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Non-Fiction
'A Flake of Your Life' Postscript
By Lizzy
07 June 2007
Coincidence, is there such a thing?
   


In memorium

‘A Flake of Your Life’

 



I enjoy Saturday evenings. The end of the week and the chance to try out a new recipe. Last Saturday, halibut marinated in spices. Delicious! Then something worthwhile to watch on the TV. The highlight was Casualty. So we decided, unusually, to listen to some music.
 
It was Leonard Cohen. I love his music and especially his poetry. When I listen to these sounds I am taken back thirty years to a time that is very special to me. We enjoyed the music, and the wine.
I sang along with all of the words, imprinted on my memory.


I usually manage to get up first and so, take advantage of this quiet period to spend time with the computer. Playing solitaire, investigating Genes Connected, reading stories on GW, viewing my emails. There were the usuals, messages from friends, offers of holidays, clothes, food etc, etc.
 
Then I noticed that a message had been isolated by the anti spam filter. Its title was ‘Health Matters’. I was about to ignore it, thinking it might be an offer for viagra or some sort of sexual aid when I noticed the name, ’Mick’.


‘I was feeling very tired and out of sorts.


I saw the doctor and eventually lung cancer was diagnosed.


As an ex smoker should I be surprised!


An operation with chemo and radio therapy to follow.


Reni has been my backbone now, and always.


I am positive. I try to influence those around me with this feeling.’



I am taken back thirty years. Sitting with real friends.
 
Mag has made some home made wine, elderflower I think, very potent. We’ve just eaten a rabbit casserole. I’m not too sure about it but money is a bit tight so it’s a cheap option.


Mick puts a record on the record player.
 

‘And Jane came by…….’

Leonard Cohen.
The first time I had heard him and his music.

I suppose the friends and the music, an influence on the rest of my life.





I find that I am sleeping and waking to the lyrics of Leonard Cohen which means so much more than what the words actually say.



I wrote this earlier in the year. Since we have heard from Reni that Mick has lost his battle.

Youth, hopes, the future all ahead and friendship its firm foundation.



 


Reviews
Famous Blue Raincoat
Written by Bottleblondesurfer (3295 comments posted) 6th June 2007
It true what you say, Lizzie, there are certain moments that define who you are and that must be one of yours and that is why the music and words means so much. That very song has haunted me for years. I almost feel I have a relationship with the song, it defines something about me and I am thrilled to know it reaches someone else. Something like that is impossible to explain but you came damn close 
I send my regards 
Jane
"The highlight of the weekend .........
Written by Bagheera (680 comments posted) 7th June 2007
......... was Casualty" :zzz  
 
I guess you think as little of the Saturday night TV offerings as we do, then! Casualty USED to hold my/our interest, but not for many months now .... :sigh  
 
Everyone has their own LC favourites, I suppose: mine has to be "Suzanne" from his VERY early work! 
 
You paint a wonderfully descriptive picture with superb economy of words. Thanks for sharing this and stirring up memories for me, too
.... and BTW
Written by Bagheera (680 comments posted) 7th June 2007
:grin No, as it happens, I've recently decided that there's NO SUCH THING as "coincidence" and this idea has given me a gentle shove towards my next attempt at a novel ............. 8)

Written by Gill21 (566 comments posted) 7th June 2007
I don't know the song but i was moved by this piece. So succinct yet with every word you struck a chord. The bond you share with your friends shone brightly. Life's a funny old thing. Coincidence? I'd go a bit deeper than that. A lovely little story.

Written by Phil (6635 comments posted) 7th June 2007
I dodn't know the song either but your friendships, bonds, sadness, and even perhaps a yearning for the past, came through in this. 
 
With Gill on this one. Lovely. 
 
Phil. 
 
PS Going to google LC now and see if I can listen to some of his stuff.

Written by Lizzy (783 comments posted) 7th June 2007
Thanks for the reviews. Maybe positive thoughts from reviewers will help Mick in his fight, who knows. 
 
Glad that there is such appreciation of LC, most of my friends are of the opinion that he is dreary and depressing. 
 
Be interested to know what you think Phil if you manage to listen to any of his stuff. I suppose the early stuff is the best but I'm quite fond of some of the tracks from his most recent recording 'Dear Heather', it doesn't have the haunting quality of the early work though. 
Lizzy

Written by Phil (6635 comments posted) 8th June 2007
Could only find thirty second clips without having to pay. Liked what I heard. Got a bit distracted when I saw a link to Joni Mitchell though. Spent a happy half hour listening to 30 second blasts of her. 
 
Music's a funny thing - I think some pieces trigger memories and emotions - clearly different for different people. Joni Mitchell presses a few buttons for me, even though I'm too young to have experienced her best stuff first time round. 
 
Phil
Hi Lizzy
Written by jean.day (2257 comments posted) 30th June 2007
This was very well written, and an evocative piece. I wasn't clear whether your email was from the same Mick, or whether it was just the name Mick that brought back memories of another one. It doesn't really matter to the story, although if it was the real Mick after all those years, that would be quite amazing, if you had not had contact over all that time.

Written by Fledermaus (3238 comments posted) 14th December 2007
Strange how people often do not even listen to lyrics or, how like in here, there seems to be more than lyrics... I don't know Leonard Cohen, but it's a good read.

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