I was partly raised and educated where the streets are narrow and the minds even narrower. My current location is not that different. This has had the capacity to effectively alienate me from just about everyone, and put me off meeting other people permanently.
I get along best with animals. Much better, in fact. I can identify with them so deeply. With people, I have found it is generally easier to run away, than to be run away from.
They are just close enough and just far enough away for it to be easy, They are the other, a little more than the other than another person. And so they are easier to understand; they demand imagination, aim, identification, whereas people demand intelligence, mental calculation, abstractions. And the meaner the human world becomes ~ the more people slip into egoism and the greed of despair ~ the more the animals align themselves with us all, becoming brothers and sisters, closer than our human brothers and sisters. In fact, when this happens, even nature, even the inorganic, offers a shelter to our imaginations. Nature comes closer, just as those who are called the closest become more distant. Go Figure.
There are, of course, exceptional people that I would adore the opportunity to meet. A few of those are as follows:
This bit changes often, also. It reflects more about what I am currently listening to, as I don't feel comfortable with the word 'favourites', especially where music, art, movies and literature are concerned. These 'favourites' change too often for me to consider even endeavouring to name a single special piece of work. So, without further ado, then, you will find me currently shaking my tush to:
This section changes according to the book I am reading at the present time. I am a slow reader. Currently, I am thoroughly enjoying:
Anne Fadiman is the sort of person who learned about sex from her father's copy of Fanny Hill, and who once found herself poring over a 1974 Toyota Corolla manual because it was the only thing in her apartment that she had not read at least twice.Ex Libris wittily recounts a lifelong obsession with books. Writing with humour and erudition she moves easily from anecdotes about Coleridge and Orwell to tales of her own pathologically literary family.
My Muse - She is rather shy as you can see!
My Other Muse - Bingo™ - I really am extremely fortunate to have more than one Muse!
Vlashka - A particularly rare Czechoslovakian Pointer™
(.... and owned by the delightful people who run this place . I take Vlashka for as many walks as I can manage in my busy and varied lifestyle. She is superb company for me, as well as great fun to be around....)