Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Prelude to a storm of haiku

You decide which storm story I will feature in a sequence of haiku, I am going to write about one of these true experiences.


1) The tale of getting lost and spending a night in a GMC Van, in a small mountain range outside of San Antonio Texas, when a flash flood resulted from a tornado passing over. I was with my baby daughter and former husband who had never gotten lost before in his life. This is called saving up all your directional karma for the Big Wrong Turn.

2) My escape from an arson fire, when living in a third floor walk up in Berkeley, Ca. The arsonist threw gasoline on a roll of linoleum he found in the haunted basement, and lit it on fire. It was rumored he harbored post rent control resentment towards the slumlord. I might also add that there were three musicians (each with a piano) on that third floor and a gorgeous little dancer that used to float up the stairs with a ten pound bag of basamati rice on her head. This is not the way I ascended the stairs but this is an irrelevant detail since the tale is about the harrowing descent.

3) The time I was listening to Debussy's La Mer during a rainstorm on my car radio, and got hit by an SUV pulling a horse trailor filled with lumber. I wasn't looking in my rear view mirror and didn't realize the ka-pow that was coming as the driver had never driven a heavy load before and couldn't stop at the light. My car "flew" as it were...

31 comments:

* said...

oh dear.
I like the middle one best. The details of it, the pianos (Helene!) and the rice. It is strange how one always remembers the details in such situations.

- Susan - said...

Wow, this all happened to you? Does it often happen to you to be at the wrong time in the wrong place? I hope not!

I am back from holiday and glad to see read your blog again.

I am interested in no. 1, 2 and 3! But if I have to choose no. 2.

Until soon.

Fred said...

I'd like to hear about all three--starting with the Texas story. (Was it in the Texas Hill Country, near the devil's backbone area?)

jac said...

I think the last one, princess !

xxxxx said...

I'll have to go with number 3 but your three stories were amazing! I'm writing this comment as a thunderstorm rages outside...

Bobby D. said...

Since no horses were involved, I'd like to hear about the rainy night & Debussy.

lotusgreen said...

don't be silly, princess. this obviously calls for a song cycle. and as you explore each event in 17-syllable chunks the underlying connections will begin to be revealed to you and to us, your readers.

Diane Dehler said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
mystic rose said...

hard to choose. they all sound equally dramatic and harrowing.

one at a time, perhaps?

Unknown said...

Princess,

You had me at "haunted basement".

Zazie said...

Good morning Princess,

thanks a lot for your kind comment!

I'm fine!
Even if, yesterday, I came back from a travel across Germany and Holland. It was fantastic and I hope to return there in the future!

I hope you're fine!

Best wishes and have a nice day!

Zazie.

Acquaintance said...

Hey Haiku, thanks for your comment in just a thought. :)

I second what Tony said I'd like to read about all three.

What year was it when that terrible experience happened near San Antonio?

Right now as it is San Antonio is being poured with rain from tropical storm Erin and this city and state just recently had major flooding.

When was the last time you've visited this city?

Small mountain ranges? Were you up in the Comal County area? You definitely had to be in the hill country area. Because that's the only areas I can think of that have small mountain ranges around here.

But since I live in San Antonio and have seen through many floods, I'd like to read about number 1. But honestly all three.

Have fun choosing which one, later and take care. :)

Anonymous said...

basamati rice and a floating dancer... a haunted basement .... and three musicians ... sounds like the beginnings of a great screenplay - Fellini perhaps?

oh, but then there is the arsonist ...

my vote is number 2 !

Digital Flower Pictures said...

Number 1.

I guess that there is a reason you survived all of these

BoggyWoggy said...

I am very, very selfish. I vote for all 3.

Anonymous said...

the first one. I have been to Texas - huge state; hard to have a wrong turn and not realize it until you are in the middle of Texas. I liked the second one too - reminded me of Batteries Not Included. And the last one would be great if you end up marrying the driver of the horse trailer

Cergie said...

Are these three stories true, really, I wonder ?
Sometimes, true life is more strange and weird than a movie...

You asked to me on my blog a few days before, if I'm fine, yes I am, though I was not in my town, i had some vacation with my husband, and we slept one night in a horse van because there were to many people at my sister in law... We had a good night, no fire, nothing terrible happened in fact it was very cumfortable and a nice experience...

Gerald (Ackworth born) said...

The idea of fire frightens me more than anything -- did your news media carry reports of the hotel in Newquay, Cornwall, UK that was destroyed by fire in the last few days? Or that devasting fire in Tenerife that has destroyed the remote ancient village of Mascar?

But why must we choose just one out of three?

Unknown said...

I think the first one has the atmosphere has the human entanglements and I really the Big Wrong Turn phraseology.
Although all three are great candidates

Jackie said...

Great post. It is amazing how we survive many things almost like a cat with his 9 lives.

Anonymous said...

whichever true story u tell us about will be a proof that miracle do happen!
and thank God you came out safe

Indeterminacy said...

Difficult choice. I select the middle one. The first story scares me a little - but I think I would not like reading about a very young child in danger.

I'm sure there are some astonishing developments in 3), but I think the general human interest of 2) caught my attention more.

Marion said...

I'd choose the last one, Princess. I'm looking forward to the result!

Anonymous said...

I pick #2. "Haunted basement, three musicians (each with a piano), and a gorgeous little dancer that used to float up the stairs with a ten pound bag of basamati rice on her head," decided it for me.

Anonymous said...

Hi Elise,
I just found out from suki spaces
I thought you were not blogging anymore? I'm glad seeing you.
I would like No1.No3.But No1 has involved in your family.
I have choose No3.
Have a wonderful week ahead,
Michiko

Naomi said...

All three of these are so dramatic Princess. It's so hard to choose but for me I think it has to be no. 1. It sounds like it could have been a test before the other two came along.

Indeterminacy said...

I hope all is well - you have been gone now for a long while.

Anonymous said...

waiting impatiently to hear your story!

Moon River said...

Dear Elise,

i guess your silence means you are writing one or maybe all three stories....
hope you're well, writing playing your flut and taking lovely flowers photos.


hugs

moon

Acquaintance said...

Haiku have you thought of which story to write about yet?


Take care, Mavin :)

Jackie said...

Where are U ? We miss you.