I started going through my old photo files and pulling everything I'd labeled with fountain:
Wasn't this behemoth.
Or this one, which I dubbed Le Crane Upchucks.
This Honey, Call the Plumber fountain wasn't it, either.
I never realized I had such a fetish for fountains.
Kind of weird fountains, too.
Possibly radioactive fountains.
Have you ever noticed how many fountains are built around the concept of the regurgitating critter?
Or critters who are relieving themselves in, um, other ways?
Anyway. After going through several dozen more image files, I started becoming annoyed with myself. Everything is not a message from the universe, and my memory is certainly not the steel trap it used to be when I was younger. I told myself I was just imagining things.
Only I couldn't leave it alone, so I looked at the artwork again, this time with a magnifying glass. I then saw two tiny details that escaped me on first glance: something behind the fountain that hadn't been altogether photoshopped out, and something in the middle of it. And then I knew exactly what it was, and where it was, and nearly fell on the floor.
Why I didn't recognize it immediately is anyone's guess, but I think it's one of those knee-jerk, "No, it couldn't be that" assumptions we make when we have a déjà vu moment. I've actually seen the fountain from my cover art in person a couple dozen times. It happens to be one of my favorite spots in the world. The last time I visited it, I didn't just photograph the fountain, I sat next to it for about an hour and wrote about it in my research journal, which ended up becoming part of a novel I wrote six books back.
Here's the last photograph I took of it in 2008:
I know it's probably just a coincidence, and it's silly to get happy about such things, but I'm still taking it as a good omen.
> Have you ever noticed how many fountains are built around the concept of the regurgitating critter?
ReplyDeleteROFL! I hadn't thought of it like that, but you're right!
Sigh. I do love fountains, too.
That is a good omen, or a lovely coincidence, but yes, no question that you have a fountain fetish. On the upchucking, that might come from the gargoyles who were often designed as part of the rainwater diversion. Or maybe the game of who can spit the farthest ;).
ReplyDeleteThat is so weird. I would definitely take it as a good omen. It means the book speaks of you in some primal way, one that even those helping you put the book into print recognize.
ReplyDeleteVery cool.
Since I don't believe in coincidences, I think it's a good omen. :)
ReplyDeleteThat last fountain looks like it might be in Charleston, SC. Those trees in the background give a southern feel to it.
Lynn,
ReplyDeleteIsn't this fountain in Savannah, GA? It looks familiar. My husband worked in Savannah for about 8 months so I drove from Jacksonville to Savannah several times and he and I would wander the city.
Tami
Jacksonville
I love all your photos. I love to photograph fountains too, and would love to have one of my own someday. I can't wait to see the cover.
ReplyDeleteJulieB
Beautiful karma!
ReplyDeleteAnd you are so fortunate to live around so many fountains, even if the critters involved are not shown at their most favorable moments ;o) I love fountains.
Tami wrote: Isn't this fountain in Savannah, GA? It looks familiar. My husband worked in Savannah for about 8 months so I drove from Jacksonville to Savannah several times and he and I would wander the city.
ReplyDeleteYou have a great eye, lady. This is indeed the Semiquincentenary Fountain in Lafayette Square. Here's another, much better photo taken by the owner of Recollections of a Vagabonde that shows it from the far side, where you can see the cathedral of St. John the Baptist in the background. Vagabonde has a great post about the square here, too.
yanno... the fish one is kinda creepy.
ReplyDeleteI am from Savannah, did not recognize the fountain itself but did recognize the buildings behind it - Savannah, is full of beautiful sights.
ReplyDelete