This Life | Evidently

Halloween 2007: The Day in Pictures

Nov 1, 2007 | This Life

Hello

Oct 29, 2007 | This Life

We met Death in the woods yesterday.

He said to say, “Hello.”

Last night was the VERY late 40th celebration for the wonderful Ms. Paula!! (her birthday being 3 weeks ago. Ack!) These sweeties were made by ever talented Kathleen… we had munchies and champagne, but I was too busy consuming those to take photos. Heh. What’s new, eh? You’ll just have to take my word for it (and the 15 lbs I gained!) on how yummy it all was.

I spent most of yesterday cleaning this pit of a house. Good thing we throw parties at night where I can dim the lights and pray nobody runs their hands along the baseboards! Darn, we are just too dusty in these parts. I’m looking for a quaint, but hermetically sealed place to live, anyone got any suggestions?

I would sit here on this couch, admiring all my hard work except there is so much to do! The sun is out and I must drag my sorry self outside for a walk. Maybe I can make a start at working off last night’s sins. And then there are pumpkins to carve, a last minute birthday present to whip up, and probably costume alterations to do. I’m noticing that my dining room table looks a little vacant without the potted miniature roses and I’m wondering how to remedy that. And in the distant, I can hear the faint strains of my laundry calling for a revolution on the second floor:

Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?

And me? I’m still sitting here, luxuriating in that clean house feeling knowing full well the second floor is busy stroming a barricade! Denial was meant for Saturday morning.

Grim Grinning Ghosts

Oct 26, 2007 | This Life

When the crypt goes creak,
And the tombstones quake.
Spooks come out for a swinging wake.
Happy haunts materialize,
And begin to vocalize.
Grim grinning ghosts come out to socialize.

Now don’t close your eyes,
And don’t try to hide.
Or a silly spook may sit by your side.
Shrouded in a daft disguise,
They pretend to terrorize.
Grim grinning ghosts come out to socialize.

As the moon climbs high o’er the dead oak tree,
Spooks arrive for the midnight spree.
Creepy creeps with eerie eyes,
Start to shriek and harmonize.
Grim grinning ghosts come out to socialize.

When you hear the knell of a requiem bell,
Weird glows gleam where spirits dwell.
Restless bones etherialize,
Rise as spooks of every size.

If you would like to join our jamboree,
There’s a simple rule that’s compulsory.
Mortals pay a token fee.
Rest in peace, the haunting’s free.
So hurry back, we would like your company.

Burning

Oct 24, 2007 | This Life

Photo credit: Stephen Osman; LA Times.

At this point, the winds are dying down and the southland is cautiously hopeful that they have the upper hand on what is sure to be California’s worst fire storm. In fact, you can sense the shift in the tone of the media covering the fires. Now, the blame game begins. Questions about biodiversity and the encroachment of humans on unique habitats are already starting to appear. Even as millions face evacuations, the recriminations are flying. “Humans are at fault,” declares one actress. Fire victims “get what they deserve,” snarks another comedian. (google it, I’m not giving these sentiments any more space.) And the apparent wealth of the area makes many wonder about applying the word “victim” in this situation; the underlying current being that the rich have it coming or are undeserving of our compassion.

I have stayed glued to the LA Times since Malibu began burning. As disturbing as the images of blowing ash, raging fires, and burned out cars might be, I find the burgeoning sentiment toward the citizens of the southland far more chilling. There will be time to lay blame and discuss the very important realities of increased growth in one of California’s most biodiverse areas. While half a million people are displaced, living with family and friends if they’re lucking, living in stadiums if they are not—this is not that time. Nor is it time when thousands of fire fighters are still facing down the flames of a fire storm the proportions of which have never been seen. No, there will come a time when conversations will need to be had. By the people who remain, by the people who live there, by the people affected.

But never, never will it be time to deny the humanity of another human being. Never. The net worth of a human being should not determine our compassion for their suffering. And there is little doubt in my mind, that as these homes burn, their owners are indeed suffering. These are their homes. Their memories, their possessions, and in some cases, their livelihoods. Does it really matter if they built in a bad location? Does it really matter how much they spent on it? Must they really have to have less than we do, for us to acknowledge their suffering?

When I look at the photos, I don’t see L.A. on fire. I see real lives burning.