Threshold
by Dan
Please note: MP3s are only kept online for a short time, and if this entry is from more than a couple of weeks ago, the music probably won't be available to download any more.


 

threshhold.jpg

Neil Young - "Guitar Solo 5"

Last opened: About A Year Ago
Duration: 14:41

First snowfall and a backpack. Caught in late November, hitchhiking is a lonely pursuit, like trying to win a game of chess against yourself, or even trying to lose. Darkness rests on your shoulders heavier than all your belongings put together, and I even own a car someplace. Impounded. I imagine it now, surrounded by pacing dogs, the windows blown out, or smashed in, and snow along the insides of the doors, sort of melting and dripping onto the seats and floor. I own a coffin too, that's something I don't tell many people. I came into a lot of money after an inheritance and I bought a coffin for myself. Can't quite remember what I was thinking, but now that I've done it, things feel a little more redundant, like I'm doing or saying all sorts of "extra" stuff. But everything I do feels very conscious, very much my own choice. I'm working for myself, in a way. So I can stay out here, my shoes getting a ring of wetness and my jacket shaking nervously like it's about to cry out of fear, and my hands cold and stoic at my side, too proud to set the pack down and get out their gloves, in the middle of the night, because my boss is making me.
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Gillian Welch - "I Dream A Highway"

Last opened: --
Duration: --

First snowfall and a milkshake. 12-year-old Bridget leafs through the classifieds; houses, jobs, cars, furniture. Her first cell phone rings in her pocket, but it's her dad so she doesn't answer. A sip of the milkshake and a look out the window. People hugging themselves walk like they're always almost there. The phone rings the message ring and she starts the wordsearch. "Holiday", "gargoyle", "bun", "upstart", "lesson", "righteous", "gray", "theatre". Her boots swing and kick the side of the counter. The waitress smoking at the end looks up from her phone call. Looks away. Bridget goes over her homework in her head. Her cell phone rings again. It's not time yet, though. She'll wait the whole morning, and however many mornings it takes, until it's cold enough. Once it's cold enough, for the ice highway, then she's likely to believe a phone call. But not until then. Wouldn't believe a word.
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Posted by Dan at November 25, 2008 2:30 AM
Comments

why is neil young always so perfect on the first snow day?

Posted by timea at November 25, 2008 9:12 AM

This is really great.

Posted by Karin S. at November 25, 2008 3:40 PM

because as a canadian he understands it.
BTW the solo is from the depp/jarmusch movie "dead man"

Posted by fred at November 25, 2008 3:56 PM

Cheers for Miss Welch!

Posted by Gregor at November 26, 2008 2:25 PM

these tiny vignettes contain some of the best writing i've seen here. many layers in so few words. palpable moods allowed to stay a bit ambiguous. nice to read first thing on this lazy cape cod thanksgiving morning.

Posted by a friend at November 27, 2008 9:13 AM

nobody on this side of the country seems to understand snow. it's the most depressing aspect of the west coast and probably the one thing these montreal bones still ache for.

lovely post Dan.

Posted by camille at November 28, 2008 12:37 AM

why is neil young always so perfect on the first snow day?

Because he's canadian!

Posted by Ernie Lee at December 2, 2008 11:18 AM

I forgot I had Dead Man. Thanks for the reminder.

Posted by bob at December 3, 2008 5:48 PM

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