"Take another little piece of my heart now, baby..."
I pass this message of love carved into a cedar tree each time I walk through the trails of Cates Park. I've never carved my initials into anything, other than funky clay crafts, and as far as I know, no one has ever carved my intials with their own into any substance, other than, perhaps, the very fabric of their lives, or maybe into a slab of butter. Fabric tears, though, and butter melts, gets eaten up, or goes rancid. Love changes, moves on, lingers, gets stale, is forgotten, lives forever, but is never regretted. Like hope, love springs eternal. Or the hope for love does.
I once burned a pile of love letters and dumped the ashes into the recess of a stump in this park. I also pass by that stump each time I walk these trails. I remember the story, but it no longer carries any emotional impact for me. I sort of wish I had kept the letters, though, because they were creative and amusing, ...not declarations of love at all, really, but funny illustrated stories that were a record of a time of discovery in my life.
I guess blog postings are like little love letters that we send out in hope of connecting with others, of being recognized and cherished in some way, no matter how tenuously, at least for a time.
I was going to share a Bruce Cockburn song called "If a Tree Falls in the Forest" but I prefer the way this one fits with my random bloggy thoughts today.
Interesting questions there... blog postings like love letters ? But to who ? To the entire wide world ? To oneself ? To some imagined potential significant other ?
ReplyDeleteBeing recognized and cherished in some way ? But did you doubt it for a second ? Or is it a question of quantity as well as quality ? When I see the wonderfully warm and smart and affectionate and trusting comments that come in on the Magic Lantern from a fairly small number of fabulous people (yes, you too), I'm amazed every time, but sometimes wonder whether more would be a good thing, or not... probably wouldn't be able to answer if there were many more, even reading alot more could be a problem... But if alot more started coming could it lead to larger scale recognition, maybe somehow a financial compensation for the blood sweat and tears poured into the blogging effort ?
I sometimes wonder if the fact of creating a blog and putting out alot of previously totally private material in public, such as it is, buried among 10,000,000 other blogs, has really changed anything, and the photos, poems, writing remain almost just as obscure and unrecognized as the pre-blog era ? And would one even want to be recognized by a larger public ???
Blogs at least are easier to burn when no longer needed... no matches required, no smoke, flames, or messy ashes...
Tough questions ay ? Now where's that Saj, it's time for a tipple...
One can only thank you for providing seeds for this tree to grow.
ReplyDeleteOnce there where three weeks, I spend in the North of Spain, writing a single letter of love as its content, hoping, praying it won't be in vain. This timeless heart, able to grow, reaching up high, reminds me of the old German saying, that "old trees don't allow anything/-one to bend them."
Wishig you an upright and love filled Thursday, while thanking you for the memories and their mood.
p.s.: if there's a drink left, I'd like to have one too.
Owen,
ReplyDeleteBlog postings are like messages in a bottle, released into the blogsea of curiosity.
I started my blog to share my goings-on with my far-flung family and friends. I live far away from most everyone I love. So, in this way, my postings are like love-letters. In fact, my family and friends say to me that they visit my blog(s), but they rarely leave any trace of their visits. That other people have stumbled upon my postings and have responded is an unexpected bonus.
I am all about quality over quantity. I am very selective in most aspects of my life.
As for "being discovered" or having one's blog go "viral", I think one's time would be better spent concentrating on getting together the best body of work one possibly can and then sending off book, magazine, or exhibit proposals. A blog is not like getting discovered at Schwartz's soda counter and being turned into a movie star, circa 1950 something. It's a different kettle of fish, I think.
Anyway, I could go on much longer here,but I want to get out and take a photo that maybe 5 people will see here and perhaps 2 leave comments for. But it makes me happy to do so. Just as it makes me happy to have a few comments left here by my wayside blog.
And besides that, the Saj seems busy elsewhere (in her real life--the nerve!) so I have to tend bar for myself.
Talk to you later maybe. Over a drink.
Robert,
ReplyDeleteI hope your love letter produced the desired result! I used to love writing long letters. I pity, now, the recipients of them when I think back.
Of course there's plenty of drink to go around here, Robert! I was just remarking to Owen that even though the Sagittarian seems to have abandonned us, I've taken over tending bar here. Sorry I don't make cocktails, though. Would you prefer wine, beer or cider? Cheers!
snap - have never done the carving stuff either!! but that sure is a great photo...
ReplyDeleteA Love Letter
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Thanks, Catherine. I was happy the way the picture turned out because the carving is pretty high up and I wasn't sure I'd be able to do it justice with my little camera.
ReplyDeleteNo carving of initials...but what about writing a certain boy's name or initials in the margin of your notebook in school? Or your own first initial with his last one??? I can't remember if I ever did such a corny thing or not. Let's go with not!
Anonymous--
ReplyDelete2 in a row? does that make it anonomi? Kind of an anomoly.
Is anomoni opposite of afriend?
Oh I like Bruce, got his Trouble with Normal - kinda spoke to me!
ReplyDeleteMy WV is 'kerst' and I hope I'm not!!
I think about blogging, and agree it is a great way to reach out into cyber space and see who's there (a few aliens but thats to be expected)...sorry you've had to tend bar alone, did you leave me some??
Nope, the aliens drank it all up, guess we'll have to go thirsty !
ReplyDeleteNo where did she get to that Lynne... hiding in the Vancouver woods, hunting for totem poles I'll bet...
Saj,
ReplyDeleteThere's always a tipple left for you. Those aliens didn't know about my secret stash (nor did the BrOwen!)
BrOwen,
Perhaps it was me that the aliens got...I seem to be missing a lump of time.
Hunting for totem poles...the mind boggles! (well, maybe only the dirty minds...)
ReplyDelete