Everything Old Is New Again
aka Some Slightly Belated Christmas Musings and a Tiny Bit of HighlanderI guess, by now it is safe to say that I survived Christmas in pretty good shape. Trying to achieve just the right mixture of activity and peaceful seclusion has worked out surprisingly well. I prepared, did, enjoyed and had guests, but also found the time to grant myself a
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Just read your entry again, made me want to comment a gain ;-).
For a pessimist, you believe in things incredibly optimistic:
That there might be a "universal beauty" is a concept which I tend, well, long for and doubt at the same time, if this makes sense. Is there really one? It would strangely comforting if there was one. The Romantics believed strongly in this, btw. ;-))
Anyhow, one of the (many) good things about you, your writings, long conversations, etc., is that you share these glimpses (only some of them, I'm sure ;-) ) with other people. And those glimpses are real and important. You have the talent to put them into words so that their beauty is transformed, altered, of course, but not diminished.
Maybe, it is exactly this tendency to keep and to cling, which causes me to collect and archive things the way I do; regardless whether it's books, videotapes, postcards or coffee mugs .
Rewatching an old TV episode, a record or s.th makes us, for 45 odd minutes, forget that our life is based on change, that nothing is certain. For a given time, we can have the illusion, that we know what is coming. We can happily look forward to this. Same reason why I try vainly enough - to plan things. ;-)
This also goes for collecting things, I guess. Gives the illusion that things will last. (You will love the Sir John Soan's Museum ;-) )
And still, change, especially questioning believes and ways of living, is one of the more important concepts in my life. (Not that I would live it in any way as consequently as I should ;-). )
In art we find, and need, hings that serve both ends: The one that gives us illusions, and the one that makes us question things. The lesser type is more rare, though, and maybe more precious for that very reason.
But apart from philosophical musings on art, I would like to give the compliment back: thanks for being a wonderful friend, for so many years now.
Also thanks for reminding me that "hopeful" is an appropriate feeling for a coming new year.
"In jedem Anfang liegt ein Zauber inne" (Hesse)
F.
PS.: The Spell checker and German Words (Again ;-))
Zauber:
Saber, Dauber, Sober, Aube, Bauer, Buber, Faber, Haber, Huber, Taber, Caber, Cuber, Tuber, Zanier, Zaire, Zeb, Barber, Farber, Dabber, Jabber, Saucer, Zapper, Sub, Suer, Zane, Babier, Suaver, Zebu, Ber, Sauveur, Zibo, Abe, Sabers, Sayer, Tiber, Dubber, Fiber, Giber, Lubber, Maybe, Rubber, Rubier, Saner, Saver, Sumer, Super, Surer, Zoner
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