with the exception of one or two other posts, i never go into them with any plan or purpose. i never have any idea where they will go and i don't usually edit. i put on whatever music i want to share and write as i listen to it. "why are you staring into outer space" has always been the finnegan's wake of music blogs (one of the most brilliant people i've ever met said that the only way to read ulysses was in a hot bath with a minimum of one bottle of red wine...i'd appreciate the same criteria for my blog.) as though this paragraph could lead to anywhere else, this one is slightly different. i'm going to try to take my time while i sip my wine.
a few days ago i filled out an online survey on which i answered the question, "where is your favorite place in the world?"
in the whole wide world...hhhmmmmmmmmm...
since the survey was sent to me by a sj sharks buddy, who had answered, "the shark tank," i followed in her footsteps. however, the stupid little question nagged at me in a way that a silly little myspace repost survey answer never should.
i thought and thought and came up with a handful of moments where i felt perfect and complete and just right. they were pretty diverse moments. watching my sister play santa on xmas, and handing a present to mom that she totally didn't see coming. i've been to a couple of concerts that were nearly transcendent...joanna newsom comes to mind. there are those moments with my favorite boys, when the love in the room makes strangers uncomfortable (the segovia's field...slave ship...bubblegum on a bbq?) seeing one of my defenders score her first varsity goal in the playoffs, in the last game of her high school career. watching chas read his vows and grin like an idiot through his first dance.
and then there are those moments with girls. one or two of those stand out. ..but no one wants to hear about all of that.
and on and on and on...i hope everyone has an insanely long list like this.
but see, all these memories that came to mind were moments...not really places. so, back to the drawing board.
(now, i'm a good enough writer to understand that i could turn any of those into places...but that doesn't really seem to be in the spirit of the question...now does it?)
so...places. my answer of the shark tank is a good one and would make any list...there is no feeling like screaming in pure ecstasy with 18,000 other people, i literally almost made myself pass out twice this season from screaming so hard...seriously, i almost pitched forward both times. the top story of MOMA in ny. pt lobos and mavis lake. dog beach when it's packed.
but--to be perfectly frank--none of these really did it for me. however, the survey didn't matter at all, and i was tired of hammering the thing half to death (though trying to recall one's happiest moments isn't the saddest way to spend ten minutes) so i left my original answer of "the shark tank."
but, later that day, i was listening to my ipod on random...and the answer was given to me. the simple and simplistic answer:
The Decemberists. Of Angels and Angles.
There are angels in your angles
There's a low moon caught in your tangles
There's a ticking at the sill
There's a purr of a pigeon to break the still of day
As on we go drowning
Down we go away
And darling, we go a-drowning
Down we go away
Away
There's a tough word on your crossword
There's a bed bug nipping a finger
There's a swallow, there's a calm
Here's a hand to lay on your open palm today
As on we go drowning
Down we go away
And darling, we go a-drowning
Down we go away
Away
There are angels in your angles
There's a low moon caught in your tangles
i'm very aware that my interpretation of this song's meaning may have very little connection to colin's intentions....and i can see the darkness in it if i wish. but, for me, this is a song about the calm perfection of laying in bed in love. this isn't a message to a coy mistress, quite the opposite! it's a celebration of the blissful isolation of love beneath sheets, that place where the outside world has no dominion. a place without modestly or shame. a place where only two exist and even their imperfections are completely perfect. a place where the outside world not only has no dominion, but where it can be completely and truly forgotten because....maybe....just maybe...the world extends out in all directions from that bed.
and so, that is my answer. that is my favorite place.
it is a place where i haven't been in so many years. i've been close though...
ps...
y'all should hope that i don't fall in love again...otherwise you may never see me here again ;)
(ed note: HA! how true that was...3/23/11)
omg! a totally awesome and fun and seaworthy bonus song for those of you who made it to the bottom. see, the blog hasn't gone completely emo on you:
The Decemberists. The Mariner's Revenge Song. Lyrics.
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