Quote of the night

[brigdh]

One day, when Her Majesty was surrounded by several ladies, I remarked in connection with something that she had said, "There are times when the world so exasperates me that I feel I cannot go on living in it for another moment and I want to disappear for good. But then, if I happen to obtain some nice white paper, Michinoku paper, or white decorated paper, I decide that I can put up with things as they are a little longer. Or, if I can spread out a finely woven, green straw mat and examine the white bordering with its vivid black patterns, I somehow feel that I cannot turn my back on this world, and life actually seems precious to me."

"It really doesn't take much to console you," said the Empress, laughing.

-The Pillow Book, Sei Shonagon

Comments

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

She sounds like me: "My vacation was an expensive disaster, my supposed friend and former sexual entanglement turned out to be a selfish jerk, I have to move this month and I haven't found a new place or packed, I'm still sick, my back still hasn't healed from my accident last year, I've been out of karate for ages, and I just discovered that I've gained eight pounds-- but I got free gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches for a week, and life actually seems precious to me."

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

The last clause might explain the eight pounds...

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

I identified with it too, which is why I posted it. But I think your angst beats mine my several magnitudes.