Posted on by Jessica Dofflemyer

Music Trumps the Alphabet

I spend all of my writing time this morning hunting high and low for the song.

After a fun-filled dose of Music as Medicine yesterday, I’m short on words and high on music.  Lots of fresh sounds in my ears bringing inspiration and the realization that sometimes letters of the alphabet just don’t cut it.

For instance, that song.  Sun Kil Moon‘s (aka Mark Kozelek) “Blue Orchid” has haunted me for years.  I recall one afternoon I just put it on repeat and probably listened to it ten times in a row.  Is it the chord progression?  The timbre of his voice?  The words of love, angels and a Paris hotel?  I really don’t know what it is about this song that moves me so deeply.  I do know that it seems impossible to put words to the essence of how it feels to hear those notes fill my ears.

So this morning I continued my search to be able to find some version to upload here.  Let the music play for itself.  No words, just a song.

But in all of my internet searches, I only found a handheld video bootleg of a live rendition in Portugal – terrible sound quality – and a woman’s You Tube photo collage with the song as the soundtrack.  Both seemed to detract from the song, itself.

What to do?

Write a post about the elusive tune that you can’t hear?

Then as the sun rose and my writing window slowly closed, I stumbled across something that will have to do.  A You Tube video featuring a still, black and white photo of a woman in shadows and scarves, accompanied by “Blue Orchids”.  I don’t know the origins of the photograph, but I’m feeling thankful for a means by which I can share the song (thanks FerventSylph).  One day maybe I’ll get the WordPress Space Upgrade and stream my own media.  For now, it’s You Tube City and Sun Kil Moon.

Posted on by Jessica Dofflemyer

Overflow in Motion

photo by Jeb

Recently, all creative juices have been aimed at setting some basic life practicalities in place.  This morning I come to the Archives with no cream for my coffee and feeling a bit inspirationally tapped.

Then I come across a photo taken by Jeb.

There does exist a well without end.
It sources somewhere between the notes of a song or the lines of a poem.
It courses through veins of arms that embrace.

My seven year old son has captured flow in motion.

Ahhh…the cup that runneth over!

Posted on by Jessica Dofflemyer

Windows

There were some windows on Sunday.

Moments between bagging three month’s worth of recycling and hauling it to the transfer station.  Time after I pulled out boxes and steamed-cleaned floors, trying to trace the scent of a dead animal in the closet (never found it).

There were windows with Radiohead, alone in the car.  Walking out of the art supply store with a fresh journal.  Opening the post office box to find a check.  Spraying countertops clean with the scent of lavender.  Pouring water into a new filtered pitcher.  Making popcorn with melted butter and Hawaiian salt.

courtesey of http://www.primitiveways.com

In the late afternoon, Jeb and I pick 80 Ti leaves so he can make his Hawaiian skirt for the school graduation ceremony.

“We need more!  They’re going to be able to see through it!”

By day’s end, I’m exhausted but organized.  Anticipating Monday but dedicated to the moment.  We take an evening stroll.  We walk slowly and choose the long way.

Sometimes he’ll hold my hand.  Sometimes he’ll practice cartwheels on the grass.  Sometimes he’ll hang on me like a jungle gym and drive me nuts.  I have to remind him that’s he’s big now, three-fourths my size.

Jessica Dofflemyer ~ all rights reserved

On the way back home he gets ahead of me.  It’s ok now, these days, for him to be a bit on his own.  He beats me to the house.  I arrive at the front door as he opens it from inside, a red ginger flower outstretched in his hand.  It’s the third flower he’s picked for me today.  I put it in an old glass honey jar.

We settle in for bed and read a chapter from Roald Dahl’s  “Danny the Champion of the World.”

Gotta love a Sunday with some windows.