昨夜に引き続き、六本木。普段はなかなか縁のないアカデミーヒルズへ。シリア滞在の頃からお世話になっている先生に久々にお会いできたり、おもしろいトークセッションが聞けたり、なかなか有意義な時間を過ごしました。
会場でチケットをいただいたのでヒルズの展望台、Tokyo City View へ行ってみることに。休日の夜ということもあり、とても混雑していましたが、あの角度から見る東京タワーはキラキラと美しい。でも高い所が苦手な私には52階はちょっと怖過ぎ。早々と地上へ退散してしまいました。
前から気になっていたサントリー美術館での鳥獣戯画展へ行ってきました。平安時代に描かれたという鳥獣人物戯画の甲巻、乙巻、その保存状態の美しいこと。どの動物もユーモアたっぷりに表現され、あれだけの混雑でなければ、倍くらいの時間をかけて、もっとじっくり細部まで観たかったな。
動物達を見ていると、あの時代、人間達はこんな風に遊んでいたんだな、こんな事を笑っていたんだな、ということがリアルに伝わってくる。絵だけで表現した時代から、少しずつ文章が混じり、動物達が台詞を言うようになっていく様子は、まさに漫画の始まりのよう。日本の漫画、アニメーション、イラストレーションの原型を感じます。大満足の構成でした。
展覧会の後は、一緒に出かけた女友達3人で、ミッドタウンの浅野屋さんへ。窯で焼きたての熱々ピザとワインで乾杯しました。しばらく会ってなかった友人も交えてのテーブルは大盛り上がり。彼女達に出会って3年、こんなにdeepな付き合いになるとは思わなかった。こんな顔ぶれで集まれるのもあと少しだと思うと、余計に楽しく感じられて、いつまでも話が尽きません。いつもは早寝早起きの私ですが、久しぶりに夜時間を楽しみました。
今朝、ニューヨークで暮らす友人から、たまらなく素敵なメッセージがメール転送されてきました。George Carlinというコメディアンの方が書いたものなのですが(私は彼のことをよく知らないのですが・・・)、彼が奥さまを亡くした時に書かれたメッセージのよう。タイトルは"What a difference a sad event in someone's life makes."
ちょっと長めの英文ですが、そんなに難しい表現はないし、構成はとてもシンプルだから、全体を読めば大体の意味は掴めると思います。自分の限られた人生の中で、大切なことってなんだろう?と振り返りたくなるはず。
最後のこの言葉、心に残りました。"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."
"What a difference a sad event in someone's life makes."
GEORGE CARLIN (His wife recently died...)
Isn't it amazing that George Carlin - comedian of the 70's and 80's - could write something so very eloquent...and so very appropriate.
A Message by George Carlin:
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have big ger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less t ime. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stoc kroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...
Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
If you don't send this to at least 8 people....Who cares?
George Carlin
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