Whose feet might you kiss?

[Guest]

Haldir, hombre! You've won me over yet again. Donne and Plath! We must talk.

I hope my ex's are as grateful for my leavings. Don't really know, but it's nice to hear of your own appreciation for yours.

Erm, well... I knew you couldn't be perfect. I've never taken to Mozart but for bits and pieces. My musical hero is Beethoven. (We can talk.)

Now sit down, lad. I worked at Caltech in the same division and building as Feynman. I was there when he died. He was one of the most remarkable and happy creatures that ever walked the earth. I used to go to lunch with his secretary. He was the life of the place, I still miss him.

My opinion: you're are no hick however back of the woods you reside. But, richt daftie?

Perdita

 

[haldir]

Talking sounds good tae me lassie.

"richt daftie" basically means "very stupid".

Glad you like Donne, far too few people know of him in my experience.

Glad to debate the merits of Mozart and Beethoven with you.

haldir

 

[ABSTRUSE]

I would kiss the feet of Sir John Everett Millais, the pre-raphealite painter and if not him then Waterhouse or Alma Tedema. I could sit in front of one of their paintings for hours, imagining myself into the scenery.

Olivia, the queen of erotica pinup art (see my AV) need I say more?

I would love to dance like Fred and Ginger.

Be a tenth of what Katherine Hepburn was.

And embrace the brains and beauty of Nefartiti.

 

[Clare Quilty]

... Anyway, the old lady really gave me pause for thought ... She utterly embodied her faith, it's a thing for me to envy only.

I'm with you on Ella and Eleanor too. Thanks, P.

I am a devout atheist. Most of what I've seen and read of the world's religions is utterly hypocritical--for instance, that most protestant christians seem to give more weight to the old testament than to the gospels. I find that a curiousity, but as I don't believe in any of it, it presents no existential crisis or anything.

Mother Teresa is something of a troubling enigma. She lived her life as would someone who truly believed in an immortal soul and heaven and the saints etc. Most religious proselytizers, at least to me, seem to mired in the material world, its pleasures and avariciousness. Someone with a mansion and a Bentley can tell me nothing of spiritual matters, as it is obvious (again at least to me) that they don't really believe what they profess to believe. Mother Teresa walked it liked she talked it. She had only to snap her fingers and millions would have flocked to her and raise her to demigod status, the likes of which no Ayatollah could begin to imagine. But, she never did anything of that sort. Everything she was given she sold and used the proceeds to feed the poor and heal the sick. I find that kind of faith, the kind I can't look upon with haughty distain, disturbing.

As you can probably tell, even though I'm an atheist some of that cult of Mary stuff remains--which is probably why all of the people I listed were women.

 

[Guest]

Q., I am devotedly ambivalent about god and Catholicism (my RCC being more of the Left-wing Mexican kind). Thing is, being as I work in a place run by Catholics (Jesuits), I've met others like the old lady, both religious and lay. I worked for a man, a priest, who was the most non-judgmental person I've ever met. Religious irony? Ha ha. At the time he was in his late sixties, and had had a great career as an executive officer in higher education. Irish, witty, sharp as a tack.

He took public transportation, vs. cabs. He had two black outfits, both worn and near threadbare. His umbrella was a joke, took him five minutes to open it, longer to close it. He bought those $1.99 digital Wal-Mart type watches. He ate at Denny's when traveling. He hated receiving xmas gifts (usually got books and would give them to me; a witty dean once gave him "The History of Hell", fun read). He took vacation time cos he was forced to, and would simply bird-watch in the surroundings of wherever he lived.

One time my teenage son called to say he couldn't breathe. Turned out he had asthma, but I was terrified at the time. I went to tell my boss that I had to leave and why. He canceled the rest of his appointments and insisted on driving me (borrowing a car from the rectory) to pick up my son and take him to the ER. I thanked him at the hospital but he came in with us, said his presence might get him quicker attention (he was wearing his Roman collar). I kept thinking of his status and how much money the priest's time was worth, but all he had in focus was me and my son.

I can't explain it but he seemed to embody Love. He also never ever spoke about the church or Jesus (unless asked). Like Mother Teresa he embodied his faith. It is people like him who keep me ambivalent and agnostic.

Thanks for your thoughts, always. P.

 

[rgraham666]

The truly faithful are so rare. They are a joy to encounter.

Even if they make you feel bad.

 

[Guest]

As you can probably tell, even though I'm an atheist some of that cult of Mary stuff remains--which is probably why all of the people I listed were women.

That's funny. Even in my most devout youth I rejected the BVM. A Carmelite nun pointed out to me (in my 50s) that it was probably due to my awful relationship with my mother. True. I suppose it's different for boyz. P.

 

[Clare Quilty]

Originally posted by
perdita ... I suppose it's different for boyz.

That is probably true for a number of reasons--not the least of which I would guess is because male children generally do not have the same kind of intimate relationship or the same types of conflicts with their mothers that daughters typically have. For reasons I cannot fully explain, I find the idea of the mysterious, beneficent, divine and unknowable more plausible manifested in a feminine aspect--call this Asherah, Isis, Kali, Ishtar, Lilith, Mary or what have you. Even if I believed in the existence of deities, I could never worship a male god without wanting to supplant him.

C.Q. (aspiring morning star)