Absinthe & Cookies (a bit bitter, a bit sweet)

Thrill

Hello! I'm Ilyka Damen and I am guestblogging for Ith while she is away. Normally I run a very bad blog that you should never read, ever ever. Let's pretend it doesn't exist for the time being and get on with this post instead.

I believe about a month or so ago Ith mentioned in passing the Anne series of books by L.M. Montgomery. I was thinking of those myself tonight--particularly this passage from the first novel:

"That's Barry's pond," said Matthew.

"Oh, I don't like that name, either. I shall call it--let me see--the Lake of Shining Waters. Yes, that is the right name for it. I know because of the thrill. When I hit on a name that suits exactly it gives me a thrill. Do things ever give you a thrill?"

Matthew ruminated.

"Well now, yes. It always kind of gives me a thrill to see them ugly white grubs that spade up in the cucumber beds. I hate the look of them."

"Oh, I don't think that can be exactly the same kind of a thrill. Do you think it can?"

It's Anne's kind of thrill I'm talking about, although I'm certainly with Matthew on the grubs (or any other nasty insects, for that matter).

But, see, I was peeling roasted red bell peppers tonight and just reveling in it. Why do I like roasting bell peppers so much? I have no idea. There's just something about it, about the whole process--from washing and drying and roasting, to steaming and cooling and peeling, to slicing and marinating--those silly red bell peppers, they just please me aesthetically somehow, right down to my bones.

Perhaps what I actually mean is not so much Anne's "thrill" as her "queer, funny ache" upon beholding the Avenue . . . or maybe it's a whole 'nother sensation somewhere between the two.

So let me ask you fine people something:

Do things ever give you a thrill?

Posted by at August 23, 2005 9:51 PM | PROCURE FINE OLD WORLD ABSINTHE