I had some short stories, poems and photographs to share ... and so here I am

It Began With Her Obsession For Fridge Magnets ...

 

I just love this image, which I snapped during my recent trip to Aix-en-Provence. We all have our little obsessions, don't we? Is there anyone who doesn't collect strange things, worship something, become so focused on something that it addles the brain? I'm sorry, but we are obsessed by words. Rather, we are obsessed by capturing words on a page ... even if it's a computer page. We are no different to this person who moved their obsession from the fridge to the car. There. Don't go thinking we're far removed from this photo.

* * *

I saw an outdoor concert last night that I will never forget. Philip Glass played the piano under heavy rain, with thunder and lightning all around. Well, he was covered by the roof of the stage. We were out on the stone seats of a Roman amphitheatre, one of numerous sites around Lyon where Roman ruins have been preserved. We were given plastic raincoat-type covers and a piece of rubber to sit on. The rain didn't stop. It got heavier and heavier. We got soaked. But somehow it all added to the atmosphere. The brilliant music mixed in amazingly well with the sheets of rain. A wave of water that had built up on the roof crashed down just behind Glass but he didn't blink. The amphitheatre was packed. Everyone was brave. It was a concert that many of us will never forget. I play a little bit of Glass' music on the piano. I must now try to track down the sheet music for some of those other sublime songs I heard tonight. Closing from the Glassworks album is stunning.

Excuse me now while I dry myself down! I'm also going to count how many magnets I have on the fridge!

8 comments:

Suzan Abrams, email: suzanabrams@live.co.uk said...

What a gorgeous pic, Seamus.
I too have obsessions. Several interesting, colourful ones. :-)

As for the concert, I was thinking simply of your prism of experiences. One fascinating episode after another. They all add up to a slice of wondrous magic in the spirit.

Unknown said...

Love the picture. Well I have counted I have eight real fridge magnets and then Elvis, the cow and Kyle (from South park) have little quotes using Shakespearean fridge poetry magnets! Maybe I'll work something out for Magritte's 'apple man' later on. That seems to be combining the fridge magnet obsession with the words obsession.

Wanderlust Scarlett said...

That's so funny! I get magnets from every place I go to. The only one I missed was London (?!) go figure. So... I'll have to pick one up next time I'm over there. I have a lot. I also collect art work from little ones I know to put on my fridge. It's the 'youth gallery' in my home.
Mandatory.

The concert sounds like it was one of the best ever... how great. I got to see Norah Jones at Red Rocks outside in the moonlight with a friend, sitting on a warm sleeping bag and sipping overpriced lousy wine from a plastic cup, but the backdrop behind the stage was the Denver skyline, and with the full moon shining over all the red rocks... it was pretty great. Saw Luther Vandross in the rain. Excellent show.
Thanks for bringing back wonderful memories!


Scarlett & Viaggiatore

Anonymous said...

An original for sure that car. I wonder how she keeps them from flying off when she's driving? What a memory that concert!

S. Kearney said...

Susan,
Yes, obsessions, obsesssions. Where would we be without them.

V,
We also some pretty interesting fridge magnets, which are not yet ready to migrate to my car! :)

WS,
Me too. We always buy magnets now whereever we go. It's a great way to remember fabulous places, as I reach for the milk for a cuppa.

Kat,
Yes, I can already see this scene in a film. The little magnets jumping over to other cars and stunning people. :)

Dewey said...

I've heard Glass in concert too, but it was in a nice, dry auditorium. I think I'd stay to listen to him in the rain, too, though. And yes, PERFECT music to go with rain!

That car, I just consider that an ongoing art project, rather than a collection. Of course what really matters is what the car owner considers it. :)

Unknown said...

I'd be worried about people nicking them off the car as they passed by. I see I'm not the only one being rained on. But it didn't spoil your evening! :)

Anonymous said...

Great pic Seamus! And I thought I had a good collection of fridge magnets ;)