1. Reread Franny and Zooey and Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters for the first time in decades, both in one week. Maybe skip Seymour, an Introduction.
2. On a late afternoon in early December, go out for a long walk.
3. Forget about Christmas. Just don't even think about it. It's cancelled this year.
4. See the decorations on people's houses and lawns. Notice how pretty some of them are.
5. As with all seasonal changes, it's all about the trees and the sky. Check out the bare branches against the grey-blue-brown smoke texture. Look at the pale sun region trying to shine in the middle of the swirling haze.
6. When it starts getting dark, admire all the lights that come on. Think about the crazy amount of work that humans do to make what is basically an alternate reality for themselves to live in, just because they like things to look a certain way. Even if a lot of that work's results don't come anywhere near achieving the expressive and aesthetic standards you think preferable and know possible, it's still pretty goddamn impressive that so many members of our species are willing to spend that much time and energy working on it. I mean, look at it! It's everywhere!
7. Rent The Royal Tenenbaums.
8. Cry when Margot walks off the bus in slow motion to Nico's "These Days," a perfect expression of inescapable and hopeless love on her face. Laugh when Gene Hackman says, "Oh, no no... that's um... dog's blood."
9. Pay special attention to the cemetery and rooftop scenes — the saturated foreground browns against the cold grey-blue sky. There's those tree branches again!
10. The next day, after it has snowed for the first really substantial time, go out for another long afternoon walk. This time, look at how the snow on the trees brings out their three-dimensionality, like a sort of reverse shading. It's as if they're being illuminated from above by a very bright spotlight.
11. Write down everything you are feeling. Try hard not to emulate Salinger, but allow yourself one "goddamn," just as a tribute.
Now you're all set! Enjoy the show for the next five months or so.
6 comments:
#3 is the best idea. Tell me how you do it. Many people are feeling the same way , except if you have little kids. Next year I would like to get out of here, almost anywhere. Had dinner with Ali,and most of the whole gang minus Jason and Mike. Good fun.
Mum
Man, I love you!
Yes, Step 3 is definitely one of the most important ones. How you do it is: temporarily.
Oh yeah, also, don't go anywhere near any stores.
That was really beautiful to read while listening to that little piece of music. Thank you. I've never seen The Royal Tenenbaums but think I should.
As huge major Salinger fan you had me at #1. This sounds like the perfect way to detox from the blogging and make it through the season. Great list, Andrew.
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