After what, sixteen or seventeen years?, this needs changing.
At first I maintained a sort of real Cafe fiction, with a quiet wizened proprietor named Zenon. The name of course derived from my interest in Zen Buddhism. Fictional Zenon’s family name was Reade. Get it?
Well it’s time to throw that one overboard, or toss it in the back alley garbage bin to stick to the vaguest semblance of my Cafe fiction.
This place is the fruit of forty years of reading, voyaging (inward and outward), stumbling and falling… and growth. I have spent the better part of a half century reading the profoundest Giants of the Human Spirit I could and can find in an ongoing effort to learn and again, to grow.
Isn’t that the essence of Life?
Ever so slowly I’ve felt the need of communicating what I’ve learned at great effort over those decades. That was the origin of this place so long ago now.
Lately the urge has become all but undeniable. Like Jonah in the belly of the whale, to not bare witness is to languish and avoid what has clearly become a vocation. And that reference is in no way to espouse the Bible! Far from it. Rather, it is purely a poetic reading.
I like that: ‘a poetic reading.’
Call these words ‘poetic-prose,’ as in words attempting to point towards or open a window on Life.
The photos? That’s an ongoing endeavour!
Welcome to the Omphalos Cafe…
Where it is fully understood that…
Life is ALL there is!
Omphalos Cafe 
Hey Jeff, thanks for the invite to the Omphalos Cafe, it already feels like a very good place to be 🙂
Oh this is a beautiful and glorious place to sit a spell. Thanks for visiting, and commenting, on my blog. Your handling of words and thoughts is simply brilliant!
I want to start by saying . . . if you’d rather not participate, I totally understand. I have declined in the past myself. It is kind of a pain in the arse. That said.
I’m awarding you the Versatile Blogger Award because I like your blog and think others will too. As with everything in life, there are strings attached. 1) You are to give the award to 15 other bloggers you feel are deserving and notify them of the award. 2) Make a post thanking the person that gave you the award (moi’) and listing your 15 choices. Provide links to these 16 blogs in your post. 3) Lastly, in your post, list seven things the bloggy world doesn’t know about you.
Here is the info I was given for the graphic of the award to be used in your post.
Personally, I had trouble with it, so feel free to contact me if you need help.
The bottom line . . . whether you participate or not . . . I think you have a rockin’ blog.
i wasn’t invited, but saw your comments on ‘to a dusty shelf we aspire’, where you wondered where all the men were…..
nice to meet you.
David in Maine USA
Welcome, Dave. No invitation required. I was just having a little fun over at the dusty shelf, where things can get a tad dark at times. Is it just me, or is there far more female bloggers than male?
Thanks, I’ll enjoy browsing around Omphalos Cafe – thanks for dropping by five reflections and your kind comments…
I really like how you describe your blog. I’m intrigued!
Thanks Valorie. I took the liberty of dropping by bookscansavealife.wordpress.com and enjoyed the joyous calm of it. It bespeaks a life full of adventure, both happy and sad, and yet affirming, guided, prodded, inspired by events and especially the voices contained in books. They can and do save lives, from ennui as well as other forms of derailment.
As you say, ‘nothing lasts’, except the birthing of the New.
Whoops, waxing semi-poetic here, but that’s all part of the fun too!
Thank you, I so appreciate your comments.
Hello,
It is so great to find another aspiring writer. You have done great things with your posts here, so keep penning and keep inspiring! I am sure the door will open for you one day. 🙂
I have a joyful ride in your blog, and now I’d like to invite you to visit mine. Thank you and have a wonderful day, my friend! 🙂
Subhan Zein
Thanks for the comment there, Subhan. Aspiring writer? More like a respiring writer.
And a big good-luck with the writing and living. You’ve got lots going, enjoy the journey.
Thank you, Jeff 👍
I love love love love your videos on Ulysses.
Keep going!
John