Glimpses of South Pasadena: Train of thought...

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Train of thought...

Ray Bradbury once said that "half the fun of the travel is the aesthetic of lostness." (And half the fun of Mission Station is getting lost in its aesthetic.)

14 comments:

Webradio said...: Nice thought Laurie...

Pretty photo in the night...
See You later !; November 19, 2008 at 3:19 AM
Tanya Breese said...: Cool play on words ;)
Beautiful night shot. Your town just glows at night!; November 19, 2008 at 4:00 AM
Unknown said...: Oh yes!! The lights and the railing and trees with no human nearby gives it a sense of loneliness. I'm a sucker for light flares, so you aced another one in my book.

The old jazz standard "Let's Get Lost" immediately comes to mind.

"Let’s get lost, lost in each other’s arms
Let’s get lost, let them send out alarms
And though they’ll think us rather rude
Let’s tell the world we’re in that crazy mood.
Let’s defrost in a romantic mist
Let’s get crossed off everybody’s list
To celebrate this night we found each other, mmm, let’s get lost

[horn solo] [piano solo]

Let’s defrost in a romantic mist
Let’s get crossed off everybody’s list
To celebrate this night we found each other, mm, let’s get lost
oh oh, let’s get lost"

Chet Baker is one of my all time favorites. I can almost imagine him just around the corner in that night shot, playing his horn to a crowd of no one.

Our grandfather used to pile his family into the car and say "let's get lost" and they would drive around in the car on a Sunday afternoon, exploring places, not knowing where they were going or where their final destination would be. I like that whole thought process. We should all get lost every now and again, whether it be in our thoughts, out on an unknown winding road or even delving into an unfamiliar book.

Let's get lost!; November 19, 2008 at 5:49 AM
Ken Mac said...: what a great quote! And great angles and light ...as always...; November 19, 2008 at 7:11 AM
Anonymous said...: Laurie & Judy, that's lovely.; November 19, 2008 at 11:48 AM
Profile Not Available said...: A great thought for the day! I hadn't heard that Bradbury quote, but I love it! I have to agree about the aesthetic of the station too! What I can see of it looks lovely!; November 19, 2008 at 12:27 PM
Anonymous said...: Laurie, I love the quote! And the photo!

Judy, I love the song!!!!Romantic mist !!!! I'm there.; November 19, 2008 at 6:52 PM
Hilda said...: That station cannot be as lovely as it seems in your evening shots of it!

;D; November 19, 2008 at 9:25 PM
Petrea Burchard said...: The cool thing about being on a train is that you're not really anywhere, you're between somewheres.

Nice shot.; November 19, 2008 at 9:48 PM
Mister Earl said...: I think this discussion cries out for the lyrics of Susan Werner's Time Between Trains

I'm waitin' at the station
I can choose my destination
I'm a free soul, I got no chains
But it's a long time between trains

I took a long nap, I read a whole book
I got nice legs, I got decent looks
And I'm not one who complains
But it's a long time between trains

And who'd have thought it all those years
That I would find myself back here
Feelin' restless and ignored
Starin' at the schedule board
Wonderin' why the fates above
Always route love through Miami

And somewhere lovers smile their smiles
While I count the ceiling tiles
And well give or take a few
There's one thousand fifty-two
But that depends if you include
The eighty-eight out in the hall

Yes I'm waitin' at the station
With my old friend sublimation
You know the Wright boys designed planes
Must have been a long time between trains; November 19, 2008 at 10:35 PM
Laurie Allee said...: Okay... this time the comments clearly outshine the post! (Now, where is Mme Grammaphone when we need her for links?!)

Yet another reason I love this blog so much. You guys are so smart and clever. Thanks for all the great conversation -- and musical interludes!

Until tomorrow, everyone...; November 20, 2008 at 1:14 AM
USelaine said...: I got to hear Bradbury give a keynote speech at a land use planning conference some years back. He reiterated the idea: We travel for two reasons; the architecture, or to be dragged into the woods. That got a laugh!; November 20, 2008 at 8:54 PM
Laurie Allee said...: Elaine, I love Bradbury. In fact, I'm a bit of a goofy fangirl when it comes to him. Once, my husband and I were having a romantic dinner at the old Pacific Dining Car and Bradbury sat down at the table next to us. I kept shushing my husband so I could eavesdrop. (I know, I'm awful!)

I hardly notice when famous actors are around but I get flustered and idiotic when I am near an author I admire. (Remind me to tell you about the time I made a fool out of myself in front of John Irving.); November 21, 2008 at 10:57 AM
Dixie Jane said...: Ditto, Judy. That was my Dad you were talking about. And it was such fun. My brother and I would ride in the back seat and sing along with my Dad. Mother tolerated us. Thanks for reminding me.

I love the picture, Laurie.; November 22, 2008 at 10:14 AM