2002-03-21 - 11:42 a.m.

"I will make you a list of Exquisite things." - the Pillow Book, 10th century

A Pillow Book is exactly that; a list of things most sensuous and lovely, precious and wonderous. For a synopsis of the film that inspired this project,

you might go here, or maybe here. The sentiments herein were contributed mostly by the readers and writers of the newsgroup Alt.Gothic.Fashion.

Book I

*Cool breezes sliding through my open window as a thunderstorm approaches.

*The feeling of someone brushing my hair, or just playing with it.

*The ominous, powerful sounds of a pipe organ in a huge church.

The colorful sight of my perfume bottle collection.

*Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup, with Cheddar Goldfish Crackers.

*Being kissed on the neck...

Racing down an airplane runway, and taking off.

The crisp, sweet coolness of Strongbow Cider.

*Finding the perfect present for someone, and wrapping it decadently.

Wandering through museums or antique shoppes.

*reading poetry aloud, esp. Ginsberg's "Howl" or most anything by Emily Dickinson

J. Lohr Winery's '95 Estates Merlot in a wide, fat crystal glass

body dusting powder very lightly scented with rose oil

walking alone after midnight humming Patsy Cline

a really well-made carpaccio

*crisp clean sheets on naked skin on a cool summer night

*kitten fur against one's cheek

*hearing that favourite ninth-grade pop song on the radio

*a silver charm dangling between one's breasts

*running one's fingers through a beloved's long, rich, silky hair

*the strange feeling of happiness when you look into the mirror after a bath and realize you think the highest of your body

*reading poetry while taking a bubblebath in candlelight

the perfect bowl of mint ice cream with a side of thick chocolate

hearing the last notes your favorite music in concert really loudly

typing 'end part x' when you're writing fiction and being totally confident in it

*seeing brief glimpes of a city lit up at night as you approach it

finishing off an obscenely long (but satisfying!) novel; turning the page and seeing it it's blank, with all of the ends tied up in a bow

*diving into a swimming pool at night nekkid for the first time

the vibrations of an acoustic guitar during a favorite song

the scent of a small, hyperactive doggie jumping you

*Fabulous old things. Like my cat's eye reading glasses the fold up the size of a walnut, and pocket-watches, and tiny lace gloves.

*crow mornings, when the sun's just barely risen and the crows come land on the wire outside my window and talk.

*pushing your hands into a bowl of seed beads.

women who belong in their clothing

touching cold, unpolished metal and concrete

walking into a building in midsummer that you didn't think was air-conditioned, but is

*a cat walking on your back

****those first few minute after waking, when you can curl back down into your blanket and just breathe

*a clean and utterly silent room, with windows open to the night

laying down on the floor when no one's around and rolling around and stretching.

A carafe of espresso and another of steamed milk all to yourself on a terrace in Florence, Italy. Surrounded by flowers and little birds visiting your

table.

*Waking up at noon cuddled with your sweetie, dog, and 4 cats (having your 5 loves cuddled up to you at one time is sooo wonderful!)

Staying up all night reading, making art, watching movies, talking, eating, dancing...then sleeping all day.

*Fondue, crepes, chocolate...

When your seedlings poke out of the soil. It's a mysterious mindbending miracle every time.

How Lavender, Cloves, Vanilla, Bergamont, and Sandalwood smell.

*Being somewhere, outside, with no artificial light, in the middle of the night, and watching the stars (I did this on a beach in Italy and on a hill in

Vermont and they were 2 of the most spiritual experiences of my lifetime!).

Needlework, sewn things, handmade things, quirky original imaginative one of a kind sometimes impractical creations.

Henry Miller.

Having something (art, a gesture, a gift...) make you cry out of that bittersweet happiness and not out of pain.

When your beloved comes up behind you and brushes out your hair before you get into the shower together.

When you are smiling so big it's tough to kiss you because all you end up kissing are teeth

cats who know their names

horses with thick manes that will never lie flat.

The joy when a leg cramp goes away

driving in a honda civic contervtible with a good friend listening to good music with no where to go.

the weird collaboration of people on battle net all working together

knowing your heart is probaly damaged physicaly but emotionally the strongest its ever been. and the healthiest.

the promise of road trips someday.

-bsg-

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