Oh, these shells are exquisite! I've always appreciated shells -- actually sold collector quality specimens at the sea shore! Anyway, the interior pink of little clam shells is one of my favorite images ever ever ever. I would take that with me! I would always have the sea at my fingertips. My other memory to live and die with is of having fallen in love at first sight quite unexpectedly when my father and I went to see Victor Borge perform in Philly in 1989. Backstage, so my father could talk to Borge, I turned aside from Borge's conversation with him and was met with the sight, a few feet away, of Borge's younger son. We looked at each other until he had to take Borge's arm to leave, knowing we would never meet even though this was as truly deeply love as can be. I'm so glad you're safe and vigilant and I wish you rest and love and strength. ( And I can't wait to see your Girls' Day collection in March!)
Sally, I agree with Brooks--this is an instance of true love!!! Love at first sight!!!!!!!! I also love shells.... they are almost surreal like flowers can be!
That's a lovely story, Sally. In fact it should be a genre unto itself--falling in love with someone at first sight and losing sight of them immediately after. A life's worth of love can be infused into those few minutes. Brevity doesn't diminish the lasting power of the encounter.
This beautiful post launched so many thoughts, it's hard to know where to begin. The tenth century (and earlier), both in China and Japan, seems to have cultivated an advanced aesthetic sensibility hardly known in the West at that time. The idea of delighting in the fall of wisteria blossoms, together with the appreciation of poetry, remind me of the evenings of music and dance enjoyed in the Southern Tang dynasty, as seen in the Night Revels of Han Xizai. We react to that poem of Izumi Shikibu you posted with the same intensity today as they did then. When I was researching Night Revels, I came across a section of a poem by the last ruler of the Southern Tang dynasty, Li Yu, which is one of the most moving expressions of grief that I've ever read. He is mourning the death of his wife.
Who is it says, of those departed,
they grow more remote as times goes by?
I long for her, that beautiful lady,
eternally remembering, just as at first.
"I love her but I cannot see her";
my heart seems to blaze and burn.
With chills and fever I am afflicted,
can I ever overcome this?
The line "eternally remembering, just as at first" echoes precisely that "favorite memory to take with you" that you are writing about in this post. Since I read your post I've been trying to think what my memory would be, and I haven't yet found the answer. There are remembered periods of time that I would take with me--my first summer alone in Salzburg, for instance, when I learned where I wanted to be and with whom. My years there were soul-nurturing in myriad ways.
Speaking of memory, memories of LA and Pacific Palisades have come flooding back this week. Places I loved that may no longer exist haunt me as well. But I am comforted that the people I know have survived. Keep well and stay safe, Leanne. And thanks for this post!
Your memory of the walk along the Seine made me cry, so much beauty and love. I don't know what my forever moment might be; maybe I haven't had it yet.
Thank you so much for an informative and evocative article! The museum I work at is now displaying a set of the shell matching game and I am going to look into the book on Yosano Akiko’s Japanese translation of the Genji. In affairs of ye heart, is fascinating to see how little has changed since then. My “forever memory” would have to be when my husband proposed to me. I was glad and grateful to get a second chance at love in my life when we met.
Sheila, thank you so much for this absolute beautiful comment. I know what you mean about a second chance I know exactly what you mean and it is a blessing! Thank you for sharing your forever memory. I loved hearing it!
Oh, these shells are exquisite! I've always appreciated shells -- actually sold collector quality specimens at the sea shore! Anyway, the interior pink of little clam shells is one of my favorite images ever ever ever. I would take that with me! I would always have the sea at my fingertips. My other memory to live and die with is of having fallen in love at first sight quite unexpectedly when my father and I went to see Victor Borge perform in Philly in 1989. Backstage, so my father could talk to Borge, I turned aside from Borge's conversation with him and was met with the sight, a few feet away, of Borge's younger son. We looked at each other until he had to take Borge's arm to leave, knowing we would never meet even though this was as truly deeply love as can be. I'm so glad you're safe and vigilant and I wish you rest and love and strength. ( And I can't wait to see your Girls' Day collection in March!)
Sally, I agree with Brooks--this is an instance of true love!!! Love at first sight!!!!!!!! I also love shells.... they are almost surreal like flowers can be!
That's a lovely story, Sally. In fact it should be a genre unto itself--falling in love with someone at first sight and losing sight of them immediately after. A life's worth of love can be infused into those few minutes. Brevity doesn't diminish the lasting power of the encounter.
Lovely! ♥️ I’m glad you’re safe.
And you too!!! And that you have power back!
This beautiful post launched so many thoughts, it's hard to know where to begin. The tenth century (and earlier), both in China and Japan, seems to have cultivated an advanced aesthetic sensibility hardly known in the West at that time. The idea of delighting in the fall of wisteria blossoms, together with the appreciation of poetry, remind me of the evenings of music and dance enjoyed in the Southern Tang dynasty, as seen in the Night Revels of Han Xizai. We react to that poem of Izumi Shikibu you posted with the same intensity today as they did then. When I was researching Night Revels, I came across a section of a poem by the last ruler of the Southern Tang dynasty, Li Yu, which is one of the most moving expressions of grief that I've ever read. He is mourning the death of his wife.
Who is it says, of those departed,
they grow more remote as times goes by?
I long for her, that beautiful lady,
eternally remembering, just as at first.
"I love her but I cannot see her";
my heart seems to blaze and burn.
With chills and fever I am afflicted,
can I ever overcome this?
The line "eternally remembering, just as at first" echoes precisely that "favorite memory to take with you" that you are writing about in this post. Since I read your post I've been trying to think what my memory would be, and I haven't yet found the answer. There are remembered periods of time that I would take with me--my first summer alone in Salzburg, for instance, when I learned where I wanted to be and with whom. My years there were soul-nurturing in myriad ways.
Speaking of memory, memories of LA and Pacific Palisades have come flooding back this week. Places I loved that may no longer exist haunt me as well. But I am comforted that the people I know have survived. Keep well and stay safe, Leanne. And thanks for this post!
Salzburg.... it is a place of memories and dreams!! Winds are expected again, air still awful :(
Love this! Glad you are keeping safe. And I will ponder on your question :) “I know what moment I would choose, do you?”
Thank you!!! It has been a very rough few days.... and this may well continue through next week :(
Take good care and keep well, Leanne!
Your memory of the walk along the Seine made me cry, so much beauty and love. I don't know what my forever moment might be; maybe I haven't had it yet.
I'm glad you're safe, and I hope you stay safe!
Thank you, Mary!! I think you might love the book Sum xoxoxooxox
Lovely post. So glad you're safe.
Thank you!!! And so thankful to be in a safe place. This is really too close for comfort and what we’re seeing is just heartbreaking.
Thank you so much for an informative and evocative article! The museum I work at is now displaying a set of the shell matching game and I am going to look into the book on Yosano Akiko’s Japanese translation of the Genji. In affairs of ye heart, is fascinating to see how little has changed since then. My “forever memory” would have to be when my husband proposed to me. I was glad and grateful to get a second chance at love in my life when we met.
Sheila, thank you so much for this absolute beautiful comment. I know what you mean about a second chance I know exactly what you mean and it is a blessing! Thank you for sharing your forever memory. I loved hearing it!