I once ran into Cohen in a diner off of Santa Monica Blvd, which the name of the place I can't remember, but he was with a woman, and the whole landscape yelled out "This is Leonard Cohen World." Great piece, thanks!
This was very good. Many good lines. "Obama’s first term, the swollen epoch in which the terminal patient had a temporary air of rude health, so to speak. For a brief while, I enjoyed this encounter, and my memory of it, as a kind of reminder that the life of a working artist even at its best is difficult, or at least not plush." I may now take up the "What racket are you in?" line.
That was perhaps the best read so far here on Substack 5 weeks tomorrow. I sure love his music and what a class gentleman. Funny popping into him so many times, weird eh?! Kinda makes for some kind of a script for an episode of a show. Anyhow his music carries us onwards and you, I sure hope your health is better.
Ahh, thank you. Yes, health is better--well, it was the last time I checked, and (touch wood) hopefully in a few weeks when checked again this will remain so. Happy to have had these encounters with LC. Felt like absorbing a little piece of the world (and I don't just mean the music world, I mean the human world) that needs to be preserved at all costs
This is so good. Simply wonderful writing. I had similar encounters with Ray Bradbury after first meeting him when my old friend, F. Murray Abraham, was in a production of Bradbury's, The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit at the Coronet Theater. I would see him, usually in tennis clothes, at small markets and such, all over town. Always kind, and always pristine tennis whites.
I met LC a couple of times. Once in the Pantheon offices around the time Stranger Music was published, and then again at Ecco when Book of Longing was in the works. During the second meeting, I remember being surprised by how small he was, but impressed that he’d brought along a beautiful young woman from his band, whom I think he was sort of promoting, à la Prince and one of his ingénues. He had such an aura in those meetings that it’s hard to imagine him in a doctor’s office or an elevator. But after reading this lovely short piece of writing, I can now. Thanks for sharing it.
I once ran into Cohen in a diner off of Santa Monica Blvd, which the name of the place I can't remember, but he was with a woman, and the whole landscape yelled out "This is Leonard Cohen World." Great piece, thanks!
Well, she was right ;)
I remember when Trump was elected one of my first thoughts was that I envied Leonard Cohen that he got to die before seeing this!
I thought the exact same. Can you imagine timing your departure from anything—a party, a planet, whatever—so perfectly?
This was very good. Many good lines. "Obama’s first term, the swollen epoch in which the terminal patient had a temporary air of rude health, so to speak. For a brief while, I enjoyed this encounter, and my memory of it, as a kind of reminder that the life of a working artist even at its best is difficult, or at least not plush." I may now take up the "What racket are you in?" line.
It's a great line. I can't believe he busted it out on me twice
That was perhaps the best read so far here on Substack 5 weeks tomorrow. I sure love his music and what a class gentleman. Funny popping into him so many times, weird eh?! Kinda makes for some kind of a script for an episode of a show. Anyhow his music carries us onwards and you, I sure hope your health is better.
Ahh, thank you. Yes, health is better--well, it was the last time I checked, and (touch wood) hopefully in a few weeks when checked again this will remain so. Happy to have had these encounters with LC. Felt like absorbing a little piece of the world (and I don't just mean the music world, I mean the human world) that needs to be preserved at all costs
Awfully good. The terminal patient indeed.
This is so good. Simply wonderful writing. I had similar encounters with Ray Bradbury after first meeting him when my old friend, F. Murray Abraham, was in a production of Bradbury's, The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit at the Coronet Theater. I would see him, usually in tennis clothes, at small markets and such, all over town. Always kind, and always pristine tennis whites.
Really didn’t expect to cry at the end of this. “Art does rescue some people from some things.” Thank you.
Loved this.
I met LC a couple of times. Once in the Pantheon offices around the time Stranger Music was published, and then again at Ecco when Book of Longing was in the works. During the second meeting, I remember being surprised by how small he was, but impressed that he’d brought along a beautiful young woman from his band, whom I think he was sort of promoting, à la Prince and one of his ingénues. He had such an aura in those meetings that it’s hard to imagine him in a doctor’s office or an elevator. But after reading this lovely short piece of writing, I can now. Thanks for sharing it.