September 30, 2004
-
Chapter 7 – Felix
Previous chapters autobiography see sidebarThere is only one time when we give it all away, the sorrow and the joy, the circle of the soul. Before this is practice, imagining, puzzles with pieces missing, and afterwards – approximations, sometimes beautiful, but compromises nonetheless.
One August 1963 afternoon in the New York City apartment of a friend, the door flew open and a tall, lanky, long-fingered, big-knuckled, 18-year-old Swiss painter stepped into my heart. In the United States on a six-month visa, he had been traveling around the country and had the address of my friend to look up.Though it has been a good 40 years since that day, I can remember exactly the tone of his voice, the accent, the intensity that burst from him, and the smell of the unfiltered French Gauloises cigarettes he chainsmoked all his life (and which contributed to his death from throat cancer in 2002). He came out of a background full of European bohemians. His mother, Eva Aeppli, was an artist as well, her second marriage to the well-known metal sculptor, Jean Tinguely, ending in divorce that year. He spoke Swiss-German, French, and English and had spent the past several years in Paris.
(to be continued)
Deep Thought: It’s interesting to think that my ancestors used to live in the trees, like apes, until finally they got the nerve to head out onto the plains, where some were probably hit by cars.
Today I am grateful for: Selective memory
Guess the Movie: “Who told you to step on my sneakers, who told you to walk on my side of the block, who told you to be in my neighborhood?” Answer: Do The Right Thing, 1989.
Winner merrow_mistral
Polls Today Kerry 254/Bush 280 EVP says: “Today is D-day. The first debate is tonight and may determine the result of the election. It will take a number of days to get any polling data though. Kind of makes today’s polls irrelevant.”
End of Day: 8:04 pm
+ = Grasping my tiny piece of kryptonite I snuck peeks at the debate, then tuned in to sample about half a dozen pundits afterwards. To my relief, they were all giving Kerry credit for doing a strong job. I’ll be interested to see what the polls do with it.
- = Mt. St. Helens is working itself up to blow.
Comments (10)
I love your autobiography! This is such a great idea, I will have to write one myself one day. Though I’m not sure it will be as interesting as yours!
“Do the right thing” is the movie I clicked comments thinking that thenarrator had posted his answer already. Good morning to you.
You win!
not today, though that’s one of the best movies ever (and I did live as a “white guy” right in that very neighborhood – plus I once did stage lighting for an Ossie Davis-Ruby Dee play).
I’m so thrilled that we’re back to your incredible life story. I’m enthralled.
interesting detail…
I’m glad you’re back to the autobiography too. Oh, and you got me a little fired up today and dragged me from work to reply at length. Please don’t take offense.
RIght on. See my answer over at FlakCat’s house.
I thought the name Jean Tinguely sounded familiar all day and only now came back and clicked on the link and discovered the Columbus, Indiana connection.
What’s the Indiana connection?
only one time we give it all away… I love that