Here’s a link to the entire Neil Young “living with war”. Memo to me: buy new computer speakers. The 20″ bargain rate monitor might be great–but the sound. However, it’s an amazing CD. Proudly stole it from the Impeach Bush coalition. An impeachment hearing is the only way we will know what’s going on–the last three words are from one of the greatest albums ever made “What’s going on” by Marvin Gaye
I was randomly looking at blogs, when I found one that led to “a year of books.” It was about a persons quest to read 50 books in a year. I found that not to be incredibly ambitious. Yes it depends on the type of book. I don’t mean this as a negative, but I devour books at an embarrassing rate.
It took me an entire weekend from Friday night through Sunday evening to read Robert Caro’s The Power Broker, with two five hour stops for sleep, and about three hours on assorted phone calls, pre-Internet era, explaining why I hadn’t shown up for brunch and a movie, cancelling a date,and assorted Sunday plans.
Cancelling dates was always something that I did well. I was practiced at it. Not meeting friends was unheard of. I had to finish that book before work on Monday, I just had to. No book had ever taken me that long to read. It’s up there on my top ten permanent list, and was actually a memorable weekend.
I think the Power Broker part was meant as a farewell to Jane Jacobs who did defeat Robert Moses, the power broker
Chris interviewed Shayna. Great inteview–but great interviewers like Shayna tend to be great subjects. Wonderful questions, Chris
When I feel crazed, when the world feels out of sync, when I can no longer trace my footprints, I try to remember what it was like to retreat into a private world filled with still to be discovered splendor and unimaginable adult treats.
I held onto the fantasy so long that it almost became real, or maybe it was real. Though at this second as I try to keep the swirling sand from settling into my eyes, I truly can’t remember.
Life was different yesterday;it just was. Better; my feet were deeply rooted into the sand. I didn’t have to worry about standing tall, or losing balance while I could walk to the edge of the world safe in the knowledge everything would remain secure.
I miss yesterday when everything was possible, and I could walk to the edge of the world and back.
Ok, this is my favorite post! I know exactly what you mean. I used to get lost in books, lose track of time… Now adult responsibilities, 7 kids and all that their care entails makes it seem like those times were all a hazy dream.
I encourage myself in the knowledge that I am doing a good job investing in lives. Someday I will once again be able to get lost in the words of a book.
Good morning Pia,
Just a short poem for you,if you do not like it, just hit delete.
Slow down girl, life’s devine.
you work so hard that it’s a crime.
the City is cruel, but so alive.
all the passion and the drive.
night and day you never sleep.
spilling guts stalked by creeps.
Hope this does not offend you.
Thanks Brian aka hummingbunny
I guess it depends if the person’s a reader or not .. to some, 50 books seems momentous.
To us, well hell I can read a couple a week and never come up for air. LOL … my husband calls them my crack habit.
Forgot to mention, I read on average one book a day. Over 10,000 in my life and counting.
Brian
I generally average about 50 a year–not including children’s books–but often including some pretty detailed books in the field of history, theology or philosophy. But I’ve kept that avearage up since college, which means there’s been a lot of books read.
I like your footprint comments.
Wow… the ending of this post is deep pia…
I thought that was very beautiful, Pia. This post makes me think of songs. “Yesterday” and “End of the Innocence” for two.
“I miss yesterday when everything was possible, and I could walk to the edge of the world and back.”
Beautiful stuff that.
I recently heard about a novelist who read her way out of her block and then published a book about the 100 novels she read.
Of course, for the life of me I can’t think of or find that book now.
I miss when my brain wasn’t a sieve…
Love this post Pia… I need to get my feet back into the sand too… come to Spain and let’s go to the beach…
Seriously though, love your words here…
As for books, I used to devour them too… I read the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Hobbit all in 9 days… could have taken less time but I was pregnant and had a child already…
Yeah on the books thing. 50 seems low. That’s less than one a week…
How can us addicts ever get off on that few?
I must get back to my four books or so that I am reading. I’ve been so lazy. Kudos to you for keeping it up.