You know this of course because you felt it when you were writing it. (There’s no way you didn’t. It’s right on the nerve.)
Reading a single piece of yours and I know you are the writer on Substack whose sensibilities are the closest to my own I won’t burden you with agreeing with me, but that’s my take reading this and feeling it: the situation, the character of you, the music, the, ugh, painful to say it out loud word “sensitivity,” but the masculinity of it as well, and the title of your site here, too curiously.
That’s a lot to take in. If not for your remarks on my own work I wouldn’t have burdened you with the comparison. But I stand by it.
I gave a eulogy last Thursday for my mother-in law. I wrestled with many of the same issues and responsibilities. After I gave it, I was sitting in the front row so I could see no one. I was sure it was a disaster.
It was not, but the burden of telling the truth, of the right words, of performance, of moving the worshippers was heavy. I’d been asked by her to do it months ago. Yes, the burden was heavy. So, this piece is topical.
Call it a coincidence.
I believe in coincidence as something that takes place randomly almost everywhere but not in who we meet. Or I believe that there are times when we are directed. It is the theme of Finisterre, the small miracle that travelled with me like a friendly stray dog before wandering off at the lighthouse. If you continue to read you’ll see.
Looking at your body of work here I’m a little in awe of your output honestly. The quality is dead on excellent - it’s the sheer quantity that is daunting.
I’m new here so I’m hoping my output frequency will improve as I get my creative bearings.
This piece was particularly challenging, and while I couldn’t help but feel the entire memory the entire time I wrote it, it felt like it was released into one of those empty voids where no cricket dares to chirp. Or are just occupied with other stuff.
Maybe that’s the way you felt giving your mother in law’s eulogy. But you also know that you moved many people in ways you don’t and won’t ever know about.
wow man. you gave me the chills numerous times. that's the name of my band, the chillz, named for exactly that feeling, the one that never lies, that can't be artificial, only real. you write beautifully. i can feel it. same when music goes and you can feel it. that's the power of the chillz, literally and figuratively. he who feels it knows it lord... bob marley told me that. it's been proven true my whole life. i feel you. good to know you. thanks...
Thank you! It’s great to be seen like this. I try to remember moments from my life where the chillz are amplified and then write from that state, trusting that the resonance will be imbued in the words
Thanks for sharing this, ET. I think there's something about music that both captures and expresses so many things at once. Sometimes even things that the human language have no words for. You playing at the funeral is a huge act of service to not just the family, but to mankind. We all need a bit of music at both the high and low parts of our lives. A great piece, ET.
moving moments beautifully captured
Thank you for saying that
This is exceptional.
You know this of course because you felt it when you were writing it. (There’s no way you didn’t. It’s right on the nerve.)
Reading a single piece of yours and I know you are the writer on Substack whose sensibilities are the closest to my own I won’t burden you with agreeing with me, but that’s my take reading this and feeling it: the situation, the character of you, the music, the, ugh, painful to say it out loud word “sensitivity,” but the masculinity of it as well, and the title of your site here, too curiously.
That’s a lot to take in. If not for your remarks on my own work I wouldn’t have burdened you with the comparison. But I stand by it.
I gave a eulogy last Thursday for my mother-in law. I wrestled with many of the same issues and responsibilities. After I gave it, I was sitting in the front row so I could see no one. I was sure it was a disaster.
It was not, but the burden of telling the truth, of the right words, of performance, of moving the worshippers was heavy. I’d been asked by her to do it months ago. Yes, the burden was heavy. So, this piece is topical.
Call it a coincidence.
I believe in coincidence as something that takes place randomly almost everywhere but not in who we meet. Or I believe that there are times when we are directed. It is the theme of Finisterre, the small miracle that travelled with me like a friendly stray dog before wandering off at the lighthouse. If you continue to read you’ll see.
Oh, and you need to up your output here.
Wow.
Looking at your body of work here I’m a little in awe of your output honestly. The quality is dead on excellent - it’s the sheer quantity that is daunting.
I’m new here so I’m hoping my output frequency will improve as I get my creative bearings.
This piece was particularly challenging, and while I couldn’t help but feel the entire memory the entire time I wrote it, it felt like it was released into one of those empty voids where no cricket dares to chirp. Or are just occupied with other stuff.
Maybe that’s the way you felt giving your mother in law’s eulogy. But you also know that you moved many people in ways you don’t and won’t ever know about.
Your comparison is not a burden, it’s an honor.
Thank You.
I just finished Finisterre. It’s one thing to hear the silence - and another altogether to speak it. Finisterre speaks.
wow man. you gave me the chills numerous times. that's the name of my band, the chillz, named for exactly that feeling, the one that never lies, that can't be artificial, only real. you write beautifully. i can feel it. same when music goes and you can feel it. that's the power of the chillz, literally and figuratively. he who feels it knows it lord... bob marley told me that. it's been proven true my whole life. i feel you. good to know you. thanks...
Thank you! It’s great to be seen like this. I try to remember moments from my life where the chillz are amplified and then write from that state, trusting that the resonance will be imbued in the words
That's the way to do it! Feeling is it. You got it...
ps. i took your suggestion and listened while i read. it was nice.
Great band name 🤘
indeed. it works. put a post up with a sample!! cheers...
Thanks for sharing this, ET. I think there's something about music that both captures and expresses so many things at once. Sometimes even things that the human language have no words for. You playing at the funeral is a huge act of service to not just the family, but to mankind. We all need a bit of music at both the high and low parts of our lives. A great piece, ET.
Thalia, thank you so much. What a generous and thoughtful comment.
Well said - “music captures and expresses so many things all at once” - and that is its gift.