Couple's Night / Heaven's Light

Brianne and I went out with our pal Ed from AYS and his girlfriend Sarah last night. We met Ed during our first month with AYS and bonded immediately over Blackadder, with Brianne excitedly acquiring the nickname "Bob" in the process. Ask her to explain the significance of this some time, it's a hoot to hear.

Ed and Sarah met us at Covent Garden, along with some other friends of theirs. It was a just an evening of drinks and chatting, but there's something about being out in Covent Garden which makes a simple night out seem special; the old architecture, the streetlights on cobblestone, it's just very cool. Also, it was the first chance we've had while here to hang out with another couple (the presence of other friends didn't really hinder this.) Usually, B and I are the token couple wherever we go, and people marvel at this strange species (Spousis Ballandchainus) in their midst, alternately cracking wise, playfully bickering, or smooching it up. It was nice to be able to chat with other in a relationship frame of mind.

The other half of my title refers to my musings on a short story by Neil Gaiman, prolific author of fantasy, sci-fi, and comic books. His story, entitled The Price, is included in the collection of his short works that I purchased before our trip to Ireland. I encourage you to click the link I have put below to listen to Gaiman read this story, it's a touching tale:

www.neilgaiman.co.uk/smokeandmirrors/audio

This story caused me to ponder the difference between the powers afforded by good and evil, Heaven and Hell, however you choose to picture that. It seems most often that the dark forces are singular, autonomous, and seemingly invincible. The forces of light are perhaps more muted in an individual, but their prevailing strength lies in their communal whole. God may not always give irresistable strength to one person, and that one person may face trials and injuries, but what God does provide is the care of others to heal and support. Listen to the story, perhaps you'll see why these thoughts came to my mind.

One last note about Gaiman, as he is one of my favourite authors (plus I find his speaking voice very pleasant to listen to - click the link!). Here are some bullet points about him and his work.

- Englishman, residing in Minnesota
- co-wrote one of my all-time fave books Good Omens with Terry Pratchett
- wrote The Sandman, one of the most acclaimed, well-written, intellectual comic books ever
- novels include American Gods, Neverwhere, Anansi Boys
- novel Stardust recently filmed with Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer
- dark children's book Coraline soon to be a CGI film with Dakota Fanning and Teri Hatcher
- friends with Tori Amos; she referenced him by name in one of her songs
QUOTES
"You can try to create a utopia, try to create a perfect world, but then you fill it with people! It doesn't work. It's like creating the perfect office block. People arrive and start leaving their coffee cups out, and putting up pictures of their neices, and graffiti-ing the toilets; and then you don't have utopia anymore."
"What happens if Lucifer quits? Okay, you were God's favourite angel, you have the fall from grace . . . followed the Miltonian line "It's better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven." What if he says one day "Hold on a minute, why is it better to reign in Hell? I have to watch people punishing themselves, make sure there's enough sulphur? What am I doing here? I'm going to go lie on the beach somewhere, I'm closing the place down." (this was the plot for a story arc of Sandman)
"Stories that matter have ends. Anything that matters ends. It's the end that gives it a meaning."