The Leaping Thought: These things I will miss

From David Rakoff's Essay - Hidden People

It isn't pleasant to have my bluff as thoroughly called. My idle claim of being a translucent-skinned neurasthenic who cares nothing for sunlight is incontrovertibly shattered after a mere ten minutes of ambling through the duty-free shop at Keflavík airport in Iceland at ten in the morning. The November sky outside is still as dark as four a.m., precisely the time it would be for me if I were still back in New York. But I am not back in New York and should, by all rights, be enjoying that cognitive dissonance that is the happy dividend of transatlantic air travel: the European day, brightly risen and well under way six hours before its time. I find myself existentially, spirit-robbingly sad as I look over the shelves of vacuum-packed salmon, tinned smoked puffin, lumpfish caviar, and licorice, waiting for a ride in Reykjavík. By the time I have been in Iceland for an hour I am a walking Edvard Munch lithograph. All is blackness in my heart as well as outside the windows of the bus during the hour-long trip into town. The vehicle fishtails wildly, buffeted by inhospitable winds. When I get back to New York, I think to myself, I shall never again denigrate the light. I will start a letter-writing campaign to institute National Photosynthesis Day. I will join a tanning salon.

"To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.

e.e. cummings (1894-1962) American poet, painter, essayist author and playwright.
_______

To kiss a forehead is to erase worry

To kiss a forehead is to erase worry.
I kiss your forehead.

To kiss the eyes is to lift sleeplessness.
I kiss your eyes.

To kiss the lips is to drink water.
I kiss your lips.

To kiss a forehead is to erase memory.
I kiss your forehead.

Marina Tsvetaeva (1892-1941) Russian poet and writer.
_______

"You know, Hobbes, some days even my lucky rocket ship underpants don't help."
Bill Watterson.

_______

"I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it."
Mae West

_______

Some quotes by Terry Pratchett

"It is often said that before you die your life passes before your eyes. It is in fact true. It's called living."

"They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it's not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance."

"It's not worth doing something unless you were doing something that someone, somewhere, would much rather you weren't doing."

"Only in our dreams are we free. The rest of the time we need wages."

"In ancient times cats were worshiped as gods; they have not forgotten this."

23.8.08

These things I will miss

The silky, silky softness of the palm of your hand and the sweetness of having you place it against my cheek when you want my attention in earnest.

The little hollow in the back of your neck that for some reason always smells uniquely of you and milk.

The giving plumpness of your still baby cheek. I wouldn't stop kissing it ever if things did not have to get done.

The way you say "I duv you mami" because I duv you the same way back my janum san. With everything, I love you. With all that and more. Were I stripped away of all that can be taken, that love would still remain, unaltered, always there, only for you.

10 comments:

Who's B?August 23, 2008 at 8:36 AM
This is a moment when all the blog hopping is worth it. How very sweet and beautifully written. A lucky child indeed to have such love.
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flutterAugust 24, 2008 at 12:31 AM
completely off topic but I just totally wanted to pet your hair
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Mrs4444August 24, 2008 at 7:35 PM
Your heart could not be more full, could it? This explains why you are always so overflowing with love for others. I'm glad for that :)
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exskindiverAugust 25, 2008 at 4:43 PM
flutter is funny.
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suzanneelizabeths.comAugust 25, 2008 at 11:49 PM
this is so beautiful it makes me want to either smile or cry or both. btw, I owe you an email...have been out of circulation...coming soon.
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Gypsy at HeartAugust 26, 2008 at 6:33 AM
Who's B: Thank you! I'm glad you liked it. My son R. inspires this and more.

Flutter: I've already told you what I think of your flattering request via private means....

B! I would have to have a heart of stone not to love someone like you. It is not that my heart overflows but that it recognizes the like. I'm glad I found you.

Chesca! Isn't she just? Every time I've remembered her comment in the past few days, it has made me smile.

Suzanne: Thank you. As always, you say the nicest things to me and I can't tell you how much I appreciate and look forward to them.
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AnonymousAugust 26, 2008 at 8:21 AM
Aw - that's so sweet! I sure miss that age. . . my big kids still bring me joy - but there's NOTHING like that (and each) special age!! Thanks for sharing it with us.
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Ron DavisonAugust 26, 2008 at 9:05 PM
Now you are having second thoughts about having sent your toddler off to boarding school after a particularly rough week? Or have I lost track of time and he has already left for college? Or is the confusion I've suffered from birth just getting worse?
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ErinSeptember 5, 2008 at 2:16 PM
so sweet. lovely picture.
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yani_worldpeaceSeptember 23, 2008 at 9:18 PM
very beautiful photo...
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