Walking Cross Town. With Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga.

Posted on by Live & Learn

She asks: Why do you post what you post on your blog? I had to stop, and pause for a moment.

Well, it’s Morris Berman’s “tipoff…whenever a project comes to me, one that is right, that is genuine, I feel a kind of ‘shiver’ in my body, and that tells me that it corresponds to something very deep in me, and that I need to pursue it.”

And for me, that never-fail-catalyst, is misty rain.

I’m walking cross town. Tuesday morning.

Riffs of Sally Rooney’s new book Normal People flash by…I’m transported to place I’ve never been, but I’m walking, in Dublin, on cobblestone streets. “Dublin is extraordinarily beautiful to her in wet weather, the way gray stone darkens to black, and rain moves over the grass and whispers on slick roof tiles. Raincoats glistening in the undersea color of street lamps. Rain silver as loose change in the glare of traffic.”

I cross Madison. And it begins.

Misty rain.

So light.

So delicate.

Not enough for an umbrella, but enough to feel…

And just enough to slow down and take notice.

This is Something.

This moment.

This Breath.

And it’s Gratitude (big G) that rises…

And Rooney again: “And he felt the old beat of pleasure inside his body, like watching a perfect goal, like the rustling movement of light through leaves, a phrase of music from the window of a passing car. Life offers up these moments of joy despite everything…”

I reach for my earbuds, twist them in each ear. I search for Blue Suede’s “Hooked on a Feeling“, put it on repeat…

Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga
Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga
Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga
Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga
I can’t stop this feeling
Deep inside of me…
I’m hooked on feeling
I’m high on believing…

Notes:

36 thoughts on “Walking Cross Town. With Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga.”

  3. Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
    ‘Hooked on a Feeling’ … ‘Riffs of Sally Rooney’s new book Normal People flash by…I’m transported to place I’ve never been, but I’m walking, in Dublin, on cobblestone streets. “Dublin is extraordinarily beautiful to her in wet weather, the way gray stone darkens to black, and rain moves over the grass and whispers on slick roof tiles. Raincoats glistening in the undersea color of street lamps. Rain silver as loose change in the glare of traffic … I cross Madison. And it begins.’ …

  4. All I can say is I am ever so glad you post what you post on your blog. Even if it leaves me with an earworm 😉
    I absolutely love walking when it is misty out.

    1. Earworm! I had to look it up. I thought it was some sort of toxic, painful affliction. I learned something today: “a catchy song or tune that runs continually through a person’s mind.”

      I LOVE THAT.

      Thank you Dale.

      1. No way! I thought you knew everything.

        So glad I taught you a little sumthin’!

        Most welcome. OOGA CHAKA OOGA OOGA OOGA CHAKA!

  5. Isn’t that frisson that runs through you when you’re in a ‘magic moment’ just *the best*?! And it’s all the more delightful because it sneaks up on you, striking when you least expect it (and ironically often most need it). Rock-n-roll, pal!

  8. Now I’m truly glad I don’t know your earworm, or it probably would replace the one I have already worming itself into my brain…. 🙂
    Let me tell you 2 things: Dublin IS funky, gorgeous, vivid and really great; and all the better for Sally to find it ‘extraordinarily beautiful in rain & wet weather’. Because it IS raining rather a lot – and the mist is there too with the river Liffey and whatnot….
    Your beautiful post is also a sure tell-sign that you are a man! If you were me, you’d hurry to work grudgingly, covering your head because the hair would frizz so badly that your work collegues didn’t recognise you 😉
    A very beautiful post. Ta friend!

  9. This is how I would describe your blog, Misty Rain, Not enough for an umbrella, but enough to feel…

    For as long as I live I will not forget the day your blog came to me.

    I don’t want to wake up one day in my life and not find that 3am notification of L & L new post, ok?

    ❤

  10. Björn Skifs was one of my absolute favorites among Swedish musicians when growing up, this and his other songs…still powerful to be hooked on a feeling, just like you so eloquently describe.

  11. This is presence! This is the “high’ we could all be on, in every moment, if we allowed it. Beautifully captured DK! Alive in this moment 👏👏✨

Leave a Reply to TinyCancel reply