April 14, 2006
Just Because the Sky Turned from Gray Into Blue
Remember from art history or cultural history or something or other way back when, when they taught you about memento mori? My memory is that they are basically still life paintings with lots of death imagery and symbols of death built in, meant to remind you of your mortality.
Well, this is my memento viva--reminder of life--for this fine Good Friday. Hot cross buns from the alley bakery, flowers stolen over back garden walls on my way home and a couple of mementos from recent visits with beloved friends.
P.S. Hot cross buns are a Good Friday tradition here in my temporary homeland. Interesting history, as have many things, I suppose. Unclear what is historical and what legendary, but here goes: Originally a pagan pastry, meant to symbolize four moon phases, the Church coopted them into its religious tradition when converting the good people over to their way of thinking. I also read that Elizabeth I tried to outlaw them [why?!?] but gave in and let people eat them, but only on Easter and some other special occasions. Whatever. I don't pretend to understand the number of strange little historical tidbits I'm picking up.
Posted by at April 14, 2006 07:20 PMYou know, when I was... I dunno, maybe 7 or 8, we were forced to learn the song "Hot Cross Buns" during the "Recorder Unit" of music class.
Thirty-some-odd children plasticly squeaking out: "One a penny, two a penny, Hot Cross Buns" ad nauseum - good times.
I had no idea what "Hot Cross Buns" actually were, but I do remember thinking that they sounded particularly angry.
Posted by: Jubilation! at April 16, 2006 11:20 AMEver wonder if your United Kingdom hosts are just making up bits of "English history" to see how much you'll believe? The queen outlawed a pastry? Go on, pull the other one.
Their dry wit is world-renowned, you know.
Joobles: I had to learn that song too! (As well as something called "Lightly Row," whatever that means.)
Posted by: flamingbanjo at April 19, 2006 06:47 PMThere's another verse to "Hot Cross Buns" that goes:
"if your daughters do not like them/give them to your sons." We say it in my class - so I'll see your thirty-some-odd plasticly squeaking children and raise you 12 semi-verbal toddlers.
Are those shells from The Mumbles?
The white thing is the shell from The Mumbles. the other little thing is a Ganesh charm brought to us by Sara and Peter from their trip to India a couple of days after you left.
Posted by: Appalachia at April 21, 2006 10:56 PM