I avoid looking in mirrors. I don’t like seeing photographs of myself either. When do see myself, I imagine that others must react to my appearance in the same way I do: very critically.
In the past couple of weeks I’ve read a few Raymond Chandler mysteries. I love a good film noir and Chandler’s writing is the source of many of them. He has a very appealing way of turning a phrase. For example, when his main character, private eye Philip Marlowe starts his car, Chandler has him say, “I choked the car to life.” (Note: cars of the Marlowe’s era had a choke valve that regulated the flow of gas.)
It so happens that a recent encounter with my own image coincided with my reading of another passage from Chandler’s Lady in the Lake: “His head with the hat off had the indecent look of heads that are seldom without hats.”
Annotated Self Portrait
12″x9″ 140# Cold Pressed Block
Perhaps I’m a bit too sensitive.
That is a great quote! Conjures quite the image.
Thanks, Dr. V! He churns out a lot of great lines!
Ah, hat hair … the reason many people don’t like to wear hats,
Assuming one has hair, that is…
I love hats!
Most of the time.
Sometimes I’ve had hats which have fallen off.
I seem to get what most people would call hat hair from various elements like wind and dust.
Wearing hats is a risk, indeed!
Could definitely feel that choking car as I looked at your piece, Jack.
[Just, Raymond Chandler! And there is a Carver who writes well too].
Will check out Carver. Thanks, Adelaide.