Sunday, October 19, 2008

things on strings

First of all, I must salute whoever came up with this p.c. slogan:

"Planet Cancer: We've done drugs Keith Richards never heard of."

My insides feel like Keith Richard's face right now. Recovery after each cycle seems prolonged, replacing recuperation with utter frustration. Not feeling strong enough to get out of bed or eat for weeks at a time just sucks ass. I can't really sugarcoat it.

One of the things I initially thought when searching the web for other twenty-somethings with cancer was, "Fuck, now I'm going to have to start smiling in all of my pictures." Everyone smiles, lots of bald shiny heads smiling to show they're getting through it with optimism. I have always been a bit dramatic and at times thoroughly pessimistic (hey, it makes good art). Where will my sarcastic pouty half-smirk fit in cancer land? NOWHERE.

So, something that truly makes me smile every time I watch it: Le Ballon Rouge. Lamorisse, 1956.

This is the end, which is my favorite. All of the other balloons come to save the boy. I have always been fascinated with childhood perceptions of flight- balloons, kites, zeppelins- all vehicles for an imaginary escape plan, all reaching places one can't quite reach. I use them as metaphors in my writing quite frequently. I have often cited this guy as my hero:

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Just a guy, a lawn chair and a dream.

So, when I feel a bit better, I want to do a series of self portraits with balloons. It has potential to be both whimsical and cynical. After all, what do cancer patients receive at their bedside? Things on strings.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Have you seen 'The Adventures of Baron Munchausen'? Great fantastical balloon escape in that. Always cheers me up.

christina hurricane said...

funny cat pictures always tickle my pickle. in fairness, I am a crazy cat lady, but that cheezburger shit never gets old!

http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/funny-pictures-cat-dropped-his-cookie-in-a-glass-of-milk.jpg

my shrink advises avoiding the use of one of my default idioms, "hang in there". it's not half bad with the accompanying mental image of a glorious bunch of balloons. my mom and I used to watch that movie all the time when I was a wee barne.

Anonymous said...

Where will your "sarcastic pouty half-smirk fit in"? hopefully at beginning and end of every one of your infectious giggles...