Autobiographical

[poliphilo]

I went past my old church the other day. Vicar of St Anne's, R*****, 83-86. Or was it 82-86? I forget. And another thing I forget is whether Anne is spelled with an "e" or not.

And that's my point: I forget. And I rather hope the people there have forgotten too. But I suppose they'll have a photo of me on the vestry wall. I'm pretty sure they do, because they asked me for one and I went and had it taken specially, but then they wouldn't accept it because I wasn't wearing a dog-collar (I'd sworn I'd never put on that symbol of servitude ever again.) But never mind they said, we've found an old one that'll do. That'll be the one where I look like a Walt Disney chipmunk. Innocent and foolish. Ha-ha, he,he. Cackle.

I didn't do anything terribly bad. My wife was off wandering round Manchester with her new girlfriend, and I was all broke up so I got one myself- a girlfriend, I mean. Then I shopped myself to the Bishop because, unlike Tony Blair, I find it horrible to live a lie. They called me the "randy rev of R*****". Later, after I became a witch, that changed to "The Dark Lord of Oldham".

So, no, they won't have forgotten me, will they? I was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to them. (An earlier vicar got caught with his hand in the collection plate but that was hushed up.) I am Legend.

But, to return to the beginning, I went past the old place and I felt nothing. I have forgotten THEM. Hooray! If I make the effort to remember, as now, it's like remembering something I read in a book.

Comments

[balirus.livejournal.com]

That all memories fade, that time dulls happier remembrances is a penalty I willingly accept to be granted the blessed loss of bad ones. And how interesting a glimpse into your robed and roguish past; I enjoy these peeks behind the cloth.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It's odd: leaving the church was obviously the pivotal event of my life. If I'm remembered for anything it will be that- but I resent it slightly. That rogueish clergyman isn't the person I am now. And the person I am now is so much more interesting (at least I think so.)

But, yes, it was a fun thing to have been and done. And it established my bohemian credentials once and for all. I can never now be wholly respectable.

[four-thorns.livejournal.com]

how strange, to have already experienced the pivotal event of one's life (and to acknowledge it). i can't even imagine...

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It's odd. One lives in the afterglow. I have been a lot more creative since the PE- I have, after all, had something to reflect on and write about. But it can be frustrating to watch one's five minutes of fame remorselessly sliding away into the remote past.