Hey Chris. Thank you for the Cave quotation. Almost nine months since Kathy went to heaven without me. I've never been so on my own. Needed to take a walk and try to talk to her. Tell her much I missed her, you know. "Be proud of yourself. Share the beauty and the joy," she said. Those aren't my words. She gave me a mantra and instruction. It was like just do this. Simple, brilliant. Share the beauty and the joy. What if it works?
I am a volunteer grantwriter for a nonprofit that provides residential care to profoundly emotionally disturbed kids ages 11 - 17 -- kids who have been neglected, abused, and failed by some of the adults they should have been able to trust. They are very difficult kids to love. When I read Nick Cave's post about love, it reminded me so much of the staff that works for this organization. They keep loving these kids, day after day, 24-7, risking their bodies and their hearts to care for them.
My mind is a jumble attempting to process what I just read. It is lovely! Your subject matter hits close to home because they are things that have been running through my mind of late. And thank you for teaching me a new word! Hiraeth. I love that! That sense of longing, the need to see where the road takes me, the need to create, and the need to find that place that speaks to my soul. Nick Cave's words are so spot on! If we spent more time loving on people what a world it would be. Thank you so much for sharing today, you have given me much to ponder!
I love the Nick Cave bit followed by the Harrison poem. It's like Cave is the inspiration, and Harrison is the way to practice what Cave is inspiring us to.
I've only found Nick Cave as of the pandemic and his Red Hand Files. I just finished all of the Smokehole Sessions, and I swear Martin gets at least one rave about Nick Cave's music and writing in nearly every episode (I think you'd like these convos by the way: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/smoke-hole-sessions/id1566369928).
What wonderful reminders! I came across Nick Cave's files when looking for guidance on grief for a friend, but then forgot about them. Priceless.
There is a Portuguese word, saudade, that means something similar. There's a whole genre of music called fado that reflects saudade. It pulls at that part of you, or that feeling, that we don't seem to have an exact word for in English? If you ever get a chance to hear it in person, it's worth it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SU2xGmhoX1M
Thanks for bringing me back to Nick Cave's The Red Hand Files.
"It is your duty to love in whatever way you can, and to move boldly into that love — deeply, dangerously and recklessly — and restore the world with your awe and wonder."
It does my heart good to know that he is sharing such wisdom out there in the wide world. Maybe there's some hope left for humanity. Now the old Beatles refrain is running through my head, "Love Is All You Need..."
Chris, thanks for lighting up my inbox with yet another wonderful note. Coincidentally, I posted this just yesterday on Twitter, trying hard to optimistically make it a better place for me:
Please share something new or old that you’ve loved deeply this year. And the change it has made.
(and added this quote as an image)
“ I have only one piece of advice, and it is the very best that I can give. Love. The world is waiting.” @nickcave
I got a couple of responses from the void. Will keep shouting.
A sense of longing. As a child I requested that my mother read a particular Golden Book story to me over and over and over. It was entitled The Magic Key. It was about two children who lived on the edge of a woods and discovered a rock with keyhole cut into it. They found the key, inserted it into the rock, and turned it. They were then transported into a magical world defined by beauty and wonder. As an adult I endeavored to live on the edge of a wood and I did. I achieved that for which I had longed. And though I never found a keyhole in a rock, I experienced many magical moments. Scarlet Tanagers frolicking among the pines, a Baltimore Oriole sitting at the top of an apple tree in full bloom, the background a crystal blue sky, shooting stars that lit the heavens.
Thank you for introducing me to Nick Cave. He definitely has the right idea. A life devoid of love is nothing but an existence. If you love, pain is unavoidable but I think, always worth the risk. Mr. Cave delivered brilliant and exquisite answers to the questions posed.
Most excellent that you include a poem by Jim Harrison in a piece about love. Harrison was the very essence of love mixed with a zest for life, which is a form of love, is it not? Hummingbirds, light hitting the canyon walls, deep-fried pork chops…love.
Hey Chris. Thank you for the Cave quotation. Almost nine months since Kathy went to heaven without me. I've never been so on my own. Needed to take a walk and try to talk to her. Tell her much I missed her, you know. "Be proud of yourself. Share the beauty and the joy," she said. Those aren't my words. She gave me a mantra and instruction. It was like just do this. Simple, brilliant. Share the beauty and the joy. What if it works?
I am a volunteer grantwriter for a nonprofit that provides residential care to profoundly emotionally disturbed kids ages 11 - 17 -- kids who have been neglected, abused, and failed by some of the adults they should have been able to trust. They are very difficult kids to love. When I read Nick Cave's post about love, it reminded me so much of the staff that works for this organization. They keep loving these kids, day after day, 24-7, risking their bodies and their hearts to care for them.
My mind is a jumble attempting to process what I just read. It is lovely! Your subject matter hits close to home because they are things that have been running through my mind of late. And thank you for teaching me a new word! Hiraeth. I love that! That sense of longing, the need to see where the road takes me, the need to create, and the need to find that place that speaks to my soul. Nick Cave's words are so spot on! If we spent more time loving on people what a world it would be. Thank you so much for sharing today, you have given me much to ponder!
I love the Nick Cave bit followed by the Harrison poem. It's like Cave is the inspiration, and Harrison is the way to practice what Cave is inspiring us to.
I've only found Nick Cave as of the pandemic and his Red Hand Files. I just finished all of the Smokehole Sessions, and I swear Martin gets at least one rave about Nick Cave's music and writing in nearly every episode (I think you'd like these convos by the way: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/smoke-hole-sessions/id1566369928).
What wonderful reminders! I came across Nick Cave's files when looking for guidance on grief for a friend, but then forgot about them. Priceless.
There is a Portuguese word, saudade, that means something similar. There's a whole genre of music called fado that reflects saudade. It pulls at that part of you, or that feeling, that we don't seem to have an exact word for in English? If you ever get a chance to hear it in person, it's worth it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SU2xGmhoX1M
Thanks for bringing me back to Nick Cave's The Red Hand Files.
"It is your duty to love in whatever way you can, and to move boldly into that love — deeply, dangerously and recklessly — and restore the world with your awe and wonder."
It does my heart good to know that he is sharing such wisdom out there in the wide world. Maybe there's some hope left for humanity. Now the old Beatles refrain is running through my head, "Love Is All You Need..."
I love Nick Cave (and that other guy, too). And I miss a patio in the desert. Thanks, Chris.
Just want to say how much I appreciate and love this newsletter. It’s always among the best things I read all week.
Chris, thanks for lighting up my inbox with yet another wonderful note. Coincidentally, I posted this just yesterday on Twitter, trying hard to optimistically make it a better place for me:
Please share something new or old that you’ve loved deeply this year. And the change it has made.
(and added this quote as an image)
“ I have only one piece of advice, and it is the very best that I can give. Love. The world is waiting.” @nickcave
I got a couple of responses from the void. Will keep shouting.
Thanks for the mention especially in the same paragraph as Warren Ellis. Well done as always.
Hi Chris,
A sense of longing. As a child I requested that my mother read a particular Golden Book story to me over and over and over. It was entitled The Magic Key. It was about two children who lived on the edge of a woods and discovered a rock with keyhole cut into it. They found the key, inserted it into the rock, and turned it. They were then transported into a magical world defined by beauty and wonder. As an adult I endeavored to live on the edge of a wood and I did. I achieved that for which I had longed. And though I never found a keyhole in a rock, I experienced many magical moments. Scarlet Tanagers frolicking among the pines, a Baltimore Oriole sitting at the top of an apple tree in full bloom, the background a crystal blue sky, shooting stars that lit the heavens.
Thank you for introducing me to Nick Cave. He definitely has the right idea. A life devoid of love is nothing but an existence. If you love, pain is unavoidable but I think, always worth the risk. Mr. Cave delivered brilliant and exquisite answers to the questions posed.
Chris, I am glad that you are having a good week.
Sincerely,
Melissa
Most excellent that you include a poem by Jim Harrison in a piece about love. Harrison was the very essence of love mixed with a zest for life, which is a form of love, is it not? Hummingbirds, light hitting the canyon walls, deep-fried pork chops…love.
“a longing to be where your spirit lives.” Thanks for introducing me to Hiraeth, Nick Cave, RBBS and a new-to-me poem by Jim H.
https://open.spotify.com/track/407ltk0BtcZI8kgu0HH4Yj?si=LBBWHyerSU-3j9C01RN8zQ
.