Today, This.

by Hannah on June 16, 2011

I was going to write about a really fantastic chocolate today.

Or I was going to keep telling you about Melbourne.

Or I was going to describe to you the rather tasty dessert I made, several weeks ago now, for a dinner party with friends.

TorteBut then I came across these lines in the book I’m currently reading:

The moon will not be patrolled and she shines free and fearless and there is no sin in anything that shines that fucking much.

- A Love Letter From A Stray Moon, p.70

I didn’t realise at first, but my left hand was curled so tightly in on itself that my fingernails dug into my palm.

Later, I ate an embarrassingly large amount of the slice I ostensibly cooked for tomorrow’s party, all because parts of it were a little burnt and for some reason I thought that the way to fix the mistake was to eat the evidence.

And then on the next page of the book, I found this:

It’s a display, that’s all. The reality is that I hold my own hand, I cry, I drink, I sleep.

- A Love Letter From A Stray Moon, p.71

I closed my eyes. I wrapped myself in memories that feel like a warm blanket of feathers at the same time as they feel like knives in my throat, and I let myself sink.

Then I looked at this photo of my dog, which my friend Jess took on her phone after my birthday dinner. As ever, this photo of my Demon Dog made me laughlaughlaugh, and so I let myself push off hard from the ocean floor beneath me in search of air.

JeddaI was going to write about a really fantastic chocolate today.

But instead, I wrote this.

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{ 61 comments… read them below or add one }

msihua June 16, 2011 at 11:42 pm

I wants to hug Jedda!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Hannah June 17, 2011 at 9:15 pm

No way; you’d eat all her food! :P

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Emma June 16, 2011 at 11:50 pm

Aww look at that little demon, with the flouncy feet and ears.

And stay off that ocean bottom:) There’s nothing down there but those funny angler fish that try to lure you in with their oh-so-seductive dangly things – don’t be fooled!

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Hannah June 17, 2011 at 9:17 pm

*sings* Someone’s been watching Finding Neeeeemo! ;)

In all seriousness, thank you so much my friend :) I think you’re absolutely right about the evil seductive creature that lurk down in the depths!

xoxo

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Sarah June 16, 2011 at 11:51 pm

“there is no sin in anything that shines that fucking much”

How amazing is that line?!

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Hannah June 17, 2011 at 9:22 pm

You have no idea how happy you made me in writing this comment. I’m so glad I’m not the only one for whom that line sings!

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Tammy June 19, 2011 at 3:45 pm

Not only does it sing, but I believe it sings soprano. Thanks Hannah. You have no idea how much this touched me.

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Hannah June 19, 2011 at 8:21 pm

*hugs* I think I might – it really seared through and helped me; I can only hope it did as much for you :) :)

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Cait's Plate June 17, 2011 at 12:58 am

You made that dessert!? It looks amazing. I always start out with an idea of what I’m going to write about in my head and then the post takes on a life of it’s own! Haha.

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Hannah June 17, 2011 at 9:23 pm

Aw, thanks Cait! I did in fact make it, and I’ll tell you about it soon so you can too :) It’s really quite easy! And yes, posts do tend to go where *they* want to, don’t they?

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Cait's Plate June 18, 2011 at 12:16 am

Yay sounds good! I can’t wait to hear about it. And absolutely, posts definitely do :)

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juniakk @ mis pensamientos June 17, 2011 at 1:31 am

awww i hope you are doing okay…~~

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Hannah June 17, 2011 at 9:24 pm

Thank you – feeling better now :)

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Alayna @ Thyme Bombe June 17, 2011 at 1:45 am

Obviously, you are the hero of this tale – saving the innocent party-goers from the horrors of burnt edges! There is no sin in anything that tastes that fucking good.

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Hannah June 17, 2011 at 9:25 pm

I. Just. Love. This. Comment.

Thank you, so much :) xo

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Lauren June 17, 2011 at 5:48 am

More poetry, please! I like these kind of posts. Do them more often, and appease the tasteless masses with gratuitous shots of flourless chocolate cake, if necessary.

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Hannah June 17, 2011 at 9:50 pm

If things were different, and I was currently writing this from your guest bedroom, I would right now be dropping everything to run upstairs and give you such a big squeeze-y hug that we’d both be breathless.

Thank you, my darling friend. I felt quite vulnerable putting this post up, and fearful of silence in the comments. Thank you.

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Errign June 17, 2011 at 7:59 am

The sin line is just beyond epic. Your doggy is super cuteeee!

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Hannah June 17, 2011 at 9:35 pm

I’m so glad you agree! And I, in turn, agree with you – my dog is super cute :)

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Kath (My Funny Little Life) June 17, 2011 at 8:15 am

:)

Sometimes, meaning just strikes us with a vengeance.

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Hannah June 17, 2011 at 9:35 pm

And sometimes, it’s just plain wonderful when it does :)

(And it also reminds me why I need to read more fiction!)

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Lizzi June 17, 2011 at 9:18 am

Moons shine and that’s cool n stuff, but you are my sunshine, and you absolutely GLOWWWWWWWWWWWWW.

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Hannah June 17, 2011 at 9:45 pm

I glow because I reflect the light from you, my shining star :) Thank you for being.

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Priyanka June 17, 2011 at 9:38 am

“The moon will not be patrolled and she shines free and fearless and there is no sin in anything that shines that fucking much.” Love this line!

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Hannah June 17, 2011 at 9:50 pm

Me too, so much. I’m so glad you do too :)

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Adrian (Food Rehab) June 17, 2011 at 3:11 pm

Ha! “eat the evidence” – love the way you think  My friends still bag me about the time I made a cake but decided to eat half. I seriously couldn’t stop myself so I ended up coming over to their house with a half cake. So bad.

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Hannah June 17, 2011 at 9:51 pm

And this, Adrian, is why our friendship was written in the stars ;)

You totally could have gotten away with saying your adorable puppy ate it, though!

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Heidi - Apples Under My Bed June 17, 2011 at 3:33 pm

Oh, this is touching and warm and heartbreaking. Sending you hugs, Hannah bug! Beautiful quotes.
Heidi xo

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Hannah June 17, 2011 at 9:52 pm

Heidi, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Hugs gratefully received – can’t wait for real ones in future :) xo

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Johanna GGG June 17, 2011 at 7:34 pm

I would eat burnt bits to clean up a slice. I would laugh at the dancing demon dog. I just wish I also had the energy to read such lovely books!

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Hannah June 17, 2011 at 9:54 pm

I’ve decided that making the time to escape in a book is going to be one of my commitments to taking care of myself :) I hope I stick to my guns about it!! So tempting to just read blogs all night instead…. And I’m glad to hear you’re a fellow burnt-bits crusader :D

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Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella June 17, 2011 at 7:48 pm

But it’s Friday! You can write about anything because of course the next day is the weekend and we love weekends :D

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Hannah June 17, 2011 at 9:55 pm

We do love weekends, particularly when they involve 60th wedding anniversary celebrations with one’s beloved family… or is that just me? ;)

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Kari @ bite-sized thoughts June 17, 2011 at 9:24 pm

You know what? I’m kind of glad you did :) But I hope you’re ok – beautiful quotes and beautiful writing, but I fingernails in palms make me worry! xx

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Hannah June 17, 2011 at 9:56 pm

Thank you, Kari. It is truly such a relief to hear you say that :) I’m nervous, posting things like this sometimes! I’m doing okay, and palms have recovered. Looking forward to seeing lots of my extended family tomorrow :)

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Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table June 17, 2011 at 10:34 pm

I LOVE that quote! Now I’m going to have to download the book. :)

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Hannah June 18, 2011 at 2:46 pm

It’s a fascinating and beautiful read :) Thanks for popping by! :)

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Amber Shea @Almost Vegan June 18, 2011 at 1:45 am

Eating the evidence is ALWAYS the best way to fix [food] mistakes. :)
And, I like those quotes as well, especially the first – is that a book, or an essay, or what?

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Hannah June 18, 2011 at 3:01 pm

If only we could eat all our mistakes, food-related or not. I definitely wish I could digest some of the stupid things I’ve done in the past!

It’s a book, a novel, a kind-of stream-of-consciousness, poetry-like fictional memoir of Frida Kahlo – this is the Penguin Books link, and this is my mum’s review of it :)

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Monique June 18, 2011 at 11:01 am

Cute dog :) And that sounds like a really interesting read!

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Hannah June 18, 2011 at 3:02 pm

It’s fascinating and beautiful – and quite short! You should add it to your pile of to-reads ;)

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Margaret June 18, 2011 at 11:17 am

Your puppy looks very pleased. I call dogs of all ages puppies because puppy is a much nicer word than dog, and also dogs remain child-like and adorable their entire life, so surely puppy is a much more appropriate name!

My mum looked after my puppy while I was in Melbourne and she just confessed she was feeding him smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwiches??!!

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Hannah June 18, 2011 at 3:05 pm

I, too, usually call all dogs “puppy”, but decided to go with the accurate term for the sake of alliteration ;) My puppy definitely still acts like a puppy despite being (I think) 12 years old… except, of course, in the mornings when she hobbles out of bed into the cold!

Wow, lucky puppy of yours! Just as long as she left off the raw onion :)

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sophia June 18, 2011 at 12:57 pm

I LOVE that first quote, and not just because it has an f-bomb in it. We should all be the moon– though if we’re gonna get technical, it is a holey rock with no shine to it….

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Hannah June 18, 2011 at 3:05 pm

Nah-uh, Sophia! Technically, the moon is made of green cheese! :P

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Shannon June 18, 2011 at 11:58 pm

<3 That is all, my friend.

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Hannah June 19, 2011 at 12:36 pm

And that’s all I need. Thank you :)

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Agnes June 19, 2011 at 12:22 am

Don’t go sinking too far into memories. Make new ones. We can only go forward. xx

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Hannah June 19, 2011 at 12:38 pm

HEART. (Water! Earth! Fire!)

I shall, I will, I am [trying] :) Thank you, BFF.

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Jerome Pink June 19, 2011 at 8:41 am

:) happy face.

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Hannah June 19, 2011 at 12:39 pm
whisperinggums June 19, 2011 at 9:11 pm

Oh Hannah, I’m glad you like that book but do get the fingernails out of your palm …! Be gentle with yourself.

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Hannah June 19, 2011 at 9:28 pm

I’m trying, I am :) You get a skewed view sometimes, I know, but palms are more often than not unblemished. I would have called you, today, to tell you about the meet-up, but if I’d called you would’ve thought it was a prank caller just breathing down the phone! :P

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Anna Johnston June 20, 2011 at 9:36 am

Bestie Darlin! I sure am hoping you’ve jumped out of the funk you were in on Friday and are now feeling better. Sending you hugs, stay warm my dearest. And, take a day to get better you hear. Love Love. Xxx

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Hannah June 20, 2011 at 2:34 pm

Seeing you yesterday did bucketloads to dispel any lingering funk. Particularly when we shared our stories of falling-down humiliations ;)

Wish I could’ve taken the day off, but my voice betrayed me by coming back enough this morning that I couldn’t justify it! :S

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Tori June 24, 2011 at 9:10 am

Sometimes I enjoy a good wallow, myself.
But aside from being a little depressing, how’s that book?

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Hannah June 24, 2011 at 1:24 pm

It’s fascinating, very much a stream-of-consciousness style of poetic writing. Do you know much about Frida Kahlo? I didn’t (which I’m ashamed to admit), so it was a great way to learn a bit more about her :)

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Tori June 29, 2011 at 12:53 am

Not a whole lot until I saw the movie. But even now all I can remember is her horrible accident and !Unibrow!
I’m not sure I’m a big fan of stream-of-consciousness writing. At any rate, I don’t think they have that book in the states anyway, so I guess I’ll never know.

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Hannah June 29, 2011 at 8:38 am

Ah well, plenty of other good book-fish in the sea ;)

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Sig July 7, 2011 at 3:47 pm

I’ve probably spent the better part of my morning reading your blog and it’s made my day just that little better…I mean you food, humour, fantastic writing and CHOCOLATE. I am rather ashamed to call myself a chocolate lover now.

*Bows down to the Queen*

But then you go ahead and bring this post with that line and I think I am in love.
I’m sitting in a far away country, away from my beloved Melbourne, my loves and wanting to simultaneously bury myself in the covers of my bed or run or…something. Loved it. Hope you’re feeling better now as well :)

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Hannah July 9, 2011 at 10:55 pm

Sig, I really can’t express how utterly and completely your comment was like a burst of smile-creating sunshine on this cold, drab day in Canberra! I’m so honoured and ecstatic that you’ve been reading along here, and am thrilledthrilledthrilled that this post, this quote, these thoughts, spoke to you as they spoke to you and subsequently led you to speak to me. (That wasn’t a convoluted sentence at all… :P )

Oh, how I know the feelings of simultaneously wanting to hide and run, all the while dreaming of a life in a place you long to be back in/venture to! So happy my little blog gave you a bit of space to breath, and look forward to chatting more with you in future :) xo

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