““I just ate an orange!” he said. “But also I am wearing Dior.””
LOL!! Thank you for this outstanding moment.
“He wanted to tell me about an incredible thing that had just happened to him that day.”
When I lived in the city and often took a cab home late at night, I occasionally had some amazing and humbling conversations with drivers, conversations that seemed to spring up from them. Leaving a cab one evening after a silent ride, I commented positively on the religious medals hanging from the mirror. More than an hour later, we were still engaged in a deep conversation in the parking lot outside my apartment because the driver was trying to unravel some spiritual mystery and was seeking advice. That was at least five years ago, and I still recall the particulars.
Not a driver, but I also remember the young oil burner technician, the third to visit me one frigid winter week, and the only one who correctly diagnosed and fixed the furnace problem and restored my apartment’s heat. I followed him out to the sidewalk asking some follow-up questions. As he reassured me about the situation (“it will already be warm when you go back upstairs”) and was putting his gear back in the truck, he turned to me and without hesitating said, “My mom died recently and I miss her.” That was a long talk, too (and a visit that was never billed; thanks, mom).
Oranges and Dior(!) and grief and wonder at the infinite collection of stories in this unimaginably vast universe. Endless wonderment; it all *does* mean something.
I love this entry! Memories of Parisian cab rides and Johnny on the radio. And that gorgeous human tendency to look for signs, to find meaning even in the everyday 💕
The moments when we are touched by the dead, accompanied by the scent of oranges, or Dior, is a sacred one indeed. To write about it is divine. Thank you Summer.
Coincidence is Deja vu. Believe James Dean passed in his Porsche spyder doing over 100 mph. We all take chances somewhere in life. He had life going for him and left this world. Events repeat in mysterious ways. To have a song in your heart and find a place to share that song with others. Artists reach out with invisible paint brushes, voices, dance moves or a pencil or pen. Does any one listen?
The unassailable position that Johnny Halliday occupied in French pop culture is certainly a mystery!
Thanks for this. I once stood behind someone collecting tickets at a Theatre Box Office. I heard him give my name to the Box Office. In other words, he had exactly the same name as me! I thought this pretty remarkable, and once I picked up my own tickets I went and found him and explained that we shared the same first and last name.
He listened politely, but I have to say, he didn't share my amazement at this coincidence - at all!
Dec 6, 2023·edited Dec 6, 2023Liked by Summer Brennan
I always get Johnny Hallyday and Johnny Ray mixed up in my head, which is very unfortunate. I love a good cab story and this is definitely a good cab story.
"Souvenir, Souvenir" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oq13pt3t87w
““I just ate an orange!” he said. “But also I am wearing Dior.””
LOL!! Thank you for this outstanding moment.
“He wanted to tell me about an incredible thing that had just happened to him that day.”
When I lived in the city and often took a cab home late at night, I occasionally had some amazing and humbling conversations with drivers, conversations that seemed to spring up from them. Leaving a cab one evening after a silent ride, I commented positively on the religious medals hanging from the mirror. More than an hour later, we were still engaged in a deep conversation in the parking lot outside my apartment because the driver was trying to unravel some spiritual mystery and was seeking advice. That was at least five years ago, and I still recall the particulars.
Not a driver, but I also remember the young oil burner technician, the third to visit me one frigid winter week, and the only one who correctly diagnosed and fixed the furnace problem and restored my apartment’s heat. I followed him out to the sidewalk asking some follow-up questions. As he reassured me about the situation (“it will already be warm when you go back upstairs”) and was putting his gear back in the truck, he turned to me and without hesitating said, “My mom died recently and I miss her.” That was a long talk, too (and a visit that was never billed; thanks, mom).
Oranges and Dior(!) and grief and wonder at the infinite collection of stories in this unimaginably vast universe. Endless wonderment; it all *does* mean something.
I love this entry! Memories of Parisian cab rides and Johnny on the radio. And that gorgeous human tendency to look for signs, to find meaning even in the everyday 💕
Wow I just finished reading this piece and it's so amazing.
Well-done mate you are incredible with your mind you know. 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰💛💛
.. happenstance meets serendipity ..
everything I ‘write’ & indeed my entire life..
conceived at the confluence of those two streams
The moments when we are touched by the dead, accompanied by the scent of oranges, or Dior, is a sacred one indeed. To write about it is divine. Thank you Summer.
OMG Catherine Deneuve-never been beauty like that since…
Is it odd, or is it God? My favorite kind of stories.
That was a beautiful story to read. Thank-you Summer.
*Love this last line. Great story from the taxi!
Coincidence is Deja vu. Believe James Dean passed in his Porsche spyder doing over 100 mph. We all take chances somewhere in life. He had life going for him and left this world. Events repeat in mysterious ways. To have a song in your heart and find a place to share that song with others. Artists reach out with invisible paint brushes, voices, dance moves or a pencil or pen. Does any one listen?
Thank you, for the note at the end of this marvelous piece. It is encouraging to know that it came from a "Five Things" exercise!
The unassailable position that Johnny Halliday occupied in French pop culture is certainly a mystery!
Thanks for this. I once stood behind someone collecting tickets at a Theatre Box Office. I heard him give my name to the Box Office. In other words, he had exactly the same name as me! I thought this pretty remarkable, and once I picked up my own tickets I went and found him and explained that we shared the same first and last name.
He listened politely, but I have to say, he didn't share my amazement at this coincidence - at all!
I always get Johnny Hallyday and Johnny Ray mixed up in my head, which is very unfortunate. I love a good cab story and this is definitely a good cab story.
Lovely! 💜
I love stories like this. Thank you, Summer.