A Joycean Flippancy!
on Friday, June 17, 2011
Yesterday was June 16 - Bloomsday - a 24 hour window for James Joyce fanatics to work themselves into varying states of apoplectic frenzy in commemoration of good ol' Leo Bloom's stroll around Dublin. Personally, I couldn't give a crap about Joyce or the day, but something rather peculiar did happen to me that I couldn't let go without comment. I was crossing the road, having just left The Avenue Bookstore, when a Mini Minor whizzed past me. Its driver looked familiar, a face from a bygone era. One that I had only encountered previously in black and white. At first I thought it was Nietzsche, but the head was too narrow, the glasses too small. No, it was most definitely James Joyce. The date didn't even strike me at the time. I made a random, joking Facebook status update about it and a couple of people reminded me it was Bloomsday. How weird. I was almost run over by the great man himself on the day set aside by officionados of the impenetrable to commemorate his greatest work. Yes, yes... I realise how ridiculous I sound. I know it couldn't have actually been him. But seriously folks, what are the chances?
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2 comments:
Are you sure it wasn't actually Elvis driving that Mini Minor, Mr. Worm?
The thought did cross my mind but the likeness was uncanny. I am willing to concede the possibility that it was a guy dressed up as Joyce on his way to or from a Bloomsday event. The biggest giveaway, however, was the car. We all know that the real Joyce would have been driving a Volvo!
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