Countdown to Ecstasy, part 3

[zyzyly]

As I walk along K street in the afternoon, I pass a beautiful old church--St. Francis of Assisi. It is just across the park form the hospital. Along the side wall is a little alcove. Occasionally I will see one of these little sculptures sitting in the alcove. Sometimes they are simple, sometimes they are complex, sometimes they are so chaotic that they make no sense at all--like the web of a spider on lsd.

I don't know who makes them, although I have a suspicion that it is a young homeless woman who I see walking in the same area almost every day. Whenever anyone draws near to her, she covers her face with her hand and turns away.

I don't know what they are for, but I think they are made for the squirrels.

No more have appeared since the last picture, and I haven't seen her since.

See if you can pull it all together, and tell me why I chose to caption these "countdown to ecstasy"

Comments

like the web of a spider on lsd.

[niyabinghi.livejournal.com]

countdown to ecstasy.... um, b/c they are numbered would be the first choice, but then they are counting *up*.
Ecstasy b/c they are finally eaten?

Whichever, what an intriguing tale. I'm so glad you took photos of these. (But initial was beginning to wonder about your mental state/culinary choices, haha :D !)

What little endearing gifts of creativity from that homeless woman.

Re: like the web of a spider on lsd.

[myasma.livejournal.com]

i think she saw me take pictures of the last one--i hope i didn't scare her away!

[serratia.livejournal.com]

That woman is dangerous! The squirrels already know how to raid bird feeders and antagonize neighborhood dogs.

What will happen once they learn to count, then? Huh???



(And... um... because you're a Steely Dan fan?)

[poetbear.livejournal.com]

all i know for sure is that they'r
wonderful pictures, Mike.
thanks for sharing them.~paul

[myasma.livejournal.com]

I saw a squirrel grab one of the bread pieces and drag it up a tree--i got a shot of it, but it was blurry.

and yes, I do like Steely Dan, and that's where the title came from, but not what it means!

[ruralrob.livejournal.com]

They probably win the prize for best LJ photos of the day. Even though I haven't a clue what they are all about . .

[myasma.livejournal.com]

I haven't a clue either, but they have captivated me.

[http://users.livejournal.com/-reallyreally/]

In that they're largely composed of bread, the only thing that keeps popping into my mind is the low-glycemic Marc and I have been on for the past two years, and how anything involving the occasional consumption of bread is sheer unadulterated ecstacy for us. I actually clap when they bring rolls to the table in restaurants.

[myasma.livejournal.com]

haha!

[zhenzhi.livejournal.com]

they look purposeful. (previously when you showed these, i thought you had made them!) if they really are for the sqirrels, they must be ecstatic to find such a yummy lunch waiting for them. :-)

[myasma.livejournal.com]

And these are not even the most elaborate. there were a few that were multi-layered, or had the numbers spelled out in nuts and stuff.

seems like a lot of folks thought I made them, but i'm just not creative in that way. i think my creativity lies in noticing these things, no?

[zhenzhi.livejournal.com]

yes indeed! it's a magical talent. :-)

[zhenzhi.livejournal.com]

and i just had another thought. if they are on a church, perhaps they are a prayer, and pehaps the ecstasy is when the suirrels complete the prayer by eating them?
they remind me of something i used to do in japan. across the road from my apartment was a wall with an alcove in it. (the outside of a bath house). i made little origami scenes and stuck them into the alcove.... and would then sit on my balcony and watch passing people's reactions. lol!

[myasma.livejournal.com]

I have wondered if there is a spiritual aspect to these--after all, St Francis had a special relationship with the creatures of the earth.

I would have loved to sit with you and watch the reactions to your origami--i'll bet it was very interesting!

[lovelightlife.livejournal.com]

wow
i love it when you make references to things i remember about sacramento...

When my husband and I lived there (we werent married yet) we were Jesuit Volunteers and St. Francis of Assisi was our parish. All 14 of us JVs....

The sculptures are very interesting...
i wonder if she was one of our woman's wisdom project women...

[myasma.livejournal.com]

I spend a lot of time at St. Francis. I work just across the park the hospital (and that is where Arlina is), and go over for noon Mass every day. They sustain me.