Streets of Tears and Misery
that any should have hearts so hardened in the midst of such a calamity as to rob and steal, yet certain it is that all sorts of villainies, and even levities and debaucheries, were then practised in the town as openly as ever — I will not say quite as frequently, because the numbers of people were many ways lessened.
But in the whole the face of things, I say, was much altered; sorrow and sadness sat upon every face; and though some parts were not yet overwhelmed, yet all looked deeply concerned; and, as we saw it apparently coming on, so every one looked on himself and his family as in the utmost danger…
London might well be said to be all in tears; the mourners did not go about the streets indeed, for nobody put on black or made a formal dress of mourning for their nearest friends; but the voice of mourners was truly heard in the streets.
The shrieks of women and children at the windows and doors of their houses, where their dearest relations were perhaps dying, or just dead, were so frequent to be heard as we passed the streets, that it was enough to pierce the stoutest heart in the world to hear them.
Tears and lamentations were seen almost in every house, especially in the first part of the visitation; for towards the latter end men’s hearts were hardened, and death was so always before their eyes, that they did not so much concern themselves for the loss of their friends, expecting that themselves should be summoned the next hour.
…those streets which were usually so thronged now grown desolate, and so few people to be seen in them, that if I had been a stranger and at a loss for my way, I might sometimes have gone the length of a whole street (I mean of the by-streets), and seen nobody to direct me except watchmen set at the doors of such houses as were shut up…
Plague for the Poor
image via tsiosophy
But we perceived the infection kept chiefly in the out-parishes, which being very populous, and fuller also of poor, the distemper found more to prey upon than in the city, as I shall observe afterwards.
We perceived, I say, the distemper to draw our way, viz., by the parishes of Clarkenwell, Cripplegate, Shoreditch, and Bishopgate; which last two parishes joining to Aldgate, Whitechappel, and Stepney, the infection came at length to spread its utmost rage and violence in those parts, even when it abated at the western parishes where it began.
Siouxsie and the Banshees, 1979
Every once in a while — often when we least expect it — we encounter someone more courageous, someone who choose to strive for that which (to us) seemed unrealistically unattainable, even elusive. And we marvel. We swoon. We gape. Often , we are in awe. I think we look at these people as lucky, when in fact, luck has nothing to do with it. It is really about the strength of their imagination; it is about how they constructed the possibilities for their Life. In short, unlike me, they didn’t determine what was impossible before it was even possible.Fail Safe – Debbie Millman’s fantastic illustrated essay of timeless advice on courage and the creative life.
Parts of this are a little too minimalist for me, but I really enjoy a lot of aspects as well.
Crows And Ravens on @weheartit.com - http://whrt.it/12qNCJ6
Authentic Detective Cases ~ “I Used My Body For Blackmail” (Buse Book, January, 1950, Volume 4, Number 2, is published bi-monthly by Baffling Mysteries, Inc.)
Yes! Wonderful. Wonderful. Perhaps too cool for my tastes because I prefer more warm, and organic spaces, it is still such a pleasure to look at.
‘Chinatown’ - 1974 film poster, starring Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway
Dark Clouds in Coffee
(image via cafe marocchino)
The other day it was -13C when I walked to work. Today it was a mostly sunny 16C. The madness of the weather here in Alberta is something to behold.
My favourite book of all time is The Story of Philosophy by Will Durant. I listened to that while I walked to work. I feel relieved that the cold seems to be gone for at least five months. I hope to make the most out of what little of Spring and Summer we do get up north.
My perfume today is Grief by BPAL (of course). I guess it inspired a somber mood in me so I listened to the 50 darkest pieces of classical music while I worked.
I also finished the rough draft of my Ultimate Nerdy Bucket List. It consists of 1306 items. That’s a lot! So yeah, I need to whittle it down to something much more manageable. Not tonight though because the hockey game is on.
The 80s in May
(image via Terry Johnson)
Listening: Joise Cotton; The Go-Go’s; and The Flirts. I also started a 1980s playlist on Youtube. It has some 1970s mixed in but that’s only natural.
Reading: The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. So close to being done. I re-started from Week 9. I hope to be done by the end of May.
Watching: I watched Valley Girl at lunch. Tonight is game 1 between the Vancouver Canucks and the San Jose Sharks so I’ll be glued to the TV. Perfect excuse to start knitting my Tetris scarf, like, y’know?
Doing: Wondering why the 80s are back? Because it’s The 80s in May! I grew up in the 1970s and 1980s. I usually spend most of my time focused on the 1970s, but I do have a lot of love for the 1980s, especially 1980 to 1987. Those were great years to be a kid. I sure had a lot of fun.
I’m not going to spend the month re-living all the stuff I grew up with. There will of course be exceptions, but I want to focus on enjoying and sharing all the stuff I was too young to really “get” or got to enjoy. So it will be a mix.
Eating: Nothing fancy. Poached eggs on rye toast.
Wearing: Jeans and a t-shirt. Boy is this question getting tedious.
Feeling: Good, I guess. Excited that the NHL playoffs have started. I’m also enjoying dabbling in the 1980s. It’s been a fun day.
Weather: Started at -13C this morning. It’s a bright and sunny 4C right now.
Wanting: To knit and watch hockey. That’s about it really. Oh wait, I would also like some jelly bracelets :) That would be cool.
Needing: I don’t need anything. My truck however needs an oil change, so I’m going to do that on my day off tomorrow.
Thinking: about my Ultimate Nerdy Bucket List. I have about 800 items on it. So close to being done. I have about 300 more items to add and then I ruthlessly prune the list.
Enjoying: the sunshine. I just wish it was warmer.
Valley Girl (1983) Nicolas Cage (Full Movie)
