of darkness, flow of time --all connected.
There is something exceptionally comforting and creative in that view from the window. A lovely place to sit, contemplate, and create. The rain makes it even more cozy. We’ve been having a good stretch of rain down here as well. It’s made sitting in my easy chair with a cup of tea even more pleasurable. These are good winter exercises.
True, Tom. It's a favorite view here --another is she who sits across the table from me with her iPad ordering groceries. She just mentioned Bel Air Market sells powdered peanut butter and other things we've never heard of. I learn here --good winter exercise.
Such a charming view, in any weather. We have heavy rain here, it's very cosy indoors. Rethinking digging out the compost bay today... Am I guilty of laziness against my self though?
"If we lived in a just world, more people would be jailed for crimes against themselves." Maybe that is why we humans have such a powerful disposition to deny our involvements, and blame and punish others for the ills of the world.
I am reminded of the JRR Tolkien quote in Lord of the Rings:
“Frodo: 'It's a pity Bilbo didn't kill Gollum when he had the chance.' Gandalf: 'Pity? It's a pity that stayed Bilbo's hand. Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. Even the very wise cannot see all ends......"
Tom, it does seem ironic that we try to deny involvement in the ills of the world while exploiting them for survival. Anent which the Tolkien quote is quite apropos.
Dear Emma, understood and agreed, I don't understand plenty --like why my backyard in the rain looks so much like a jigsaw puzzle. Maybe it's all those wet bricks, but I don't know. Yes, elusive.
One of the (many) things I always loved about Southern California were the rainy days. Clean, warm, soft, soothing, inspiring. Rainy days always ignited my imagination when I was a kid. I didn't realize how special CA rain was until I moved away and saw the crappy cold, dirty rain in other places.
Your post has resurrected long ago memories, Geo.
Is Gordon Lightfoot REALLY 80 now??? Wow, where has the time gone?
Oh Jon, I love those warm rains too, but this one is only visually pleasant. It's nearly cold as ice! I just got back from gassing up the car and aged considerably at self-serve. Yes, Gordon Lightfoot is 80, as Cat reminded me above. He and I are both skinny old men now, but I will follow his example and do my best with what's left of me.
Crimes against myself, you say? Like, maybe I shouldn't have eaten that piece of cheesecake, when I know full well I could stand to lose ten pounds? Hmmm, then again, I think it would've be an even greater crime not to eat such a luscious piece of dessert after going to the trouble of making it. (I wouldn't want to hurt the baker's feelings. HA!)
One piece of cheesecake? That's no crime. Or if it is and you shared it, that's already community service --which is the worst you can be sentenced to. And yes, Lightfoot is 80 and had a lot of bodily repairs, as I learned on Wikipedia, including aneurysm, coma, tracheotomy, stroke -which caused loss of right-hand finger control (guitarist!!!)-- and still came back to the stage. He's a hero of mine.
I do love a rainy day, although too many of them in a row is not quite as nice. Gordon Lightfoot has been an incredibly prolific and wonderful artist and he's still going to be touring in 2019. And I do see more than a little resemblance between you two :)
O_Jenny, you'll find many of us geezers share similar physiques. This is because we exercise the same muscle groups when we kick ourselves --which we do a lot.
Gordon Lightfoot has lost some of the strength in his voice, but who hasn’t. I remember seeing him years ago, and I was in much better shape than also. He was and still is someone whose music I enjoy.
It is not good to nap on the floor, Geo. Always carry a pillow and a flashlight with you when strolling in the dark in case you need to rest quickly. Your Norma is a treasure.
It has been raining here regularly since last April. Rainfall records break every month. I am no longer a rainy day person because I can’t keep the towels dry.
Dear Arleen, He has indeed adjusted his voice to the challenges of age and caducity, but Strength is still there. If you click the blue letters under the clip, you get young Lightfoot singing the song, with all the drama and tremulous tones, but I love that he still sings even without them. He's a treasure. As for pillow and flashlight, got it! Keep towels dry--check!
I love that you wrote in a comment, "... another is she who sits across the table from me with her iPad ordering groceries." I'm not crazy about rainy days, but sitting across the table from someone you love, enjoying your backyard view, doodling a heron, and listening to Gordon Lightfoot singing is a rainy day well spent!
that’s a nice heron, Geo.
ReplyDeletewww.thepulpitandthepen.com
Thanks, Sage, I think he started out to be a dinosaur but turned into a heron shortly into the doodle. Happens sometimes.
DeleteWhat a musician from my early adult years. Loved him then, and still do.
ReplyDeleteConsidering the reconstruction Mr. Lightfoot has undergone in recent years, it is a credit to medical skill and his determination that his voice is still more beautiful than most.
DeleteYou're very thoughtful tonight, Geo. It's cold here, I'm heading for the covers.
ReplyDeleteOur thoughts are in accord, Bruce. It's nearly 10 here and close to freezing.
DeleteYou and Mr. Lightfoot took me back, Geo. A different time, different hopes and goals, different expectations. I had always thought by my age I'd live a simple, contemplative life. My year in Japan gave rise to that hope. It's been unrealized. I know now that in my last moments I won't know how things will turn out, no matter what. I do know that my kids will be ok, and they will comfort each other, as I think the presence of Herons comfort other Herons. Have you ever noticed that they give each other distance, out from the river reeds as they fish? But close enough to see each other. And upriver, those Herons fly at night, and their tears, for all of us and the planet, nourish the river.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful comment, Mike. We tell our children the world is immense and they should get to play in all of it. Then, by golly, they do. Your kids, my kids, scattered into the future. Sure glad modern communications kept up. The contemplative life, the river charging out of darkness, flow of time --all connected.
DeleteThere is something exceptionally comforting and creative in that view from the window. A lovely place to sit, contemplate, and create. The rain makes it even more cozy. We’ve been having a good stretch of rain down here as well. It’s made sitting in my easy chair with a cup of tea even more pleasurable. These are good winter exercises.
ReplyDeleteTrue, Tom. It's a favorite view here --another is she who sits across the table from me with her iPad ordering groceries. She just mentioned Bel Air Market sells powdered peanut butter and other things we've never heard of. I learn here --good winter exercise.
DeleteSuch a charming view, in any weather. We have heavy rain here, it's very cosy indoors. Rethinking digging out the compost bay today... Am I guilty of laziness against my self though?
ReplyDeleteDear Lisa, laziness is punishable by relaxation --doesn't qualify even as a misdemeanor. I always let myself off with a warning.
DeleteCompost bay is still waiting but the guilt has abated :-)
Delete"If we lived in a just world, more people would be jailed for crimes against themselves." Maybe that is why we humans have such a powerful disposition to deny our involvements, and blame and punish others for the ills of the world.
ReplyDeleteI am reminded of the JRR Tolkien quote in Lord of the Rings:
“Frodo: 'It's a pity Bilbo didn't kill Gollum when he had the chance.'
Gandalf: 'Pity? It's a pity that stayed Bilbo's hand. Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. Even the very wise cannot see all ends......"
Tom, it does seem ironic that we try to deny involvement in the ills of the world while exploiting them for survival. Anent which the Tolkien quote is quite apropos.
DeleteSome days your enigma completely eludes me. Like today.
ReplyDeleteDear Emma, understood and agreed, I don't understand plenty --like why my backyard in the rain looks so much like a jigsaw puzzle. Maybe it's all those wet bricks, but I don't know. Yes, elusive.
DeleteLovely post, friend Geo … and thanks for featuring Gordon … He is 80 years young, smiles … Always, cat.
ReplyDeleteThanks, dear Cat. I'm a bit surprised Mr. Lightfoot is 80, but realize I've got his vinyl albums from the '60s and time has flown! One of my favorite songs is his ballad of Don Quixote and I realize both his and my physiques resemble Gustave Doré's illustrations of Cervantes' book.
Delete:) Love, cat.
DeleteOne of the (many) things I always loved about Southern California were the rainy days. Clean, warm, soft, soothing, inspiring. Rainy days always ignited my imagination when I was a kid.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize how special CA rain was until I moved away and saw the crappy cold, dirty rain in other places.
Your post has resurrected long ago memories, Geo.
Is Gordon Lightfoot REALLY 80 now??? Wow, where has the time gone?
Oh Jon, I love those warm rains too, but this one is only visually pleasant. It's nearly cold as ice! I just got back from gassing up the car and aged considerably at self-serve. Yes, Gordon Lightfoot is 80, as Cat reminded me above. He and I are both skinny old men now, but I will follow his example and do my best with what's left of me.
DeleteCrimes against myself, you say? Like, maybe I shouldn't have eaten that piece of cheesecake, when I know full well I could stand to lose ten pounds? Hmmm, then again, I think it would've be an even greater crime not to eat such a luscious piece of dessert after going to the trouble of making it. (I wouldn't want to hurt the baker's feelings. HA!)
ReplyDeleteLightfoot is eighty? OY!
One piece of cheesecake? That's no crime. Or if it is and you shared it, that's already community service --which is the worst you can be sentenced to. And yes, Lightfoot is 80 and had a lot of bodily repairs, as I learned on Wikipedia, including aneurysm, coma, tracheotomy, stroke -which caused loss of right-hand finger control (guitarist!!!)-- and still came back to the stage. He's a hero of mine.
DeleteI do love a rainy day, although too many of them in a row is not quite as nice. Gordon Lightfoot has been an incredibly prolific and wonderful artist and he's still going to be touring in 2019. And I do see more than a little resemblance between you two :)
ReplyDeleteO_Jenny, you'll find many of us geezers share similar physiques. This is because we exercise the same muscle groups when we kick ourselves --which we do a lot.
DeleteScattered thoughts
ReplyDeleteLike falling drops
Start to form a pattern
Dear Delores, you're quite right. Brains are always seeking organization, patterns --good thing too!
DeleteGordon Lightfoot has lost some of the strength in his voice, but who hasn’t. I remember seeing him years ago, and I was in much better shape than also. He was and still is someone whose music I enjoy.
ReplyDeleteIt is not good to nap on the floor, Geo. Always carry a pillow and a flashlight with you when strolling in the dark in case you need to rest quickly. Your Norma is a treasure.
It has been raining here regularly since last April. Rainfall records break every month. I am no longer a rainy day person because I can’t keep the towels dry.
Dear Arleen, He has indeed adjusted his voice to the challenges of age and caducity, but Strength is still there. If you click the blue letters under the clip, you get young Lightfoot singing the song, with all the drama and tremulous tones, but I love that he still sings even without them. He's a treasure.
DeleteAs for pillow and flashlight, got it!
Keep towels dry--check!
I love that you wrote in a comment, "... another is she who sits across the table from me with her iPad ordering groceries." I'm not crazy about rainy days, but sitting across the table from someone you love, enjoying your backyard view, doodling a heron, and listening to Gordon Lightfoot singing is a rainy day well spent!
ReplyDeleteIt is a life I've always dreamed of and aspired to, Louise.
DeleteThen your dreams have come true spectacularly! I'm happy for you!!!
Delete