On the 2nd we were were talking about Brian Doyle and his final letter “Dear Coherent Mercy: thanks. Best life ever.” That was very moving to say the least. Yea.
My Rebecca was so impressed with him when she saw him at a talk at Seattle U last year maybe. And she bought several books of his, one of which I am holding in my hand entitled “How The Light Gets In And Other Headlong Epiphanies”. On the title page in Brian’s hand is this note, “To Phil, with my regards – welcome to the wild weird joy of Catholicism – Brian Doyle”. Yea, that’s it. I might mention that Seattle U is a Jesuit school and Rebecca probably told him that I was a recent convert to this wild and weird joy.
So I am just getting around to reading this wild and weird book after all this time. Now I am having a rest from the pace that folks were giving me books at which seemed like two a day. I mean there was no way that I was going to keep current under those circumstances but am trying to catch up now. It is a poetry book but it is made up of prose poems, a new one on me. But it is good as his letter and am enjoying it.
So at this same time I am listening to a lot of Pink Martini and my current fav song is “Hey Eugene” written and performed by China Forbes. It is a wild and weird song about her meeting this guy at a party on Avenue A and hitting it off and leaving her phone number and for whatever reason he doesn’t call back, just nothing. So, the song is this intense longing for a reconnection. “Hey Eugene, remember me?”
OK Felipe, how does this all fit together? Well, last night on the very last page of the book in Brian’s hand is his email address. It’s like a “Hey Phil, remember me?” I’m so touched.
Yea, life is fleeting, make stuff happen. Love you, remember me? Felipe.
Dear Felipe, In case I didn’t already comment on how much I was touched by “Dear Coherent Mercy,” here it is. What beautiful writing. Brian must be quite a guy…setting an example for all of us on gratitude and praise. You, Felipe, are also quite a guy. I read your writing every day and it always offers something good. Insight, laughter, a reminder to slow down and pay attention to God as He is present in all the lovely details of our lives. Please keep on with the gift of your blog…I love it.
Blessings and peace to you on this blustery NW day…Joy
Joy ~ thanks so much for your kind words, you are such a great cheerleader, just what I need. I just looked on Amazon.com and Brian has something like 25 books. I’ve read Mink River, a very Northwesty book. Rebecca read the Plover about the South Seas. He died of a brain tumor just a few weeks ago. He was sixty. He was creative, quirky and pious. That’s what I want to be when I grow up. Felipe.x
Listening to Pink Martini and really liking it, especially “Hey Eugene”.
“The Handler”
dear Handler ~ check out PM on YouTube. Hey Eugene is on there. Felipe.x
Hola Felipe,
Catching up down here! that email address written there handwritten was quite something, right…? and here I am writing to you, also after clicking in a link and now, we are friends… the quote from Pope Francis that we both found moving says it all, doesn’t it?
“Quite a few years of life have strengthened my conviction that each and everyone’s existence is deeply tied to that of others: life is not time merely passing by, life is about interactions.”
Hugs to you my friend!
Cris ~ Brian Doyle is an Irishman by the way. The whole Irish corner of Catholicism is most interesting. Love hearing from you. Felipe.x
“To grow up Catholic is to be especially lucky as an artist, because you are soaked in miracle and mystery and symbol and smoke and the confident assertion that every moment is pregnant with miracle and possibility and stuffed with holiness like a turducken” – Brian Doyle
Catalina ~ we love Brian Doyle around here. I may have to work that into my blog post today. Felipé.x