Yes, I have several prints I had purchased circa 1986, which have since faded to the point of misery. Each pic I bought was with cash I didn’t spend on roll-your-own tobacco.
I started smoking at age 12, add that to my birthday, and that would be 1959. So, totalling up I smoked for 27 years, and haven’t for 39 years.
Despite both personal and physical problem which I’ve had since the ‘puffing’ ended, I believe I’m in better shape that the prints I bought when I quit.
Some time ago, one English guy commented on how well-preserved I was. I had replied “You haven’t seen my picture in the attic.” He laughed. If he saw the photo of myself, taken some time ago, he would understand fully my reference to Oscar Wilde’s brilliant ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray.”
No, I didn’t sell my ‘soul’ to the Devil – that was stolen from me some time ago, when I began to understand what ‘God’ had created as men – A likeness of himself? An incredibly awful aberration?
So, time to remove the faded pics, and replace with more images of loveliness. Hopefully I don’t live long enough to see them also fade away to almost nothing once again.
Like the pics, other ‘favourites’ have also faded. One photo that hasn’t, is of my 4th Form taken when at Elgin Sec. Tech School in Gateshead. This has too many ‘ticks’ pencilled on it for those who have ‘moved on’.
Recently a trawl on the web, revealed a good friend who had unknowingly played an important part in carving out my future. Sadly, I was unaware of his demise, until a year too late.
Arsehole billionaires trump on about ‘living forever’. Who, in their right mind would want to experience the non-stop fading of photos, and the passing away of friends and lovers?
The band Queen recorded one song that encapsulates my feelings precisely. Written by Brian May, it is probably the best Queen ever did and featured in the movie ‘Highlander’, another allegorical tale of the world being dominated by one man.
There's no time for us.
There's no place for us.
What is this thing that builds our dreams
Yet tips 'em 'way from us?
Who wants to live forever?
Who wants to live forever?
There's no chance for us
It's all decided for us
This world has only one sweet moment
Set aside for us
Who wants to live forever?
Who wants to live forever?
Who?
Who dares to love forever?
When love must die
But touch my tears with your lips
Touch my world with your fingertips
And we can have forever
And we can love forever
Forever is our today
Who wants to live forever?
Who wants to live forever?
Forever is our today
Who waits forever anyway?
joesportugal 