Leonard's Recent Meetings with Cohenites

[brightnow]

Cate wrote:
>There's a lot of great stories here - so many lucky people!

This is a true statement, and when examined tells us that those who fail to have a "great story" must be "unlucky". Therefore we have two completely opposite groups of people here, the 'lucky' and the 'unlucky' - and this is a challenge to harmonious interaction. Pride confronting shame, superior against inferior, major versus minor, priviliged contra unpriviliged - oil and water. There is a lot of contempt and a great deal of jealousy bubbling just below the surface of our apparently cordial exchange of pleasantries - and only a blind insensitive creature would deny that some of it is not pure unaldulterated hate thinly disguised as admiration. We have become the new Catholics and Protestants. We are "there where the light and the darkness divide" as is written in 'Ballad of the Absent Mare'. Those who have met Leonard and those who have not. We are now a split nation, and an awful lot of work lies ahead if it is ever to be repaired.

Geoffrey, how nice to see you here, insightful and eloquent as ever (yet your insight is painfully narrow as it applies only to the most bitter and cynical, a sliver of the human population). However, now that you are here, why don't you tell us about your relationship with Leonard and recount some of the time you spent with him? I mean, here we are, marveling at the crumbs we were so lucky to find while you had whole servings...

[Cate]

.



ohhh please... what a dramatic bunny you are Geoffrey.

You know there are some of us here who have enough imagination to be able to enjoy a good vicarious experience.
take you for example – I like reading about little things in your life, which I suspect is probably a mix of true and coulda been trues. I like to hear stories of you going to get provisions from the main land or fishing for salmon at dawn, or even you thinking the postman might be downstairs because you could hear a racquet. I also enjoyed eating pretend fries with you and Imaginary while we discussed Hitler’s genitals – which interestingly is a conversation I’ve never actually had with somebody before.
I also like reading stories of Leonard meetings. admittedly it’s not the same as meeting him myself – people tend to leave out the important stuff – like what does he smell like, but still it's food for the imagination and I feel happy for those people who do get to meet him.

[MaryB]

I also like reading stories of Leonard meetings. admittedly it’s not the same as meeting him myself – people tend to leave out the important stuff – like what does he smell like,

Cate,
He was no wearing any fragrance. No smell that I could detect. What else ?

Warmest regards,
Mary

[Geoffrey]

brightnow wrote:
>Geoffrey, how nice to see you here, insightful and eloquent as ever (yet your insight is painfully narrow as it applies only to the most bitter and cynical, a sliver of the human population).

Well, maybe - I don't know any more. People hide what they feel, you can't always tell if they are showing their true emotions. Jealousy, as destructive as it is, has always been a natural force - all the way back to Cain. I can understand that when fans of Leonard Cohen who have never met him read about fans that HAVE met him, that they might feel a little jealous. It might be hard for them. It might make them feel something apart from joy for the people who have been fortunate enough to achieve something that they themselves have only dreamed of doing. Am I really so off the beaten track if I suggest that it might not be so unnatural if negative feelings arose? We are, after all, human beings - not X-Men or Stepford Wives.

>However, now that you are here, why don't you tell us about your relationship with Leonard and recount some of the time you spent with him? I mean, here we are, marveling at the crumbs we were so lucky to find while you had whole servings...

My relationship with Leonard? If you could explain what you mean I will try to answer. Who has given you such information? I have always striven to be as honest and open as possible. But there needs to be a balance, too. Maybe I am wrong, but I cannot imagine anyone being curious about what little is left of my private life. Nobody, I am sure, has any desire to know more about me than they already do. But it was kind and flattering of you to show interest. Thank you, Avi.

[Geoffrey]

Cate wrote:
>ohhh please... what a dramatic bunny you are Geoffrey. You know there are some of us here who have enough imagination to be able to enjoy a good vicarious experience. take you for example – I like reading about little things in your life, which I suspect is probably a mix of true and coulda been trues. I like to hear stories of you going to get provisions from the main land or fishing for salmon at dawn, or even you thinking the postman might be downstairs because you could hear a racquet. I also enjoyed eating pretend fries with you and Imaginary while we discussed Hitler’s genitals – which interestingly is a conversation I’ve never actually had with somebody before. I also like reading stories of Leonard meetings. admittedly it’s not the same as meeting him myself – people tend to leave out the important stuff – like what does he smell like, but still it's food for the imagination and I feel happy for those people who do get to meet him.

Ha ha ha, you always make me laugh, Cate. Not only do you read my posts, you actually remember them. Until you bring them up again they are completely forgotten to myself. I don't know who you are, only that I really like the lovely and witty lady who pens these messages. Thank you so much.

[MaryB]

I can understand that when fans of Leonard Cohen who have never met him read about fans that HAVE met him, that they might feel a little jealous. It might be hard for them. It might make them feel something apart from joy for the people who have been fortunate enough to achieve something that they themselves have only dreamed of doing.

I, at one time only dreamed - then it happened! So, everyone, dream on - you never know!

[Cate]

Geoffrey you have made me feel good and added a bit of pink to my cheeks - so thank you. I have a terrible memory for written facts and details but if something engages me such as a story or simple poem it'll stay with me for a long time.

Hi Mary - thanks for the scent info.

[enya]

Hello Everyone,

although it would be great to meet Mr. Cohen, I was just wandering if anyone knows of any visits to Texas at all or close by. I have tried to figure out a way to go to a concert this year, however it was very difficult due to the distance.
Does anyone know if there will ever be a chance to see him somewhere in Texas anytime soon?
Thanks!
Enya

[Mollydog]

Here's the link to my meeting with Leonard in San Jose.

Mary

viewtopic.php?f=39&t=19987&start=135

[Geoffrey]

Mollydog wrote:
>Here's the link to my meeting with Leonard in San Jose.
>
>viewtopic.php?f=39&t=19987&start=135

how do you do that, i mean where do you get this link from - this blue writing that when i click on it i come to where you intended me to go? in my so-called 'URL bar' at the top it just says http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/ all the time - and that just sends a person back to the start page. teach me how to do what you just did.

[brightnow]

Mollydog wrote:
>Here's the link to my meeting with Leonard in San Jose.
>
>viewtopic.php?f=39&t=19987&start=135

how do you do that, i mean where do you get this link from - this blue writing that when i click on it i come to where you intended me to go? in my so-called 'URL bar' at the top it just says http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/ all the time - and that just sends a person back to the start page. teach me how to do what you just did.

I'm not sure why your browser is doing that, which browser are you using? and which operating system? (Windows? MacOS? Linux?).
If you're using Firefox on Windows, right click the title of any message in the forum and select "Copy Link Location" from the menu, it will place the link in your clipboard and you can paste it where needed. In Internet Explorer the menu item is called "Copy Shortcut" and in Chrome it is called "Copy link address". Hope this helps, let me know if I can help any further.

[imaginary friend]

Geoffrey the Incorrigible!

You are a self-confessed 'cyber-locksmith'. Are you pretending you don't understand the interactive functions of this forum?

(PS Sorry to hear you are not well. I hope you will be better soon. Do you know the symptoms of H1N1 ...so you can be at ease that isn't the kind of flu you have, or get help if it is? The medicine (X 10) for any kind of cold or flue is a hot toddy (lemon/honey/rum or brandy)

XO

[Mollydog]

Hi Geoffrey,

Just in case you really don't know how to post the link (though I suspect you are just teasing!). If you have leonardcohenfiles.com as your url it is because you have navigated to the forum via the link in the files (ie. not directly from leonardcohenforum.com).

Mary

(Hope you're feeling better.)

[kajtschi]

I would really love to meet him. I'm writing my phd thesis about literature in combination with music. I' m going to write about some musicians who are authors too, among them Leo, whom I really do adore. I will see him in salzbug on the 27 of July and it would be a SENSATION to get an interview with him, but I don't know whom to contact- don't laugh please, I know it sounds absurd and not realistic at all, but I don't want to believe that it really is impossible. Do you guyy have any idea???

[blue_bird]

"A strange met with Leonard Cohen in Lisbon the white city"

Well ... I had read here on the Forum about mets on the street or in hotel lobbies with LC, before or after the concerts, which is that I never expected would happen the same. Here I have an episode to remember forever and that I can to quickly share with you here. On 9 / 09 Lisbon concert eve by the end of the day went down the Avenida da Liberdade when looking to my right came across a group of people talking sitting on a terrace of a pub, I decided to stop and when I looked...I stay static and awe... at the table... sat L.C., Roscoe Beck and a few more people (Mickey Sullivan -LC roadie-, Ed Sanders, and two ladies ...), curiously brought with me the portuguese edition of the book "Stranger Music" (Canções e Poemas) now out of print but that I was returned the same day by a colleague work who had borrowed some time. It would therefore seem that several factors came together for that day in September was really special, find LC and still bring along a book of his own ...
The next step was actually the hardest for me, personally approach someone as LC was an idea almost unthinkable to me because of the deep respect I have for his work and gave then enough for me to hesitate whether to proceed or not but thought it might likely to repent for the rest of my life if not seize this opportunity, of course at this time had the whole table has to look at me and smile at each other (only LC was seriously), then deciding to go and apologized for interrupting the conversation of the group and ask if I could give two or three words to Mr. Cohen, said to me then someone at the table who I should ask that question to himself (at a time like this...it is sometimes every question), then I tell him apologize for stealing a little time and asked if he could sign my book witch he readily said yes, thanked him for coming back again to Lisbon and the magnificent concerts I attended (Coliseu Lisboa 1988, Algés 2008 and Atlantico 2009), then finally to thank Mr. Cohen the friendly gesture to sign the book I took leave until the following day (day of the 2010 Lisbon concert) ...also thanked the rest of the group and left ..
This was a situation that certainly I shall not repeat to anyone, because it ends up being a little uncomfortable, LC is an authentic living legend and is someone that I follow the work about 25 years, addresses him personally was a little disturbing to me but despite suspecting it was a handy person (read the chronicles of the meeting here with fans in a London bar on the afternoon of the show with Phillip Glass at the Barbican), at the end of the meeting I was just thinking how it really very humble and polite. Leonard Cohen is not only a great poet and a great musician. Leonard Cohen is also a great man.

Lisbon concert photos :

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=4 ... 1682091475