View from a balcony drifting in time

Since I have been nowhere this summer that I have not been before and since the general theme of this post is the past, why not run another photograph from the past -- in this instance, once again from 2004 -- as an easy means to provide some manner of illustration to be part of the overall equation? So, here it is: A photo from the past, a photo from the "City of Light," a photo from what once was my reality and today is a dimming memory. Two more points: While it might not be overtly apparent, the musical selections do have a connection to the photograph and the written commentary and, while I generally think profanity should be confined to bars and back alleys, I have been posting occasional songs in which the singer tosses out a few such words. Such is the music today .... sorry.

When I was a boy

When I was a boy, I wanted to walk, ski and dogsled to the North Pole. One trip by three means, you understand, not three treks. For you who study such matters, I was (and still am) in the camp which does not believe Robert Perry was the first to actually reach The Pole in 1909, although he is given credit for doing so. Neither am I persuaded that Frederick Cook was the first to reach it, as he claimed to have done and which many believe he did in 1908, but I think Cook at least did as well as Perry in his attempt.

Now, such a journey no longer is real adventure. If you have the money, you can charter an aircraft and fly there and, if the weather is right, even parachute down onto that particular top of the world.

When I was a boy, I wanted to climb Mount Everest. I wanted to find the body of George Mallory and discover proof that he actually had gained the summit in 1922.

Now, such a journey no longer is real adventure. If you have the money, you can hire someone even to carry you to that particular top of the world. And, since more than 200 climbers have died on Everest and it has been impossible to recover the majority of the bodies and the locations of most, including that of Mallory, are now known, such a journey seems truly to be a whim rooted in futility.

What made those memories rise to the surface was running across the film, "The Eiger Sanction," on cable television. Not that I wanted to assassinate the "bad guys" for the CIA while climbing The Eiger -- as the novel and the subsequent motion picture focus upon -- but, yes, you probably have guessed it: When I was a boy, I wanted to be among those who could proudly boast of climbing The Eiger's indomitable North Face.

I think this feat remains a worthy challenge today, but the appropriate moment in time for accepting it is a decade or two behind me.

The world today is made up largely of phony challenges in terms of discovery and being the first (or even among the few) to conquer an obstacle of Nature -- such as reaching the North Pole or climbing Mount Everest or scaling The Eiger.

It is true that hard work, skill, talent and determination continue to be part of many personal challenges in this, the 21st Century, but few actual life or death "top of the world" achievements still exist to be sought out. Now, fools take part in silly obstacle course races on television, and bigger fools watch these programs. And, for instance, while it might be a personal accomplishment to run a marathon, just about anyone who is willing to put in the necessary time and effort is able to do it. More than 25,000 people demonstrate this fact every year in Boston and a few dozen do every year -- yes, believe it or not -- at the North Pole.

I guess what I am saying is that while the universe still might be expanding, life on this planet is shrinking for human kind except in this sense: Managing to survive while maintaining a measure of sanity and refraining from laughing yourself into oblivion.

Long live rock and roll

It is fairly common knowledge, I think, that Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote the music for "The Phantom of the Opera" to match the sound/quality of the voice of Sarah Brightman. I suppose some would say that is another "urban myth," but I believe it is true -- especially since both principals in the matter have told this story.

Probably not as well known was Webber's selection of the voice of Ian Gillan, later of heavy metal Deep Purple fame, to be the voice of Jesus in another of his masterpieces -- "Jesus Christ Superstar." Actually, I did not know this fact until recently.

If you do not recognize the names of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sarah Brightman or Ian Gillan, I am sorry to have bothered you. If you do recognize the names, but not these musical connections, you might consider listening to them in their various venues. I think you might discover what is below the surface often is more relevant and wonderful than what is on the surface -- no matter what the context of the conversation.

I wonder what her story is ....

I published another view of this portrait on one of my posts in March 2009. It, like this one, was taken in 2004 when I made sort of a "grand tour" of Europe. It was not grand enough, because most of Europe remains unseen by me and I would like to explore more, more, more. The reason I have this photograph of this painting today is because a segment of my post is about Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" and the model for his masterpiece. You can read about that below. In the meanwhile .... hmmmm .... 2004 .... nine years ago! Do you believe it? I do not. It does not seem like yesterday. It seems like a lifetime ago and, for some, it was that long ago. A lifetime ago. How many people do you know who were here then, but no longer are? Time waits for no man, for no woman; for nothing nor for no one. To borrow a few lines from Whitesnake:

Restless heart, restless mind,
I'm tired of wasting,
My precious time.

Just for fun .... No. 1

For those of you who do not keep up with developments in the realm of archaeology, researchers are excavating the remains of Lisa Gherardini's husband and sons as the next step in the quest to identify the skeletal remains of Leonardo da Vinci's model for the "Mona Lisa." The Gherardini family once was Leonardo's neighbor in Florence, Italy.

DNA samples taken from the family's bones will be compared to samples from skeletal remains excavated last year at the Florence convent where Lisa Gherardini became a nun after her husband's death and was eventually buried.

But first, the skeletons uncovered at the convent will be examined to determine how old the women were when they died and narrow the field of eight possible Mona Lisa candidates. If Lisa Gherardini's remains are identified, scientists plan to virtually reconstruct her face from her skull.

I am not so sure if this is a good idea or a bad idea. The quest for knowledge is admirable, but, I think, some things are better left a mystery. Some researchers also are theorizing and attempting to learn why the Mona Lisa's smile is a bit strange or unique. Did she have crooked teeth? Did she have congenital palsy?

My god, who cares? Some people are born idiots, but not all of them are driven to publicly demonstrate it. Admire the painting, adore the face with its wonderful expression and keep your idiocy to yourself. Whatever was the cause of her special smile, I, for one, would have loved to kiss the lips which formed it.

Just for fun .... No. 2

The writer of the The Sixties classic song, "Hey, Joe," is disputed still today. Tim Rose is listed as the author by the record company that owns the rights to the piece, but Rose himself said it was a traditional song (i.e., original author unknown and/or sort of a folk song) and a number of others claim credit for it. What cannot be disputed is that it has been recorded by literally dozens of individuals and bands. 

In my not so humble opinion, Jimi Hendrix owns the best version of it no matter who wrote it. His rendition of it is, probably, the best known and the most often heard on classic rock radio stations today. No one comes close to performing it the way Hendrix did. I could say more, but will not at the moment.

A little-known, little-heard adaptation of the song was recorded by Deep Purple on the band's first album in 1968. Without adding an abundance of flowery adjectives in praise of Deep Purple, I will say two things:

First, I think this band -- with its varying faces and battling personalities -- was the greatest of the rock era. It was not afraid to experiment or to try anything in a musical sense, and usually succeeded in accomplishing what it set out to do.

Next, after Hendrix, I like the Deep Purple version of, "Hey Joe," more than that of any other musician or group. It is done very differently from the customary manner and is, I think, a perfect example of this band succeeding at leaving its own unique imprint on a song really owned not by an individual, but by an era: The Sixties.

What do you think? Keep listening, even when the song seems to be over. And, it is a great song to dance to .... try it, but listen to it a time or two first.

Another definition of time

And here you thought the purpose of screens on windows was to keep flies and other pesky bugs outside. I guess that might be true at lower elevations, but in a lighthouse screens might also serve to keep dogs, cats, children and lighthouse keepers who have a tendency of enjoying too much brandy from falling head-long to the rocky shoreline a few hundred feet below. Of course, I am only speculating since I, personally, never have been a dog, a cat, a child or a lighthouse keeper. The photograph, for those of you who might keep track of such things, was taken inside Split Rock Lighthouse on the North Shore of Gichigami or Gitche Gumee or Le Lac Superieur or Lake Superior -- the exact name, of course, depending upon your frame of reference and spiritual affiliation. I really do not have anything to say tonight, but since time is always waiting in the wings and speaking senseless things -- to borrow a thought from David Bowie -- I decided to make another statement about it. About time, that is to say. To do this, here are two renditions of, "The Final Countdown," by Europe, in 1986 and in 2011, as an illustration of how to measure a quarter-century in real time.

The Manitou of Fram

There are more than a few interpretations of what a Manitou is and descriptions of its powers and purposes. I have written about my concept in previous posts, so all I will take the time to mention here and now is to once again say that I believe every object -- animate and inanimate -- has one. If you look perceptively at the photograph, you will see mine watching over me. He and I are eager to be on the move for a while again. It is the middle of July, and time to formulate plans for autumn. So .... last call .... any thoughts ?? Whatever else may come, do not say you were not given the opportunity to express your ideas.
 

Last call, last run, last camp, last last ....

July this year arrived for me with warm days bordering on hot (according to my definition) and few clouds to blunt the force of the sun. It has been very different from May and June, which were reminiscent of Biblical lore and brought the name Noah to mind.

Those who have come by here in previous Julys and who actually have read the words posted here might recall that this month has been a time for dramatic changes in my life. Perhaps foremost is that I have been married twice in July and the divorces for both marriages were finalized in July. For a number of years, I have had an inner feeling that I am destined to have three wives and have thought it would be fascinating if all three marriages took place during the month of July. Whether that will be the case or not, it is absolutely certain there will be no third July marriage for me this year.

I also have had one child born in July, began active duty with the Marine Corps in July and I tasted combat for the first time in July .... well, many significant events have begun or ended for me during July, but that is mention of enough for this post. I assume you get the picture. And, July has not only been a month for doing, it has been a time for planning, for formulating, for devising -- and, some might also say, a time for scheming.

Not too long ago, I wrote in another post here that I have been building up to making another "run" in September or October -- a "run" being my way of describing another plunge into a way of life different from my usual manner of existence. If the "run" lasts for a year or longer, it becomes an "incarnation" –- a life within a life, so to speak. I am leaning toward making this "run" another one to Europe, but I cannot stop myself from wondering if I should choose somewhere else -- somewhere really new to me. And, I still am searching for suggestions, advice, ideas.

I have grown to be superstitious about months, and expect each of them to have certain traits and characteristics in regard to my life. There are months I fear and months I welcome. Is that not ridiculous? Is that not superstition carried to an extreme?

I suppose I am superstitious in several respects, and I have a tendency to believe life is inexplicable and enigmatic, and to take literally the notion that: "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

Which leads me back to autumn again. September. October. November. To paraphrase this time: Where to go, when to go, what to do? Those are the questions.

There are moments when time stands still

This is the way the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island in Lake Huron looked a few days ago. From a distance and through a bit of afternoon haze, it probably appears much the same now as it did in 1896, when it was the focal point in the novel, "Bid Time Return," by Richard Matheson. Or, as it did in 1912, when the date of the story was changed for a film version entitled, "Somewhere in Time." The hotel was constructed in 1887, and is a monument to Victorian elegance. And, it is a place where time has been known to stand still.

Time is what you make it

In the realm of science fiction and fantasy, there are, perhaps, five writers who have produced stories which I consider my "favorites."

Jack Finney wrote the novel, "Time and Again," which is one I constantly re-read. George Stewart wrote, "Earth Abides," unquestionably a masterpiece of many facets. Clifford Simak, a long-time reporter and editor for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, was a prolific writer of novels, short stories and non-fiction books. His novel, "Way Station," is among my favorites. Robert Holdstock is an Englishman whose novel, "Mythago Wood," is a special story, I think.

Then, there is Richard Matheson. He wrote possibly the most romantic story among science fiction novels, "Bid Time Return." It is better known by the name given to the motion picture based on the book, "Somewhere in Time." He might be the most recognizable among this group of writers I have mentioned since six of his stories were made into films.

The reason I am mentioning this is because the 87-year-old Matheson died on June 23 and because I have had his story, "Somewhere in Time," on and off my mind since learning of his death. I have written about all of these authors and their books in previous posts, and my imagination is always stirred and reflects upon their "tale craft" when some event occurs to lure one of them from the recesses of my memory once more into the forefront of my thoughts.

"Somewhere in Time" was far from the top of the list in terms of being best known among the books Matheson wrote. It was for many, though, the only one which really counted. There are readers who travel to the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island where the motion picture was filmed just because of Matheson's time-defying love story and the desire it creates to touch its magical nature.

In fact, each autumn, a "Somewhere in Time" weekend event is staged at the hotel for aficionados of the novel and the film. Between the history of the island and its hotel, and the romance of a love that even time could not conquer, I assume it is easy to understand why some of us are captivated by this bit of enduring enchantment in the otherwise rather superficial world in which we pass our time.

As described by hotel staff: "This special weekend includes a screening of the film, discussions of the movie's production process, visits with returning cast and crew, and hotel guests are invited to make a cameo appearance in costume at the cocktail receptions, costume promenade, and Grand Luncheon Buffet."

So, what are you doing the weekend of October 4-6, 2013? If you have a few thousand dollars to spare and would enjoy wearing period costume to live in the world of 1896 for a few days -- or, should that be 1912? –- you might discover the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island is the perfect place to visit a moment in time which once was and which still exists if you are a believer in the existence of everlasting love.

See you there? Maybe?