A Flake of Your Life

A writing class exercise, how music can influence writing!

I enjoy Saturday evenings. The end of the week and the chance to try out a new recipe. I have lots of cook books and love trawling them to find something different. Most are pristine with few practical recipes; a few are stained with food and well used. I'm always hopeful that I will find something special. Last Saturday, halibut marinated in spices. I know expensive but worth it as a treat. Delicious!

Once the washing up was done, most by the dishwasher, the end to a perfect meal requires feet up on the sofa, a glass of wine and a soppy film or edge of the seat drama on the TV. Unfortunately the highlight was Casualty.

'I know, someone with a chain saw will climb a tree, saw the branch he's sitting on and crash to the floor causing a coach load of nuns to crash into a petrol station with the inevitable fire ball.'

I gave him my usual look when he makes such comments.

So we decided, unusually, to listen to some music. We have a large collection of CDs, few of them modern or pop but a few well used. It was Leonard Cohen we chose. I know the usual comments about him and you either love or hate him but I love his music and especially his poetry. When I listen to these sounds I am taken back thirty years to a time that is very special to me. We enjoyed the music, and the wine. I sang along with all of the words, imprinted on my memory.

I usually manage to get up first on Sunday mornings and so take advantage of this quiet period to spend time with the computer. Playing solitaire, rarely managing to defeat it: investigating Genes Connected hoping to find a long lost famous, and rich relative; reading stories, trying to write some of my own, and viewing my emails. There were the usual, messages from friends, offers of holidays, clothes, food etc., etc. Then I noticed that a message had been isolated by the anti-spam filter. Its title was ‘Health Matters’. I was about to ignore it, thinking it might be an offer for Viagra or some sort of sexual aid when I noticed the name, ’Mick’.

‘I was feeling very tired and out of sorts.

I saw the doctor and eventually lung cancer was diagnosed.

As an ex-smoker should I be surprised!

An operation with chemo and radio therapy to follow.

Reni has been my backbone now, and always.

I am positive. I try to influence those around me with this feeling.’

I am taken back thirty years. Sitting with real friends. Mag has made some homemade wine, elderflower I think, very potent. We’ve just eaten a rabbit casserole. I’m not too sure about it but money is a bit tight so it’s a cheap option.

Mick puts a record on the record player.

‘And Jane came by…….’

Leonard Cohen. The first time I had heard him and his music, and I was hooked. Over the years there were many occasions when we sat listening, drinking and talking.

I suppose the friends and the music an influence on the rest of my life.

I find that I am sleeping and waking to the lyrics of Leonard Cohen which means so much more than what he words actually say.

Unfortunately Mick lost his battle making those memories extra special.