All the Way to the End

"Surely all art is the result of one's having been in danger, of having gone through an experience all the way to the end, where no one can go any further. The further one goes, the more private, the more personal, the more singular an experience becomes, and the thing one is making is, finally, the necessary, irrepressible, and, as nearly as possible, definitive utterance of this singularity." --Rainer Maria Rilke

I'm running out of steam for the week, but I've been thinking about Ted Hughes' theory that all art originates from a wound in the artist. He does a better job of 'esplaining it. But Rilke certainly will do.

I heard from a friend today in Prague (he's been living with his wife Vera in an apartment in Prague Castle that Václav Havel arranged for them. It didn't even faze me - of course, you're living in the Castle. I'd already heard but didn't want to spoil his moment.) He is a novelist & filmmaker & friend of perv Milan Kundera. When The Unbearable Lightness of Being was released as book (& then as film later), I asked Arnošt. Well? "Exactly, exactly how it was. That bastard, he did it!" Then he picked me up & whirled me around the room.

It was/is a tight circle of friends/frenemies & a highly competitive bunch, of course: writers, painters, photographers, filmmakers, journos, etc. They supported the "wrong" person in 1968 & were invited to leave. Kundera's success spurred them all on (including director Miloš Forman). I hope someone writes a book about this gang of devils. (There are more.)

Arnošt & Vera lent me 'the borrowed flat' in Jerusalem for many weekends. They sat with me in the - I am not kidding - Elizabeth Taylor Cafeteria...or maybe it was the Frank Sinatra cafeteria (there were two) & tried to make me laugh. One time I got in a car with them. Only once. I was in the back seat with an old friend who then lived in Israel. He started to laugh hysterically...maybe it was the idea of the two of us tootling around the city with our friend--who should never drive (do you hear me, A?) anywhere. Ever. I accessed my "if I go, I go" attitude used to good effect in Greek & Italian taxis. Anyway, those wild & crazy Czechs, they lent me the flat for which I'll be eternally grateful. Now I want to stay at Prague Castle.

Here's to brave people - who, amazingly, miraculously laugh (with a large side of irony). And take it all the way to the end.

[two stills from Unbearable Lightness of Being, still photographer-genius Phil Bray; the "real" iconic photograph via filmwell(dot)org]

The Jersualem Windows - Marc Chagall

I was fortunate to see the twelve windows from the perspective of a visitor & then, not so fortunate, as a patient. I've seen all of his stained glass work (I think). Here's a link to the hospital's site & to a rare book site. Here's a link to a post last year on a blog, Echostains & it has very nice images, as well.

Perched precariously on a dining room chair, stretching a blue open-weave summer blanket over the very large nekkid bedroom window, I listened to the Writer's Almanac very early today. Ah, it's Chagall's birthday. The light streams through the loose weave, casting a welcome chill & I thought, that's rather Chagall-ish. (Well, one must reach at times, you know.)

Week's End - Streets of Jerusalem

Some of the best (& most surreal, disturbing, intriguing) walks were here. You want material? For writing, for thinking? It's here. Tramping up & down hills, through villages (where I should not have been), everywhere. My scanner is broken* (of course, it is)...& so just this evocative Streets of Jerusalem photograph by Julian Kaseler via we heart it] That's a little girl walking down an inexplicably (to me) empty street. But it happens, that bit of quiet there, yes, sometimes. I wonder where she is now. OK, that's enough from me because I just found a pix of Leonard Cohen in concert in Israel. Oh, too tempting, too tired. It'll be fun just to think of it. Have a peaceful weekend. And feel fortunate for it....(that goes for me, too, yes).

[*Though most of my photographs were destroyed there, I have friends who have wonderful ones & I'm sure they'll lend them to me if I would just ask. So I will. Tomorrow, said Scarlett]

Monday update: resting for today at least. Hope to be back tomorrow. I see many tempting posts just on this site...Cheers all.

Corner Window

It reminds me of a flat I borrowed along the way. The books (none in English) were like that, the corner window, too. I read Bellow in French, Camus in Italian & I thought I was a genius. (Wine was involved). [photograph from pearls and tea (live journal which is not live!, via we heart it]

Walking the Old City

In Jerusalem, and I mean within the ancient walls,

I walk from one epoch to another without a memory

to guide me...-by Mahmoud Darwish

[photograph via we heart it, unattributed from an unidentified tumblr acct. Let me know if it's yours; I'd love a dove hair ornament]

L'eau de Rose/Rosewater

I use a lot of rosewater (in food & otherwise). The last photograph of the Jordanian desert will illustrate why rosewater became essential to my well-being when living there. (OK, not in the desert but working on a dig, it's much the same thing.) It's an affordable tonic.

[photographs from lovely sfgirlbybay; your life, it seems extravagant/tumblr; dizrthymia/tumblr; all via we heart it; Jordanian desert from The Real Israel blog on Wordpress.]

Jerusalem in Sepia

[The Real Israel blog; unfortunately, inactive]

A Pity, We Were Such a Good Invention*

"We even flew a little."* Yehuda Amichai

Still not up & about much but I'm tiring of the cute lamb. Sorry little lamb. Trying to ignore all the pundits who are pre-judging the SOTUS tonight. Plus bizarro tea-baggers are acting up nearby. Ugh. Should have put up something about birds of prey. (Though the poem, which is not linked here due to copyright, is not about birds. You know what poets are like. So irritating.)

Please vote for Liberty London Girl in the Tenth Annual Weblog Awards. She's the only one I nominated who made the finals. I nominated many blogs on my list/links in the side-bar & am mightily peeved that Being Ruby (Australia), The Clever Pup, & automatism (both Canadian) did not make final nominations. Fume. Must seize power, somehow, for next year. [Update: also neglected, Cycle Chic from Copenhagen.]

These photographs are from The Real Israel on Blogger. It was discontinued some years ago with little to no explanation; there's another blog of the same title on Wordpress, but I don't see a connection yet. The photographer's name eludes but I am working to find it; there are several photographs of interest (to me). I'm not linking because I don't want (some) of the commenters to come over here. Anything to do with Israel/Palestine brings out, um, passion. And also, might I add, people attribute views to me which are not mine--at all. I'm no apologist for one side or the other. That's putting it mildly.

Ciao

[birds in Ramat Gan preserve, Israel]

Mediterranean blue arabesques

No time to tell you about Miss Flaming June, today. But I think we need to calm down. All that orange-red. Corine, who is hiding in France is probably still fanning herself & Lord knows what Mme le Pup is doing...running around in her blue kimono, no doubt. OK, I'll stop before I start teasing Beatriz, Penney, & Anna. (So far...I know there are more of you looking in.)

So here's a photo/scan/collage of some azure fabric I bought years ago in...um, well, not on Santorini. Not Crete. Definitely in the Mediterranean, though. It reminds me utterly of Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia but I don't recall buying anything there. So. Not looking around for records. I just love it. If I have to choose a color, this is it.

The block of blue & a totally goofy, messed-up, & perhaps the most unflattering travel pix ever taken of me & not just in Santorini (that's where this is from). I'm trying to dispel my worries of vanity. (My hair is not like this now & I do not wear yellow very well, obviously.) I cannot account for the nail lacquer clash. I'm so picky that I'm picking about not changing my nail lacquer from my initial flight to Athens. I'd bang my head against the keyboard but then the computer really WILL have its threatened nervous breakdown.

I guess I should say: I was recovering from Jerusalem, the loss of so much weight (not intentionally) that it was frightening. (I'd gained about 30 pounds by the time this was taken. And yes, irony, irony because I need to lose weight now--for health reasons, not merely cosmetic.) It was my first trip outside the U.S. in 20 months. Even Greece was a bit close to the MEast for me but I'm compelled. No doubt about it. Get's in the blood & I know that sounds romantic but it's true. No better place for recovery than Santorini. (I was really too weak & tired to go but didn't want to disappoint a friend who was coming with me. I was used to coming & going on my own. In the end, of course, I'm thrilled that I went & will go again. Thank the gods & goddesses that we were in the Med; I could lie down during the day. Friend was in mad dog/Englishman mode & had a difficult first week with the idea of mid-day break. She adjusted. Beautifully.)

I was transfixed by this kitten (he was Mr. Personality which is not evident here) for a few weeks. Visited every day, usually three times a day. I had the adoption almost ready & by that time, the family was so smitten with their kitten...that they asked to break our agreement. What could I say? I cried, I really did. (Not in front of them, they felt so bad but their little girls were now totally in love with this kitten.)

Have a great evening.

Update: Giulia Geranium just received a most welcome visit & comment from Michael of Oia Santorini...a notebook on life in Oia fame.The link to his blog is in the sidebar & also on GG. I'm rushing here. I couldn't have received his welcome comment & hello at a better moment. Unsettling news from friends in Sudan. Must read & respond.

Update #2: Oh I do wish I'd titled it Aegean Arabesques...mimph. Another time.

Jersualem sunset

All but 2 or 3 personal Jerusalem photographs were destroyed, sadly. Seemed appropriate for many reasons to post it again today. (Don't assume the reasons, though.)

Jerusalem 1986: The Borrowed Flat

Cringe. Originally published in WordWrights magazine (No. 29), copyright, October 2003. (written & revised over many years...it's been a few years, time for another revision.) Via scan with another poem cropped out. Not ready to see that again! Several issues are missing from the site. I'm not surprised, what a dysfunctional bunch (more than usual). You should (not) have been at the party to which I was persuaded to go. I whispered to a companion, "Let's get out of this boring, insane place--I mean really. The nerve to be crazy and boring? That is not to be borne." He said, "Material, you always say it's material..." Yes, well. That was not material. What it was I can say another time. Drawing a blank. SNL skit doesn't cover it.

(Copyright, Susan V. Sears/all rights reserved)