It's awfully dark and quiet here,Eva. Electricity out again, I see. I have 30 minutes left of the battery on my notebook, then I will fall into darkness and may have to - gasp - read a book by candle light or something outrageous like that.
ah, it's back. i'm saved. no inteleguan activities for me then.
i'll have a gluh wein when you get a chance, danke shon.
Mr. Cohen has lived in Montreal and Nashville and New York City; he spent much of the 1960's and 1970's on the Greek island of Hydra. He now lives in Los Angeles, and since 1970, he has been studying with a Japanese teacher of Rinzai Buddhism. He regularly retreats in a Buddhist monastery 6,200 feet up on Mount Baldy, northeast of Los Angeles. But Mr. Cohen is no ascetic.
"My teacher never invited me to become a Buddhist," he said. "He taught me how to distinguish between Rémy Martin and Courvoisier - that was one of the first things - and he taught me how to drink very well. He also embodied a certain ideal of friendliness which I found very seductive. I didn't feel that I was one in a million: felt that I was with a friend, and still do."
As he takes final sips of green tea, Mr. Cohen remembers that he is close to St. Patrick's Cathedral. "On the front doors, on the great bronze doors," he says, "there's an Indian woman by the name of Catherine Tekakwitha who occupies one of the lower quadrants of the door. I wrote about her.
"She lived not far from me in Montreal in the 17th century. She's not a saint yet, she's a venerable, but there's a cult working for her beatification. She was the first Iroquois to take an oath of virginity. The Iroquois are and were a lusty, energetic people, and the fact that she took an oath of virginity was considered very significant. There are also miracles attached to her existence, and the dust of her grave, when used as amulets and in various situations, has produced miraculous healings. When I was younger and the book had been published and I was around New York, I used to put some flowers in her braid."
On the way out of the restaurant, Mr. Cohen stops at Takashimaya's flower shop to buy some white lilies, and he strolls the three blocks to the cathedral. He walks up the steps, tucks the flowers into the bas-relief and stands in contemplation. Passers-by pretend the scene is unremarkable: it's just a gentleman in a black suit making a silent homage.
Joe, I think your selection captures the heart of a lot of us. It certainly speaks to mine. It's one of my favorites. Thank you.
Dys, I didn't know that about Leonard. What a fascinating story. What a compelling portrait you paint with your words.
How I would love to be in the room with you and Joe together sometime.....<dreaming>.....Oh Wait! I am!
I really do love it here.
With or without electricity.
(Sorry, Dag.) Uh, can someone translate "gluh wein" for Jacques, please? Whatever it is, I'm sure we have it. See all those bottles and taps, Dag? That's right, just point and nod. Jacques...pour two for her to make up for our lack of sophistication, would you? (I am so ashamed.)
it's just hot wine with sugar and spices. i'm sick you know.
Eva wrote: Uh, can someone translate "gluh wein" for Jacques, please?
Vin chaud - écorce d'eglantine, poivre noir en grains, clou de girofle, ecorce d'orange, canelle, en peut d'anis et jus de citron .... et vin rouge ordinaire :wink:
No, no, it's better with a sweet Bordeaux.
Vin chaud
Francis wrote:No, no, it's better with a sweet Bordeaux.
D'accord - only the best for the girls!
i'll take anything, even warm cooking wine. feeling rather under the weather...
I hope you get to feeling better soon damaraka.
Sounds a bit like Glug...
Oh, poor Dag! Here, let's make her comfortable. There's a nice cushy sofa over there by the fire. We'll bring you some "gluh wein" or whatever it's called along with a box of Kleenex and some nice celebrity magazines. Nothing like mindless entertainment when one is ill. How's your stomach feeling? Can you handle some food? Chocolate, perhaps? Just lie down here and let me put this chenille throw over you.....<plumping pillows>
I'll take that free drink you mentioned in your ad, Eva. What are you pouring tonight?
Jacques, our sommelier, suggests you try one of our vintage wines. There's a chalkboard on the wall. Of course, if you're not a wine drinker, we have everything else as well. What's your pleasure?
hmmm, my personal favorite is a cabernet from Silver Oak vineyards. A nice cab would be wonderful, thanks.
Oh, Jaaaacques!!!
I haven't tried that one, J_B. Mind if I join you?
By all means, Eva. It's a small vineyard Mr B and I discovered a few years back during a visit to Santa Rosa. It's pricey so we tend to drink it as a celebration wine but we enjoy it.
Well then, I'll have Jacques make a note to stock an extra case of it here just for you.
<glancing over at sofa> I wonder how Dag will feel when she wakes up this morning? Poor thing, she was feeling so bad last night that I just let her sleep there.
RP just revived an old thread on the medical board about drinking and disease links. Based on the definition of 'heavy social drinking' I'm a lightweight. May I have another please?
