Carin's Dragon by Chipka
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Description
It was cold on the day that we saw dragons; it was one of the coldest days of the year. Lake Michigan lay frozen along its flanks. The air recalled some Nordic myth: one about a chill so strong and so pervasive that words themselves froze in the air and fell—glass-like—to the ground. I remember that story: the one about frozen words. The ones that survived the winter thawed out and were heard during the spring. I love folktale and myth logic: words can freeze, sparrows and other birds can push the sky back into position; furniture can talk, much to the chagrin of talking yams.
There were no talking yams on the day that Corey and I met Carin at the Westin Hotel just outside of the loop. There were no heroic birds pushing the sky back into place, but in Carin’s warm and vibrant company, Corey and I heard of thieving hyenas (bringing their friends to the fringes of a barbecue,) fabricating elephants, and your average, every-day giraffe just walking by: as they do if you happen to live in a part of the world with giraffes walking around.
There were dragons on the day that Carin visited Chicago and met Corey and me. They were brass lamp-holders, lending their useful grace to The Drake: a venerable hotel on Chicago’s Gold Coast. We’d planned on going to the lake, to photograph that deceptive inland sea. The lake had other ideas. It had grown restive during the earlier weeks of winter and so its concrete-encrusted shores were covered with the treachery of ice. It was too cold to reach the lake, anyway. Corey’s coat—perhaps in protest to the temperature—committed a small act of mutiny and refused to zip. And so, ziplessly, Corey (and Carin and I) headed for the nearest bit of comfortable warmth we could find. As it turns out, such comfort accompanied the decadence of Key Lime cheesecake in a franchise branch that resembled the innards of a deep-space Leviathan class starship from Jim Henson’s Farscape. I was surprised to learn that Pilot did not steer the place to some odd destination, while various Hymerians, Humans, Peacekeepers, and others meandered the half-deserted corridors of a living starship in all of the colors of copper and marble. Pa’u Za’an didn’t show her blue bottom to a flatulent Hymerian Dominar with prodigious appetites and a swanky hover chair (he refuses to walk.) The only strange people were of local origin. But still, the branch of the Cheesecake Factory at the foot of the John Hancock Center recalled one of my favorite science fictional starships. With cheesecake.
As Carin is from a country far more interesting than anything I’ve experienced on the southwest shore of Lake Michigan, I’m sure she probably wouldn’t have been surprised to see alien characters running around, arguing, and scheming. She would have—most likely—photographed them, and possibly talked a particular, very small Dominar into posing on his anti-grav cusions. Instead, she laughed and talked, talked and listened. She presented gifts to Corey and me, and to Kate (who couldn’t make it due to a job engagement.) She laughed a lot, sharing stories of strange new life on a world that should be familiar to most humans. (Get her to tell you the one about being stalked by one of the deadliest scorpions around. Actually the scorpion was more interested in sauntering than stalking. But still, get her to tell you that story, or the one about the elephant pretending to eat, while charging (very slowly!)
Now, I see a fanciful dragon holding a light globe, and I think of South Africa and of friends there, of one particular friend with the kind of laugh that warms up a room. I have it on good authority that dragons like warmth and so it’s only fitting that I post this dragon now. Perhaps he will bring warmth to the city (and future trips to South Africa) in the same way that he brings light to the Drake Hotel.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great week.
Comments (33)
beachzz
Dragons and elephants and giraffes-all in one place. Well, not physically, but I can see how it might work. I love your story, and SO sad I missed Carin on her travels.
DrCarl
what a wonderful tale, you are a well versed and very expressive person..thanks for sharing that with us. they are amazing lamp holders indeed cheers carl
mgtcs
A truly marvelous capture Chip, loved the lighting, magnificent writing as usual, loved it!
kgb224
Superb capture and story my friend. Thank you for sharing your memories of Carin's visit. God Bless.
NefariousDrO
Ah, Chip your mind work in such mysterious and magical ways, just reading the drift of your thoughts is just as magical as any eldrich tome of the ancients. It's always fascinating to see what kinds of ideas the mundane (or in this case not so mundane) world will inspire. Cool photo, too!
micturn
beautifully captured
auntietk
Clear, crisp lines, and the dragon leaps off the screen, all yellow-gold-bronze and warm as toast. I love stories of Carin's visit to Chicago, especially when they contain such lovely imagery. Excellent photograph and narrative!
MrsRatbag
This is wonderful, Chip; such a sense of mystery and import. I also love reading your perceptions of people and situations, your mind is fascinating!
Orinoor
To see dragons and eat cheesecake seems like absolute heaven. Farscape is by far one of my favorite sci-fi shows. I love how you describe everything, it's more than perfect.
jocko500
very good image with a story too
blinkings
He's a beaut.
helanker
WOW! A beautiful dragon you have captured there. I can understand, by what I read, that you had a wonderful day with Carin :-D
durleybeachbum
Marvellous..and hell to dust.
BessieB
Such an expressive piece, a great capture
fallen21
Excellent capture!
Feliciti
yes ,excellent capture ! like the warm light on this too !!
thecytron
Xcellent ambiance lighting!
evielouise
Excellent!~ woeds and images ; happy memorial day;
jophoto
What a wonderful lamp! I want one! Excellent capture of the lamp and the lighting it provides.
MrsLubner
Humbling postwork and stunning subject. We heard all about the cold that day when Carin got to San Francisco. LOL
flavia49
marvelous!
Bothellite
Wonderful how you pieced together the visit tying up/weaving all the experiences of those included.
RodS
OMG!!!!!!!!!! I'd (almost) sell my soul for a fixture like this! How magnificent - and what a stunning photo you've got of it, Chip! I'm just drooling all over my keyboard over this one!
CoreyBlack
You do this dragon proud! I tried, but couldn't get a decent shot of it. This brings back memories of a great day and wonderful company, a shared adventure we'll still be talking about years from now. And over way too soon. Can't wait to do it again. Fantastic shot!
jac204
Great story and picture.
CaressingTheDark
beautiful detail and great lighting
sandra46
GREAT SHOT
danapommet
Beautiful night capture Chip and there is an impressive ceiling above this amazing dragon. Dana
bmac62
Nothing better I suspect than a starship with cheesecake. This dragon aided by your stylish, superb postwork fits right into the story. We know that laugh you speak so fondly of...here's to the next time we get to meet the lovely lady from SA!
erlandpil
excellent capture erland