[amicus_curiae]

Okay — in the American version (insert obscure German film), City of Angels, angels accompany dead souls to paradise. One angel, Seth, asks of the departed, “What did you like best?”

A child answers, “Pajamas.”

Now I know there ain’t no heaven and I pray there ain’t no hell (obscure music reference) but I’ve asked myself that question and thought upon how I would answer the question.

So, now, I’m asking you.

What did you like best?

You go first.

[*Laurie*]

Liked best? The love of my life: music.

[atomicc]

Dogs, definitely dogs.

[divine1966]

Art. Visual art I mean

[divine1966]

Originally Posted by amicus_curiae

Okay — in the American version (insert obscure German film), City of Angels, angels accompany dead souls to paradise.

German movie is Wings of Desire, it’s a spectacular movie. It actually won a lot of awards, I didn’t think of it as obscure?

music.

without music, life is pointless

also the internet.

the internet is cool

and wonderful

and all that good stuff

[amicus_curiae]

Originally Posted by divine1966

German movie is Wings of Desire, it’s a spectacular movie. It actually won a lot of awards, I didn’t think of it as obscure?

Hee!

Wim Wenders isn’t exactly as well known to Americans as Martin Scorsese and the original German title — Der Himmel über Berlin — reeks of art house cinema!

You’re right, though. It’s in my top ten!

Now. Let’s go to the Final Circus.

What did I like best?

Kissing.

Possible trigger:

Bakcheian (not a real word — I’m taking liberties) me, Bacchus/Dionysus in the mad flesh (pun), reawakened, revelling in the ecstasy of the female form and other men’s strength, found lip-locked pecks and cavernous mouths and slithering tongues more life-affirming than any slow and silent or raucous couplings. Kissing, the kiss, was more intimate than any secret shared, more powerful than any atomic scent, more lustful than touching you there there or there, deeper than the most piercing and brightest eyes but tasty; oh, so tasty.

I’ll not punish the senses further.

Kissing.

England sleeps as I weep now knowing that I’ve shared my final kiss and sown my last salt seeds upon your quivered lips.

Kissing.

[amicus_curiae]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

Liked best? The love of my life: music.

I think of you twenty times a day as I watch, twenty times a day, the fires burning my birth State, your home State. I saw the photos you posted. Destruction. Violent destruction. Death. “After the first death there is no other.” (Popular Welsh Poet)

I am not creative. I lurk around woodwinds with sodden reeds and can poorly play notes from sheet music. I have no art.

But I cannot imagine living life without music. (I am secretly queer for opera)

Righto.

***
I am a child
I last awhile
***

[amicus_curiae]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

Liked best? The love of my life: music.

I forgot to say...

I watched Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri last night — knowing only of Frances McDormand’s Oscar (still the most beautiful woman in the world and, hands-down, the most talented actress of my lifetime) — and the score and music selections are phenomenal. I only learned after watching that the original score had been nominated for an Oscar, too.

If you get the chance, watch the film. The music soars.

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by amicus_curiae

I think of you twenty times a day as I watch, twenty times a day, the fires burning my birth State, your home State. I saw the photos you posted. Destruction. Violent destruction. Death. “After the first death there is no other.” (Popular Welsh Poet)

I am not creative. I lurk around woodwinds with sodden reeds and can poorly play notes from sheet music. I have no art.

But I cannot imagine living life without music. (I am secretly queer for opera)

Righto.

***
I am a child
I last awhile
***

Well, here's a curiosity: I am listening to music while I'm online. Neil Young. So which song was playing just as I looked at the bottom of your post? Yep. I Am a Child. Pop magic! And...what a song.

Thank you so very much for your beautiful words, your sympathy. The situation is a real mess. A true tragedy. More fires merged and started today...the smoke is causing my smoke alarm (and those of my neighbors) to go off all night. I finally beat the thing down with a broom handle sometime during the night.

And now onto Screamin' Jay Hawkins.....

[LiteraryLark]

My family...

[amicus_curiae]

Originally Posted by atomicc

Dogs, definitely dogs.

They are infinitely kinder and so much more unconditionally loving than humans.

One reason that I revere the late David Foster Wallace is because of his love of dogs.

[amicus_curiae]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

Well, here's a curiosity: I am listening to music while I'm online. Neil Young. So which song was playing just as I looked at the bottom of your post? Yep. I Am a Child. Pop magic! And...what a song.

Thank you so very much for your beautiful words, your sympathy. The situation is a real mess. A true tragedy. More fires merged and started today...the smoke is causing my smoke alarm (and those of my neighbors) to go off all night. I finally beat the thing down with a broom handle sometime during the night.

And now onto Screamin' Jay Hawkins.....

I so wish that I’d been able to attend The Last Waltz concert. I, too, listen to music when — fer instance — I’m here. I just queued Coyote — such a sexy song (well, it’s Joni, after all)!

Ya know, I don’t know how to say this... I don’t think that I would have ever known love if not for music to guide me. The highs and lows, the joy, the joys, the joy, the tragedies. The rip-roaring delights and the soulful despair and just, just the music of my lifetime.

During the past week, as I’ve been streaming music, I realized that my life is streaming now, too. That, maybe, it has always been a streaming song and that, maybe, the last chorus has been sung and I’ll soon fade into silence. These have been some strange days.

My god — I didn’t know that you were so very close to the fires. The largest of California’s recorded history, I read and saw this morning. 14,000 firefighters. The news reports the devastation but not, that I’ve seen, the day-to-dayness of living with screeching smoke alarms.

Take care, please; please, take care.

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by amicus_curiae

I so wish that I’d been able to attend The Last Waltz concert. I, too, listen to music when — fer instance — I’m here. I just queued Coyote — such a sexy song (well, it’s Joni, after all)!

Ya know, I don’t know how to say this... I don’t think that I would have ever known love if not for music to guide me. The highs and lows, the joy, the joys, the joy, the tragedies. The rip-roaring delights and the soulful despair and just, just the music of my lifetime.

During the past week, as I’ve been streaming music, I realized that my life is streaming now, too. That, maybe, it has always been a streaming song and that, maybe, the last chorus has been sung and I’ll soon fade into silence. These have been some strange days.

My god — I didn’t know that you were so very close to the fires. The largest of California’s recorded history, I read and saw this morning. 14,000 firefighters. The news reports the devastation but not, that I’ve seen, the day-to-dayness of living with screeching smoke alarms.

Take care, please; please, take care.

Music leads to love. I think it's because music is love. That is my experience, anyway, along with yours. The streaming life.....

Yes, the largest fire in California history is burning not far from my town. We've been smoked in since late June. Odd, they - the news - doesn't address the day-to-day, it's true. I beat the darn smoke alarm with a broom handle until it fell from the ceiling (did I already say that? If so, I'm sorry I'm on repeat.). I keep hearing various neighbor's alarms going off. I don't know how they sleep at night with the loud sound. I seem to just cry and cry, every day.

People are on edge. Irritable. Sad. Having bizarre dreams. My local grocery store, well known for having the friendliest checkers in existence (I sometimes wonder if they belong to a cult, they are almost frighteningly pleasant, as if brainwashed. Not that I'm complaining; I'm not)- even they are getting a bit snappish. Irked.

I don't even have the words to properly thank you for your kindness. And for yet another thoughtful, beautifully written post.
This: -----> And another:

California Uber Alles....

[SeekerOfLife]

1. Jesus Christ. Without Him my life would be beyond difficult.

2. Clothing to cover my nakedness

3. Food.

If we think about it, there are always good things.

[eskielover]

Where my life has taken me when I moved to Ky....a whole new life & healing that NEVER could have happened in the environment I was in. I thank God for opening the door for me to walk through. (& surrounded by my special dogs especially the one I have had a heart connect with since he was born)

[seeker33]

I loved my high school years when I was in a boarding school and I had the best roommates ever. They were sisters I never had in real life. Those years were the highlight of my life.

[Blueberrybook]

I'd have to say books. I loved them even before I could read and especially once I could. They took me away from the awful things going on in my life that I couldn't control. I was so proud and happy the day my grandmother took me to get my first library card.

[Fresia]

Best- family, friends and critters hanging out at the beach, ideal.

[amicus_curiae]

Originally Posted by cln1812

I'd have to say books. I loved them even before I could read and especially once I could. They took me away from the awful things going on in my life that I couldn't control. I was so proud and happy the day my grandmother took me to get my first library card.

Queer story.

I’m a San Diego/La Jolla native. Dad was stationed (sort of) there.

When I was five he came home with a dusty WWII Navy ‘footlocker’ (of sorts). It was packed with science-fiction books... double-sided so that you read one book, flipped it over, and there was another.

I don’t remember not having books around, read to me as I read them along and back. But I was intrigued by the fantastic colorful covers of the musty 1940’s paperbacks.

Those were my primers. My dad let me use his adult library card when I was six as I’d outgrown the children’s section. I never stopped reading (even when I stopped speaking I continued to read).

My two bookshelves are over-stuffed and I buy eBooks now. I usually have one novel and one nonfiction book going. I adore the postmodernist novelists and I’ll read any nonfiction.

I went out with a girl as an undergrad and when we entered my house, she looked around and asked, “what do you do with all of these books?”

“Read them. I read these books.”

Possible trigger:

The sex wasn’t good, either.

[Candy1955]

All of it.

[amicus_curiae]

Originally Posted by Candy1955

All of it.

I may be slowly moving towards that answer.

I, you, him, her, am/are the sum products of our experiences. In the midst of suffering, even, I wasn’t willing (or able, sometimes) to *stop*.

Just now, this moment, I am in the midst of a contemplative overview, looking for a way to sum up *all of this* in one (exceedingly long, maybe) paragraph.

I’m taking the l-o-n-g view.

Now, at the moment, I’m sticking with ‘kissing.’

But, if I begin to feel so inclined, I may...