She Had Such An Inventive Mind
Aug. 18th, 2025 11:37 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mallorys_cameraFinished David McCullough's extraordinary biography of John Adams.
Actually cried at the scene where the old curmudgeon opens his eyes on his deathbed for the last time & croaks, Thomas Jefferson survives! before expiring.
This one I didn't read; I listened to the audiobook on innumerable drives to Middletown, and then back & forth & around in Ithaca. I'd been wanting to tackle the book since I watched the excellent HBO miniseries John Adams, but it was the kind of book I knew I wouldn't be able to read as it contains hundreds of pages on John Adams's theories of governance, & I mean, Zzzzzzzzz.
But I also figured those theories of governance are relevant—particularly to the political situation today—& that if I were driving, I wouldn't fall asleep while parsing them.
###
Literally speaking, John Adams was wrong: Jefferson died about five hours before Adams did.
Figuratively speaking, though, Adams was right: Jefferson (despite the business with Sally Hemings) remains far more influential today than Adams—a bit weird when you think about it because Adams was a fanboy of iron-fisted federal control, all the rage right now, whereas the Rosseau-influenced Jefferson was an ardent supporter of individual rights & frequent revolution. The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants, Jefferson once wrote in a letter to Adams's son-in-law.
On the other hand, Donald Trump only wishes he'd legislated John Adams' Alien & Sedition Acts.
###
In other news, Brian-Palooza went well. Good in-person turnout; people driving from as far away as Boston, Vermont, & Pennsylvania; a respectable Zoom contingent.
Brian's niece turned up! A lovely, 30-ish young woman. I was so glad to see her.
I spent most of the time I wasn't emceeing chattering with Brian's neighbor Willie (not his real name) who turns out to have been the chairman of Manhattan's Democratic Party for 15 years. We talked politics! Why are Democrats such losers? And he asked me for my phone number—no, nothing like that! He is a billion years old and very, very gay; in fact, he retold his story about knocking on Brian's door to borrow lube when it came time for us to share remembrances. (Water-based or silicon-based? was Brian's reply)—because, "You have such an inventive mind!"
If only I weren't planning to be cremated! She Had Such An Inventive Mind would look so good on a tombstone.
###
Tranquili-Tea put on a good spread!
Just look how adorable & The-Importance-of-Being-Ernest-ish these cucumber sandwiches are!
Vinnie, the husband of the woman who runs the tea shop, stood listening to our Brian remembrances with tears in his eyes.
Mind you, Vinnie is a very conventional guy who's lived a totally conventional life.
I was actually rather terrified that he & his wife Vicki would recoil in horror at some of the stories that were being shared.
But afterwards, Vinnie sought me out. "I felt so privileged that you chose us to be a part of this," Vinnie said.
And that was Brian's great gift, you know. He saw the multiplicity of dimensions that people exist on and he focused them into something singular and beautiful through the generosity of his own enormous heart.
Brian, I will miss you...
Actually cried at the scene where the old curmudgeon opens his eyes on his deathbed for the last time & croaks, Thomas Jefferson survives! before expiring.
This one I didn't read; I listened to the audiobook on innumerable drives to Middletown, and then back & forth & around in Ithaca. I'd been wanting to tackle the book since I watched the excellent HBO miniseries John Adams, but it was the kind of book I knew I wouldn't be able to read as it contains hundreds of pages on John Adams's theories of governance, & I mean, Zzzzzzzzz.
But I also figured those theories of governance are relevant—particularly to the political situation today—& that if I were driving, I wouldn't fall asleep while parsing them.
###
Literally speaking, John Adams was wrong: Jefferson died about five hours before Adams did.
Figuratively speaking, though, Adams was right: Jefferson (despite the business with Sally Hemings) remains far more influential today than Adams—a bit weird when you think about it because Adams was a fanboy of iron-fisted federal control, all the rage right now, whereas the Rosseau-influenced Jefferson was an ardent supporter of individual rights & frequent revolution. The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants, Jefferson once wrote in a letter to Adams's son-in-law.
On the other hand, Donald Trump only wishes he'd legislated John Adams' Alien & Sedition Acts.
###
In other news, Brian-Palooza went well. Good in-person turnout; people driving from as far away as Boston, Vermont, & Pennsylvania; a respectable Zoom contingent.
Brian's niece turned up! A lovely, 30-ish young woman. I was so glad to see her.
I spent most of the time I wasn't emceeing chattering with Brian's neighbor Willie (not his real name) who turns out to have been the chairman of Manhattan's Democratic Party for 15 years. We talked politics! Why are Democrats such losers? And he asked me for my phone number—no, nothing like that! He is a billion years old and very, very gay; in fact, he retold his story about knocking on Brian's door to borrow lube when it came time for us to share remembrances. (Water-based or silicon-based? was Brian's reply)—because, "You have such an inventive mind!"
If only I weren't planning to be cremated! She Had Such An Inventive Mind would look so good on a tombstone.
###
Tranquili-Tea put on a good spread!
Just look how adorable & The-Importance-of-Being-Ernest-ish these cucumber sandwiches are!
Vinnie, the husband of the woman who runs the tea shop, stood listening to our Brian remembrances with tears in his eyes.
Mind you, Vinnie is a very conventional guy who's lived a totally conventional life.
I was actually rather terrified that he & his wife Vicki would recoil in horror at some of the stories that were being shared.
But afterwards, Vinnie sought me out. "I felt so privileged that you chose us to be a part of this," Vinnie said.
And that was Brian's great gift, you know. He saw the multiplicity of dimensions that people exist on and he focused them into something singular and beautiful through the generosity of his own enormous heart.
Brian, I will miss you...
no subject
Date: 2025-08-18 04:14 pm (UTC)I would add a second line - she had a kind heart.
no subject
Date: 2025-08-19 03:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-08-18 05:38 pm (UTC)LOL. Indeed it would. 😊
I'm so glad the celebration of Brian's life went so well. It looks like a lovely setting. And I quite fancy one of those cucumber sandwiches.
no subject
Date: 2025-08-19 03:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-08-18 06:11 pm (UTC)I'm so glad to hear things went smoothly for Brian-Palooza. There is a real and important comfort to gathering and sharing stories - a reminder that many people will carry the memories of those who have died far too soon.
no subject
Date: 2025-08-19 03:28 pm (UTC)I agree.
no subject
Date: 2025-08-19 12:43 am (UTC)💛💛💛💛💛💛
no subject
Date: 2025-08-19 03:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-08-19 04:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-08-19 07:43 am (UTC)Tears came into my eyes on reading this. Well done for such beauty and delicacy in honouring your friend's enormous heart. What a magnificent farewell ❤️❤️❤️
no subject
Date: 2025-08-19 03:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-08-19 02:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-08-19 03:26 pm (UTC)