Wednesday, September 13, 2006

It Is All Transitory

Loch Fyne, Scotland, Easter 2005

Dear Friends, it has been an odd day. And it all centers around changes. Some made me happy, others saddened me, all reminded me of the transient nature of things. I was going to make a binary list here: good news and bad news. Upon reflection I decided, however, that I really shouldn't be judging them in that way. Things happen, and the trick is to greet them when they do and reflect on what it is one is supposed to learn from them. Even the uncomfortable ones. So I'll work on that, but in the meantime, here you go:

Dearest Colin has brought down the shutters on Let's Kiss And Make Up. He's doing so for the finest of reasons: to focus on family, work, and making the offline world a better place. I understand and respect his decision, but I will miss him, his infectious enthusiasm, his dry wit, his encyclopedic and sublime taste in music, and his wonderful heart. Yes, I'll miss both him and all that something fierce. LKAMU was one of the first blogs I ever frequented, and Colin one of my first cyber-friends. Scratch that, one of the first friends I made through blogging. Because he's real, you know (as are so many of you). So Colin, I do hope to see you around, and I wish you balance and peace. And this one's for you. No tears, no mope, just straight up righteousness.

The Redskins - Keep On Keeping On (buy here)

Uncle D & S flew back to London on Monday. It was lovely jubbly to see them again after over a year, but now they're gone I can hardly believe they were here. I miss them, as do Dearest Wife, Little Man, and Darling Daughter. So, Dearest Uncle D & S, this one's for both of you. Uncle D, this should bring the smell of latex paint to your nostrils...

Supergrass - Pumping On Your Stereo (buy here)

And Dear Coxon rocks!! You see, he's landed himself a spiffy new job and though he seems a bit daunted by the challenge of the new, he also sounds pretty darn excited. However, I do think his new employ might necessitate a spot of musical realignment. So, Coxon, here's a little something to help you on your way.

Pantera - Walk (buy here)

Dearest Ash has been pouring out heart and soul most eloquently here, and you can feel the fervour and emotion burning off the screen. I've pointed y'all there only recently, but I feel obliged to do so again. So, Ash, yes, we are all in this together. And just in case the doubt ever creeps back chez toi:

Hefner - The Sweetness Lies Within (buy here)

As I moved through the day ever so slightly out-of-focus, I frequently found snippets of a particular song playing in my mind. Now let me start by saying I find the most popular outing of this song, i.e. the one mewled by Terry Jacks in 1974, mawkishly atrocious. But the version on rotation in my head today was that performed by Daniel Johnston and his band, Hyperjinx Tricycle, with off-kilter production by Kramer. It is a wonderfully askew and mournful track that taps a well of tears deep within me.

Daniel Johnston & The Hyperjinx Tricycle - Seasons In The Sun (go here and scroll waaay down)

And finally, something for all of us to live by, Dearest Friends:

The Wedding Present - You Should Always Keep In Touch With Your Friends (buy here)

P.S. Last night I poisoned neither Dearest Wife, nor myself. Indeed, the scallops were easy to cook and delish. Melt butter on high heat in a heavy frying pan, then fry for two minutes on each side. Then eat and go into rapture.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear FiL,

Have you heard the original Jacques Brel tune that 'Seasons in the sun' is a cover of? (Ooh, nasty grammar, that). It is quite glorious - but then, I find most Brel to be quite glorious thanks to one flame-haired Goddess-like high school French teacher whose influence on this pathetic devotee has not diminished much in these, um, 20 years.

Anyway! Happy birthday to dearest wife - I'm glad the scallops turned out well (well, not for the scallops, but we'll leave these things aside) and I hope you had a nice bottle of something red and sexy to quaff.

Mentok said...

Red wine with scallops? Zut alors!

There are so many many bloggers out there with so many stories to tell - sad, happy, great, small, tawdry and sublime.

It weighs you down after awhile. Makes you glad not to be psychic after spending time inside the heads of all these people.

But Colin was one in a million. His sincerity came through in everything he wrote. It was always a pleasure to make that ephemeral, electronic connection with him. He will be missed and not soon forgotten.

So, in honour of Colin, we'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet, for auld lang syne.

Anonymous said...

i kind of feel homeless without colin's blog to go to each day. it was a gathering place where we could always count on him being authentic and having the most excellent music ever. i trusted his musical taste at first download!

so now we flounder about a bit, looking for a place where we can leave our comments and thoughts and know we'll be heard. coz he always answered us, you know?

we'll have to stick together, that's all there is to it.

Anonymous said...

geez, i just saw you added me to your blog roll--thanks so much! i guess i was so busy feeling sorry for myself i couldn't look that far to the right of the screen! :)

coxon le woof said...

Aw thanks for the shout out Fil!

That Pantera reminds me of being at school when friends tried to convince me they were the best thing since someone added a dairy product to a singular selection of bread. They didn't manage it and neither will my new job. Fingers crossed anyway.

Rachel said...

Splendid words accompanied by outstanding music.

I particularly enjoyed Hefner - The Sweetness Lies Within

~Rachel

A. B. Chairiet said...

Hi Fil,

Good morning.

I hope you're well.

This piece was lovely...just exactly right for what's going on this week. In our lives. And in my head.

I love the picture.

It's gray and foggy, and scares me a bit. But I'd like to run through it anyway. Maybe go swimming in that Loch Fyne, or raft across it like Huck Finn. You could be my Jim. We'll sit and tell stories about Colin, and how much we miss him.

(Sigh)

Thank you for putting into words how it's not always good news or bad news...just news. And you're right: Colin's leaving was justified. And I understand and respect it too. But that doesn't change the fact that it left a giant void out here in the fishbowl.

And in other places too.

Like people's mornings.

And their side-bars. ;)

And their hearts.

...

Thank you also for thinking of me in this post. Colin's leaving, combined with four of my other friends dieing online really put me in quite a mood...

I feel so scared and childish and insecure about the whole thing...that if we all just keep dieing, then what's the point? We're spending so much time and love and energy here, writing and reading...if someone doesn't say, Hey, I won't leave. You can count on me. I'll be the constant variable. Then it's all going to be made pointless, and that makes me so sad. It's heartbreaking.

I hope you'll stay and be a constant too.

We'll float down the river together, Fil, and feed the fishes in the bowl, and pretend they're all Colin. ;)

I'm sorry for rambling in this comment, but this post really got to me.

Thank you for that.

Happy Friday.

Love,
~ Ash

P.S. I'm glad the scallops were eatable. ;)

FiL said...

Dearest Beesh: I have heard the Brel original - and it is magnifique. I can see how memories of La Rousse would make it that much sweeter for her devotees...

Dearest Mentok: Indeed, but as I said, I'm sure we'll see him around. But LKAMU will be sorely missed...

Dear mjrc: Indeed, I had to delete the link - I automatically kept hitting it. And as for the add, I should have done it sooner...

Dearest Coxon: I pray, keep an open mind. Not necessarily regarding Pantera, but there is much worthwhile in the metal canon!

Dearest Rachel: Many thanks! Yes, that is a special song, isn't it?

Dearest Ash: Again, a belated comment and things move on. Loch Fyne is a tad chilly to swim in, but it is lovely - weather changes from moody clouds to sun and back again, all in the space of an hour sometimes. I venture you'd find it otherworldly, not scary. And it's in the West of Scotland, not so far from a certain Scot with a dead blog...

And I firmly believe that even though we all die and everything changes, it is still worthwhile.

I'll stay.