2009 November - Hergest Ridge

A farewell of sorts III

… continued

Of course, had you been there that night you’d know that no one got up and left, that the party was not called off. Instead, our reasons for being there doubled: I’d still be going away and all, but not until after the holidays. For the first time in a few years, I’ll be home for Christmas and New Year’s eve. And all that I planned will come later, in January.

So we partied twice, once for the parting and a new chapter, and then some for the holidays we’ll spend together. We lived the night so well that even death would tremble if it had come to take us away.

By 01:00 in the morn, a drunk Ilan and a very drunk yours truly wandered the streets of the much feared North End before going our own ways home with the knowledge that there is still time left to enjoy.

- – - – -
Thank you to everyone that made the surprise farewell party such an enjoyable night. And a special thank you to the woman that organised it all behind the scenes, and then took place among all for the grand finale. It’s true what they say about life, that it isn’t fair – I’ve never yet done anything to deserve such good friends as yourselves.

Posted in Life at November 10th, 2009. 1 Comment.

A farewell of sorts II

… continued

If you’re ever looking for a new home, where ever you may find yourself start with getting to know the people around you. Bricks and mortar will protect you from wind and the rain, but the beating heart will find no shelter therein.

It’s those around me at the dinner table that evening that quench the thirst of the proverbial soul, that feed the heart that makes me feel human. Without these people, my heart will shrink in on itself – it’ll slow its pace to conserve energy.

But on that night, we ate and drank, we laughed and absorbed what was in the present. Is there any other way to live life?

Early that evening, I’ve had a small matter on my mind. It had to be put on the table right there, for it concerned the whole reason we had been gathered. The thing with farewell parties is that someone has to be leave after – of course, in this case that was me. Only, I’ve had to cancel my flight to Europe.

To be continued…

Posted in Life at November 10th, 2009. No Comments.

A farewell of sorts

Years ago I learned from a woman I was with that a smart person always figures out ahead of time all surprises that others have planned for them. From juvenile behaviour, emotional blackmail, to interrogating her young nieces – for her all bets were off on the fact finding mission.

“I’m smarter than you are” – was the real message. “Anything you do, I will see through it. See how clever I can be if I put my mind to it?”

Yesterday evening as I walked through the door of Buccacino’s Cucina Italiana with one, I found myself face to face with 12 other friends. They came to say farewell, buy for me food and drinks, and perhaps watch me tear up the plane tickets in a drunken haze.

So there I was, right in the middle of a surprise party – at the centre of it – and I couldn’t have enjoyed myself more.

For a brief moment I had to wonder what kind of person would have ran the risk of ruining an occasion like this by competing against their friends for information ahead of time. The thought came and then flew away – an autumn leaf on a brief flight to the ground. Such people were not present here, and we were here to enjoy ourselves which is exactly what we were going to do.

To be continued…

Posted in Life at November 10th, 2009. No Comments.

Something completely different

Christ! Stop calling me Barb! You call me as if you had an urgent matter, leaving stupid messages with the time of day you called – thrice since noon.

I have a clock and don’t need hourly updates on the time of day. I’ll call you when I’m able to without chewing your head off for being so fucking annoying. You don’t listen anyway, plus I get the feeling everyone gave up listening to you long time ago and you’re just seeking attention.

Posted in Life at November 9th, 2009. No Comments.

Auf der anderen Seite

Douglas Harper, – historian, author, journalist and lecturer based in Lancaster, Pa. – on who brought down the Berlin wall:

“They did. The German people. Not Kohl, not Reagan, not Gorbachev, not Bush I. They did; the insolent Berliners, east and west. The people of faith in Leipzig and Magdeburg. And the German soldiers and guards who had the guns but did not use them.”

- – - – -

“Years ago I recognized my kinship with all living things, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on the earth. I said then and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.”

– Eugene V. Debs

Posted in Political Perspective at November 9th, 2009. 1 Comment.

Drzewo

Blaki
Script: Mateusz Skutnik & Karol Konwerski
Drawings: Mateusz Skutnik

Posted in Delicious Literature at November 9th, 2009. 1 Comment.

Let them break their hold over me

PRECIOUS THINGS so I ran faster but it caught
me here yes my loyalties turned like my ankle in
the seventh grade running after BILLY running
after the rain these precious things let them bleed
let them wash away these precious things let them
break their hold over me he said you’re really an
ugly girl but I like the way you play and I died
but I thanked him can you believe that sick
holding on to his picture dressing up every day I
wanna smash the faces of those beautiful BOYS
those christian boys so you can make me cum
that doesn’t make you Jesus I remember yes in my
peach party dress no one dared no one cared to
tell me where the pretty girls are those demigods
with their NINE-INCH nails and little fascist
panties tucked inside the heart of every nice girl