I just remembered this one -- I may have blocked it from my memory. When I got out of the army I started at USC (in Los Angeles) for my degree. But I would frequently take the bus down to Westwood, because the area around UCLA was much nicer (much less likely to get mugged, raped, killed, in no particular order). One time I went there and went to their Mardi Gras celebration.
The only time in my life I've come close to a full blown panic attack from all of the crowds. I managed to work my way out to the fence, then along the fence to the exit.
I've long imagined that if I were ever to become religious (or, at least, a church goer) I'd get myself confirmed as a Catholic, for the show and spectacle. Reading your piece caused me to flash on a couple of scenes from different movies. The first, regarding the grumpiness of Lent, is Leo McKern's line from the silly, but frankly quite charming (and even surprising in places) fantasy film, Ladyhawke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aGKZKOgEPk
The other, triggered by your comment on how not even John could get the restaurant owners to cheer up, from the 1974 "Murder on the Orient Express" with Albert Finney as Poirot. He asks this female character (possibly Wendy Hiller, but I'm not sure and even that I had to look up) if she ever smiled. She just glower's at him and (almost snarling) says (in heavily accented, but meticulously pronounced English), "My doctor has recommended against it."
Some day I should like to catch The City of New Orleans (the actual train), which passes through Carbondale, down to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Making some arrangement to deal with the shocking crowds will be an issue. But it is on the list.
It's too bad we can't drone ourselves somehow, where we can float above the crowds without becoming submerged by them. I loved your Ladyhawke reference. It's been a LONG time since I've watched "Murder on the Orient Express."
I can think of nothing that makes my skin crawl more than a large crowd of revelers, regardless of the occasion. I'd rather be eaten alive by a pack of hungry Cub Scouts. Ick....
I just remembered this one -- I may have blocked it from my memory. When I got out of the army I started at USC (in Los Angeles) for my degree. But I would frequently take the bus down to Westwood, because the area around UCLA was much nicer (much less likely to get mugged, raped, killed, in no particular order). One time I went there and went to their Mardi Gras celebration.
The only time in my life I've come close to a full blown panic attack from all of the crowds. I managed to work my way out to the fence, then along the fence to the exit.
I've long imagined that if I were ever to become religious (or, at least, a church goer) I'd get myself confirmed as a Catholic, for the show and spectacle. Reading your piece caused me to flash on a couple of scenes from different movies. The first, regarding the grumpiness of Lent, is Leo McKern's line from the silly, but frankly quite charming (and even surprising in places) fantasy film, Ladyhawke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aGKZKOgEPk
The other, triggered by your comment on how not even John could get the restaurant owners to cheer up, from the 1974 "Murder on the Orient Express" with Albert Finney as Poirot. He asks this female character (possibly Wendy Hiller, but I'm not sure and even that I had to look up) if she ever smiled. She just glower's at him and (almost snarling) says (in heavily accented, but meticulously pronounced English), "My doctor has recommended against it."
Some day I should like to catch The City of New Orleans (the actual train), which passes through Carbondale, down to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Making some arrangement to deal with the shocking crowds will be an issue. But it is on the list.
It's too bad we can't drone ourselves somehow, where we can float above the crowds without becoming submerged by them. I loved your Ladyhawke reference. It's been a LONG time since I've watched "Murder on the Orient Express."
I can think of nothing that makes my skin crawl more than a large crowd of revelers, regardless of the occasion. I'd rather be eaten alive by a pack of hungry Cub Scouts. Ick....
Cub Scouts start with the heart, you know. They rip it right out of your chest and devour it like jackals.
Alas! Venice carnevale this year is only by video!
I figured as much! Is this damn virus EVER going to be over?