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like weightless white leaves
bathtub, sink, and toilet remain in hallway, though not for long. while perhaps slim, the chance does exist that we will all shit, shower, and shave tonight. and the snow falls today. a blizzard, like weightless, white leaves. a dustcloud. the earth covered.
“There are natural highs, and lows, in winter. You eat more. You sleep more. It is only natural to put on a little fat, but I don’t like it. I want to go into winter, have its beauty and silence, and play by my rules., but it’s hard. And I’m so tired at the end of the day; as soon as it gets dark I’m bone-weary, almost in a stupor. It doesn’t matter whether I’ve been outside sawing logs or cross-country skiing all day, or just sitting inside by the window, typing and drinking tea – still I’m exhausted. I’m finally learning to savor it, just to stretch out by the fire and fall into slumber, into a sort of spinning, warm unconsciousness – all the chores done, or almost. I’m learning to understand and relish the sweet low of it, this necessary putting-off-until-tomorrow. The days are gradually, by minutes, getting longer, and soon I’ll be out of it, go full bore again, put on my city ways and do the work of three men – but these short, dark days are bigger than I am, larger than the chemical stirrings going on in the back of my brain, and I’ve learned that if I fight it, I’ll only be more tired the next day.”
~Rick Bass
Posted by jeff pitcher at January 14, 2005 11:11 AM
....................................
Thank you. I needed to read that quote today.
Posted by: Karin at January 14, 2005 10:58 AM
thank you for sharing your warm thoughts.
yup, you certainly eat more in winter-time...that stockpile of fat, insulation. but the sleep...oh, how it's seems to be a luxury. been insomniac for weeks, nights riddled with thought. maybe it's being in a new state, new region, new climate. family, old friends being so far away. maybe it's being back in school all over again very soon. maybe it's the HUGE student loan bills i know i will face once i graduate from culinary school. maybe it's because i can't seem to lose this GODDAM weight i've gained since i've moved up north. food trends in Pac NW is definitely different (packed w/ FAT & SUGAR) than CA. no offense, but i've never seen so many FAT people in my ENTIRE LIFE until i moved up to WA. and i adopting the same bad eating habits. getting back down to 105 lbs has never been so f*ckin' hard!!!
isn't the new national health food standards being released today? no more of that familiar "food pyramid", rumors say, right?
Seattle plays too much Modest Mouse. i know they're local, but still.
ate red meat again for the first time in nearly 10 years last night. sadly, i can't say it tastes like chicken. but i managed to stomach it and not offend the chef.
Posted by: Brina A. Johnson at January 14, 2005 11:46 AM
"like weightless, white leaves"... just beautiful!
and i read your words, and i think, yes that's exactly how it is...
and yet, here, it is hot ~ it is warm ~ it is bushfire windy... the days are never ending... the sun doesn't set until 7.30, and even then, it is light still until 9...
crazy days, warm days,
and yet words of being still and gentle resonate..
love and laughter,
leonie
Posted by: Leonie at January 16, 2005 02:46 AM
Cockshot.....
.................NOW, GODDAMNIT!
Posted by: Artie Umbilical at January 17, 2005 11:49 AM
your maturity is stunning "artie". just stunning.
Posted by: jefferson pitcher at January 17, 2005 12:01 PM
I...I'm sorry Jefferson. Forgive me. I don't know what came over me...Yes, weightless white leaves is a truly transcendent image.
Posted by: Artie Umbilical at January 18, 2005 09:08 AM
no winter in malaysia... :(
Posted by: jennir at January 18, 2005 09:54 PM
Thanks, Jeff, for the reference to Rick Bass. After a long, impatient wait, it came to my library yesterday; and I stayed up half the night, reading.
Brilliant, descriptive writing ... now I'll be looking for others of his
by the way, I came to read your blog via Keri's
Janice
on warm and soggy Vancouver Island
Posted by: Janice at January 20, 2005 07:53 AM
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