Courting Destiny

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Memory Motel/The Devil and the anti-Beatle

By

I began a new fiction page.
I can’t thank people enough for filling in for me.

Sar will be on tomorrow.

I will have another fiction post on Friday. Took out the 9/11 stuff. This is a literary blog, I think, and a damn good one. I will decide after next week whether or not to keep Courting running

This is a fiction/photo exercise that I wrote the day after coming back from Montauk



  

They say that a girl in a red dress made a pact here, long ago. They say that she asked for nothing more and nothing less than 36 hours with the anti-Beatle.
“Just 36 hours, that’s all I ask. I can make him mine if I have 36 hours with him in The Memory Motel.”

The Devil smiled as he granted her wish
“You are a fool, girl, but have your 36 hours, and then you will be mine for eternity.”

She shook her head:
“36 hours with him, and an eternity with you. No contest. I will be delighted to do your work as long as I can remember my 36 hours with him.”

When her 36 hours were over, it was as if time had stood still. Nobody, including the devil in the red dress, and the anti-Beatle remembered a second of it.

She had sold her soul though she never understood why she would wear her red dress, entice men to their death, and never worry about being caught.

People confused her with an angel. 50 plus years later, she looked exactly as she had that night. Long straight blonde hair so similiar to what Marianne Faithfull’s hair looked back then, large turquoise eyes, a red lipsticked mouth caught in an almost permanent pout, only smiling when she caught her prey’s eyes.

Nobody ever thought to match her with so much destruction. Nobody questioned why she didn’t age, and only came out at night four times a year, from somewhere, when she would pick up some man at whatever club was popular that year, and lure him to The Memory Motel.

Her employer, disguised as captain of a charter bluefishing boat, would smile as he remembered every detail of her 36 hours with the anti-Beatle. Oh how he loved those four nights a year guaranteed for eternity, and how only he remembered her memory of love.

Hannah honey was a peachy kind of girl
Her eyes were hazel and her nose was slightly curved
We spent a lonely night at the Memory Motel
It’s on the ocean I guess you know it well
It took a starry night to steal my breath away
Down on the waterfront her hair all drenched
in spray

Hannah baby was a honey of a girl
Her eyes were hazel her teeth were slightly curved
She took my guitar and she began to play
She sang a song to me, stuck right in my brain
You’re just a memory of a love that used to be
You’re just a memory of a love that used to mean so
much to me

She got a mind of her own and she use it well, yeah
Well she’s one of a kind
got a mind
She got a mind of her own, yeah, and she use it mighty fine

She drove a pick-up truck painted green and blue
The tires were wearing thin she done a mile or two
And when I asked her where she headed for
(Back up to Boston I’m singing in a bar)
I got to fly today on down to Baton Rouge
My nerves are shot already the road ain’t all that smooth

Across in Texas is the rose of San Antone
I keep on a feeling that gnawing in my bones

You’re just a memory (just a memory) of a love that used to mean so
much to me
(just a memory)
You’re just a memory of a love that used to mean so
much to me
You’re just a memory girl, you’re just a sweet
old memory
And it used to mean so much to me

Sha la laa la
Sha la laa la
Sha la laa la
Sha la laa la

You’re just a memory of a love that used to mean so much to me

She got a mind of her own and she use it well


  

I probably should have introduced me. I’m Pia, and this is Courting Destiny which does very well without me. However after two days but three nights in Montauk I’m so calm, very relaxed and back.

Wrote that four days ago.

I have been reading blogs that I’m not very familiar with, and don’t feel very original anymore. But I think that’s a fallacy and fear in my thinking.

When I came back from California, Lucia made fun of me because I kept on smiling at people, and saying “hello.” It doesn’t play well in Manhattan, but it does out of season in the Hamptons and Montauk. Montauk is in the town of East Hampton but not of the Hamptons. Though in recent years….

In the 70’s and 80’s I spent much time in the Hamptons. One of my best friends owned a house in Sag Harbor

It became too pricey in the 90’s, and everybody I know would rent out their houses or sell them. I learned about the Jersey shore. But I’m an Island girl, and my heart belongs to the Hamptons. All of them but South Hampton.

Montauk is in the town of East Hampton, but it’s not of the Hamptons. It’s a wonderful place that in fall is manageable.

Going to look for my devil. For the record, there was one anti-Beatle, Beatle, George, of course.



  

  

  

  

Comments

  2. G says

    What can I say? Funny, I took a picture of the Memory Motel too when I was there. That was a great accompanying story. And that song just can’t not come into my head whenever I pass it by.

    Ah and the photos – it just transports me to another time. Thanks for the memories. Oh and not original? Pulease.

  5. A says

    Welcome back, Pia, and thanks for the nice read.

    Re: the Apple Bank — funny that their vault is worth more as empty real estate than when it was stuffed with depositors’ cash.

    Re: 9/11 — In 2002, I worked as a volunteer for the Lower Manhattan Development Corp., with designated members of the 9/11 families, on certain memorial design issues. Intestingly, they were as different-minded a group of folks as you can find; outside of the obvious, they shared remarkably little in common. Their most vocal (and difficult) members certainly don’t speak for the majority. But, they speak loudly enough to tie up billions of redevelopment dollars for years on end.

  6. chandira says

    I’ve just been enjoying reading Gary Lachman’s book “Turn off Your Mind; the Mystic 60’s and the dark side of the age of Aquarius”, so you’re tying in nicely. lol

    Would love to go to Montauk one day. Just to see if I couldn’t catch sight of the odd passing aircraft carrier.. 😉

  7. Deb says

    Wow! This brings back so many memories- I vacation in Montauk at the Panoramic View’s cottages. My partner and I love going there and also love Gossman’s!!! We trek over to Nick’s for the tiki bar and some appetizers and head out to the wineries outside of Montauk.

    I wish it wasn’t so expensive to live there, but they are literally pushing the local people out, to restore it with a richer caliber of people. Sad to see the locals go…and they’re sad too.

    Montauk is rated one of the most beautiful beaches–did you know that?

    I LOVED these pictures! The calmness that it brings on to you is amazing, isn’t it?

    Thanks for sharing this.

    A sincere lover of Montauk!

  8. A says

    On Montauk — I forgot to mention how much I like the eternally kitchy (notwithstanding numerous renovations) Gurney’s Inn.

  10. Sar says

    That was an awesome story, Pia. I really enjoyed it along with the vacation update and pix. You sure know how to tell a story.

  11. Sherry says

    Now that’s some lovely writing, lady. Don’t feel original? Gimmee a break. You continue to inspire strangers. And isn’t that what writing’s all about?

  12. Doug says

    That was some of my favorite writing. I thought that was a great story and very well-written. Perfect for Halloween. Lorelei on Long Island.