Deep Thoughts On Shallow Subjects
Thinking about NY the other day made me remember Woody Allen’s film Manhattan. It is a film with memorable quotes, especially the first one where he just re-writes over, and over again, the reasons for his fondness of the city (see the film, and you’ll know what I’m talking about…). But the one I was reminded of was this one:
(Isaac lying on the couch, speaking into the tape recorder)Isaac: An idea for a short story about … um … people in Manhattan who … are constantly creating these real unnecessary neurotic problems for themselves – because it keeps them from dealing with more unsolvable terrifying problems about … er … the universe – Um, it’s, uh … well, it has to be optimistic. Well, all right, why is life worth living? That’s a very good question. Well, there are certain things I guess that make it worthwhile. Uh, like what? Okay. Um, for me … oh, I would say … what, Groucho Marx, to name one thing … and Willie Mays, and uh, the second movement of the Jupiter Symphony, and ummmm … Louie Armstrong’s recording of “Potatohead Blues” … umm, Swedish movies, naturally … “Sentimental Education” by Flaubert … , Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra … those incredible apples and pears by Cézanne … the crabs at Sam Wo’s … Tracy’s face …
Taking on the theme I started thinking about all those apparently insignificant things I like to indulge on, and why sometimes nothing seems to satisfy my soul like giving in to seemingly futile cravings to my heart’s content. So, paraphrasing Julie Andrews, these are few of my favorite things:
1. A crisp, warm pastel de Belém coated with cinnamon, accompanied by a strong, sweet espresso.
Just picture this: a century-old café, in the river-side part of Lisbon, with what seems like dozens of rooms, resembling a hobbit-like construction. The walls are covered with old, blue and white tiles, with scenes from the rural Lisbon of old. In the corner of one of the rooms a huge iron door, with sturdy bolts, leading up to the secret chamber that is the kitchen. From the kitchen these little crispy, thin pastries with a soft, custard-like filling come out in big hot oven trays. Served sprinkled with cinnamon while still warm, and accompanied by a simple coffee, no other taste personifies Lisbon like this one.
2. Taking the 28 tram up the long windy streets of Lisbon on a clear day.
If Lisbon were an amusement park the 28 would be its merry-go-round. This tram goes up and down the hills and slopes of Lisbon, the Lisbon of old fado houses and summer street festivities, of the old mourish quarter, the antique shops, the flower-stalls, the customer aluring street cries of salesmen offering their fresh produce. This is the tram I took every morning to go to classes. I still hop on, now and then, to skim through life from a window seat.
3. Dinner and sunset at Trinca-Espinhas after a late afternoon swim at the beach.
Small restaurant on the coastal city of S. Torpes which I visit on almost all my weekends. Serves the best fish in the world and has a nice big fireplace that both warms and lits up the room on winter evenings. Makes me feel like getting on the car and driving south, running away from all things 9 to 5…
3. “Fancy”, by Spanky Wilson
I was completely floored when I first heard this song. Spanky Wilson’s feisty voice, and sharp-tongued wit makes me loose all sense of composure and decency while dacing to this tune…
4. An American in ParisIt’s not my favourite film, not by far. But it is my favourite feel-good film. I love the dialogues between the optimistc Jerry Mulligan and the sardonic and morose Adam Cook. It’s maybe the Gershwin tunes that leave you feeling elated, Gene Kelly’s street-wise, confident attitude, or just the remembrance of a time of brotherly politness and kind formality. This “I Got Rhythm” sequence, where Jerry teaches a bunch of adorable Parisian children how to speak English, just leaves me with an incredibly embarrassing – and totally helpless – grin, every single time.
…
Why is there so much happiness and assurance in simple pleasures that seem not to have any tangible impact on the lives we lead, and why do they appear so important? The cynical pessimist in me finds it hard to believe the simple-minded notion that small pleasures are really why life is worth living… Could our history really be nothing more than the combination of everyday trivial moments, and the attainment of small material goals?Maybe these small, insignificant things just hold the assurance of continuity, of knowing that there is something at the core of our existence – objects, images, sounds, tastes – which are impervious to the off beam choices we make in life. On the other hand, maybe they are just a way to fight boredom, and in that sense nothing more than a way to kill our idleness or anxiety.Whether they just hold the promise of vain happiness, like a carrot dangling from the end of a stick that perpetually moves us forward, or simply part of all things that summed up make our lives, the search and satisfaction of small simple pleasures remains an undeniable source of happiness and a simple manifestation of individual creativity.
How I miss some of these things… The end of the summer usually brings back to me some old sweet memories of the most simple thinks. Maybe because it is quieter on the winter, maybe because of the rain that visits us now and then. Still I can only smile when I remember these, and leave a promisse that soon I will be smilling to a Pastel de Belém again, and maybe next time, who knows in the company of a good friend, having one more of those afternoons entering through the night, that I will never forget.
[...] nor will I ever again climb down from a Munro not having done it before. And that’s OK. Some pleasures are repeatable, and infinitely needed and comforting every single time. But let us dedicate this space, or at [...]
the hills and the vineyards « porto sentido said this on November 7, 2009 at 4:28 pm |