older love

So, I opened up This Is Not the Story You Think It Is by Laura Munson* to, of course, the last page. I always read the last page of my books first, so I know what's coming. I do it for the same reason that I often read the plot of movies and tv series on Wikipedia before I watch them.** I don't think that it spoils them for me (unless the ending itself is disappointing). I just like to absorb stories with the conclusion in mind. It helps me to comprehend them better, as a whole.

Back on topic... at the end of Laura Munson's novel I found this beautiful love poem that I want to share.

Older Love

His wife has asthma

so he only smokes outdoors

or late at night with head

and shoulders well into

the fireplace, the mesquite and oak

heat bright against his face.

Does it replace the heat

that has wandered from love

back into the natural world?

But then the shadow passion casts

is much longer than passion,

stretching with effort from year to year.

Outside tonight hard wind and sleet

from three bald mountains,

and on the hearth before his face

the ashes we’ll all become,

soft as the back of a woman’s knee.

— Jim Harrison, from Saving Daylight

(via Dragonfly's Poetry)

* Sarah Wilson interviewed Laura for this column, one of my favourites.

** Thankfully, I didn't do this before watching Remember Me (starring Robert Pattinson and Emilie de Ravin). Please don't.

your name is the splinter inside me

relationship contract

This blog post by Simone Heydon inspired me to pen a relationship contract with my lovely boyfriend Andy.

Andy:

* I will give you at least three sincere compliments each day: one on your beauty, one on your delightful personality, and one on something wonderful you have done.

* I will accept that you will never understand my borderline obsessive compulsive complex with cleanliness and tidiness. I will tidy and clean up after you without complaining when the mess involved is negligible.

* I will not be angry with you for being clumsy and absent-minded. This is part of who you are and I love you for it.

* I will not criticise any member of your family, for any reason, not even to join in with you.

* I will occasionally buy you small presents as a thoughtful gesture, for example a magazine, flowers or chocolate.

* I will never take my work stress or bad moods out on you.

* I will kiss you with regularity and passion without prompting.

* I will not get upset when I cook elaborate, gourmet meals for you and you can't eat them because I know quite well how "undeveloped" your palette is.

* I will drive you everywhere, and always open the car door for you.

Laura:

* I will cheerfully watch Top Gear with you, and try my best not to tune out whilst you talk about cars incessantly, indicating my interest by making appropriate noises i.e. "wow", "you're so clever", "what's that?" etc.

* I will put all your DVDs back in their cases when I am done with them instead of leaving them strewn around the room.

* I will let you play playstation without competing with it for your attention. I will even, occasionally, play it with you and not get angry when you ridicule my playing technique.

* If I call you and you don't answer, then you text me instead, I will refrain from calling you again because it probably means you don't want to talk to me at that particular moment (i.e. during a work shift or a "boy's night").

* I will limit my discussion about getting married and what we should call our children.

* I will try my best to be tidy, and not leave glasses of water or Coke Zero on the bedside table where I will inevitably knock them over and damage your expensive surround sound speakers.

* I will let you listen to your music in the car and never, ever criticise your driving.

* I will go to sleep at the same time as you, instead of staying up to watch Law and Order and The Real Housewives of New York City.

* I will not be personally affronted when you are stressed about work or in a bad mood.

* I will not nag you about ettiquete, making decisions for your future, not eating or drinking food and alcohol that you know always makes you sick, taking me on dates, buying me presents and being responsible with money.

* I will never take for granted everything you do for me.

P.S. Andy has declined entering into the contract, however I have noticed more kissing, compliments and patience with my clumsiness and messiness :)

life's little luxuries

1. A spritz of Fracas parfum.* 2. Curling up on the couch on a rainy night to watch Mad Men. 3. A fluffy little dog to cuddle. 4. Applying the perfect shade of Chanel lipstick.** 5. Lying in a hammock in summertime, reading and eating green grapes. 6. A fresh, glossy blowdry. 7. Spring water with a slice of lemon, served in a wine glass. 8. New Garance Doré posts and romantic text messages. 9. French kissing. 10. Being wrapped in a warm towel, fresh from the dryer, after a long bath.***

* outstanding note of tuberose, a variety of flowers (mostly white) - jasmine, jonquil, lily of the valley, white iris and a touch of pink geranium, top notes of bergamot, mandarin and hyacinth, infused at the heart with a whisper of orange and a base note of sandalwood, vertiver and musk... so lovely!
** mine is the rouge allure laque in "ming"
*** here is an opportunity for a boyfriend/lover/partner/ fiancé/husband to prove himself useful