"The elixir of love"

A few years ago I bought a book by Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt. It was love at first read. 

Yesterday I bought "The elixir of love". It took half an hour from the first to the last page. It is a really short book written as an exchange of letters between two former lovers trying to solve the mystery of love. Curiously enough, I am much more in agreement with his point of view than with hers. Should I be alarmed? (Well, I am not anyway. I just think that his words make more sense and sense has no gender.)
Anyway, it is beautifully written, with the delicate insightful choice of words I was hoping to find and he didn't let me down, yet again.

She: If friendship is the refuge for dying love then I hate friendship.
He: A layer of skin separates love from friendship. It is thin...

He: Women love the idea of love, men make love.

He: I am not the man of virtues you have hoped I would be. Not everyone has a strong will. You can't expect from an apple tree to produce oranges.

She: First love is beautiful because it isn't afraid of the end, because we believe that moment will last forever, because we're not aware it will wear out one day.

He: If we spend our lives in regret for a lost feeling it will not increase our capacity for love, it will only deprive us of new emotions by drowning us into bitterness.

So many great books, so few people to share the pleasure from reading them with.

"Calling you"

I can get lost in his voice, most willingly. 

A joke

via internet:

 “I’m watching a movie. The woman is crying in the shower. The man comes. They make love for three hours.

And I’m sitting there, thinking…”That’s one heck of a water heater…”

Confessional

For years my biggest problem, that causes me more and more concern, is...no, it isn't the all the more increasing probability of staying alone for the rest of my life; and it's not the never ending passive-aggressive one-step-forward-two-steps-back cautious parody of a relationship with my father; and it isn't my constantly growing revolt with "the average person" either...no.

...it is my failure to find my calling, my vocation, to find the one thing I am meant to engage with, something I am passionate about.

But the answer might have been in front of me for a very long time. Animals, of course - to take care of them, to protect them. Whether it's stray cats and dogs or wild animals - it's all the same, I love them all. I am ashamed to admit that I have been turning a blind eye to the truth for one very simple reason - it isn't well paid. And without a decent salary there will be no trips abroad, no concerts, no fun time. I am ashamed of myself, truly.

However, maybe not all is lost. I am only 42 meaning that I still have time to consider a different occupation. My concert time will soon be over anyway.

Peace of mind

For the past week or so I am in an enviable emotional disposition - all cheer, oozing positivity, and in an effortless control of my temper. Is it because I feel hopeful? Nah, quite the opposite actually. I'm expectation-free. It is fantastic how liberating that feels. It's like finding what you've been looking for the moment you stop searching for it. 

"The Four of Us Are Dying"

I had forgotten how beautiful that track was. It made the perfect soundtrack to my trip to work this morning. To listen to these sounds as the view through the bus window changed felt soothingly surreal. When there is no magic to be seen you just have to invent it.

Revised

"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

That is one of the most overrated sayings ever and one of the stupidest too. Seriously, is that the frame of mind that will make you welcome each new day with a smile? You don't need an IQ of 150 to see that any amount of time spent in thoughts about your alleged enemies is certain to be at the expense of your verified friends. Nurture your friends, nothing is more important.

Sunday rambling

I'm watching "The vampire diaries". I like it. Not so much as to say that I love it but I like it a lot. I find vampires intriguing. With their strength, speed, invulnerability and eternal youth, they are, in a nutshell, upgraded humans. (BTW, there's an inconsistency that has always bugged me: if vampires don't grow old how come they are of various ages?) And, yes, vampires are also malicious, blood lusting and evil to the core. Like I said: upgraded humans.

Of course, my favorite of all characters is Damon. Not because the guy is deadly attractive (OK, it's because of that too but to look gorgeous, dear kids, isn't nearly enough) but because his character earned my respect. Why, you may ask? I will tell you anyway. He's not afraid to get his hands dirty and I find that admirable. Sure, it helps when you are immortal and you know you will recover from practically any injury but let's call that a detail. In a way Damon is quite a decent role model. While the others waste time to discuss morality and to play idealistic, he rolls up his sleeves and gets the job done and the problem solved (or terminated depending on the circumstances). Talking is easy and words are deceiving, that's my point. Actions, on the other hand, speak volumes, loudly at that.

"Flaming June"

I saw a picture of this painting in a magazine. One of the most beautiful things I've ever seen:

How about that?

Here's an idea for a new superpower: to be able to take away the pain.
No, it doesn't sound cool, I agree. But it would be very useful, would it not?

For the record

The way I see it there are two types of people: those who care about animals and those who don't. I am of the former type. And, as much as appreciative of and open to other people's differences I am, I can not, under no circumstances, tolerate anyone of the latter type. 

I just watched a video about a baby orangutan who, for the first year of his life, was kept in a chicken cage. It wasn't just heartbreaking, there are no words good enough to tell how I felt as I watched it. But there was rage, enormous rage against the monster responsible for that cruelty, futile rage - for nothing can undo the pain that poor fellow had to go through.

How is it possible that people can be capable of such vileness?? And that's just the 1000000-th time I ask myself that question knowing perfectly well there is no answer to it and there will never be.