Portuguese Portents


 Posted on August 19th, 2009
 by Patrick 4 great comments. Room for one more!

Do you believe in signs? I mean, warnings of the future? Hints? Stuff like that?

I must admit, I do sometimes peek into the horoscope section of whatever I’m reading just to see what they have to say about my chances for the next day. I never actually follow up to see if there was any shred of accuracy to it afterward, mind you. I just like to be reassured.

I also like to look at the things around me as portents of things to come. Today, for example, I took another route home to try to get some inspiration for this post.  And inspired portents I did indeed find:

just a bit creepy

O — kay. The experience was even creepier because in the back there was a tent with a hunk of cardboard stuck in the front, presumably for privacy. And the whole tent shook rhythmically.  Yeah, don’t come a knockin’ rhythmically.

I guess it’s possible something else was going on in the tent. Some kinda art thing. Hehe … yeah, “art“. :D

Papier-mâché items like this (sometimes just limbs), littered the space which also seemed to double as an entrance to some flats in the back. I think. The tent was as wide as the alley so that ended that detour.

Anyway, the sculpture seemed a bit disturbing to me. Kinda like death with an empty name card. As in, anyone’s up for grabs. And then a man’s ass emerged from the tent. Eee!

I hauled.

A few blocks later I looked up and … ?!

corner of foreboding and dread, more like

Could be some sort of Portuguese decoration? Or maybe … ummm … I need help. Wait a minute! I’m in possession of a semi-functional brain!

Me: “Hey pal, could I trouble you a moment?”

Brain: “The heat … I was gonna go take a nap. Is it important?”

Me: “Totally! Look at that. That’s the second thing that’s reminded me of death today. That one especially because it’s obvious. Is this a warning about death? Our death?”

Brain: “Haha! No. That’s probably someone’s ‘art. I mean, look at it! Maybe some viral ad for something, but do you think they nailed this here just for us?”

Me: “Hmmm. Yeah, you have a point.”

Brain: “I mean, the odds of you even seeing this are astronomical. Don’t read too much into it.”

Me: “Thanks, buddy!”

Brain: “No probs.”

And then, across the street from the AGO:

no ... frickin' ... way

Brain: “Wow. Now this surprised even me.”

Me: “Me too!”

I suppose I could look at it through the Tarot Death card interpretation. It could mean the passing away of a personal epoch, or sometimes parts of oneself. Often this is accompanied with a more positive reading, like this process will give birth to new parts of you that you didn’t know existed. Exciting! Cancerous!

That throws some healthy ambiguity on the fire. So I guess there’s still plenty of room for a reasonable explanation. I just hope that one day I find the people who put these things on the poles; they’ll be the ones with the explanation. That tent guy, well, I’m not going near him again, so we’ll chalk that up to “art” and look no further.

4 Comments on “ Portuguese Portents ”

  • Michael Cruse
    August 21st, 2009 6:09 am

    I have never been one to put a lot of faith into signs, fate, or preordained destiny. Ultimately, I believe that it is all just self-fulfilling prophecy. I think your side trip is an outstanding method for coming up with a blog post and just exploring has any value in itself. It gave you a little glimpse into someone else's life. It can be a truly outstanding experience to take a few minutes and really observe your immediate environment. For me, it makes me a little more grateful for the blessings I have received in my life.


  • Patrick
    August 21st, 2009 10:31 am

    Thanks, Michael. Truth be told, I think we have a lot of influence over our own lives too; the "signs" are see are probably more like trends — potential, if you will. The thing you mention about noticing your environment — couldn't agree with you more.


  • Desertboots
    February 12th, 2011 11:37 pm

    hate to leave a comment up here regarding this subject so immensely late in the game, but I do believe that everything both good or bad occurs for some reason… why? who knows…

    I love sitting back and watching/looking at my holistic environment and perhaps catching a 'moment'. Life happen in just a flash point and with eyes wide open it can become magical. but that is just my p.o.v. at this late hour…

    <3 spread the good vibes…


  • Patrick
    February 15th, 2011 8:33 am

    Couldn't agree with you more, Desertboots! ;)


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