Snow, white and faded, was not as melancholic as the cold. At -6 degrees Fahrenheit, even Wharf street was put to silence, just past sunset, by twenty two inches of snow the blizzard had dispersed all over Portland. The promising sun I witnessed earlier this day; shining radiantly over the Siberian Elms of Eastern Promenade, was taken over pugnaciously by Nimbostratus clouds. This snow storm had forced me to seek refuge at Sweetgrass winery. Three divine shots of "Mark of the Maple" later, I felt warm enough to face the wind chill. Tantalizing aroma of parmesan, rosemary and basil led me to its origin at Central Provisions. After digging into an entree of "Seared Casco-Bay Scallops", I reluctantly dragged myself to the exit.
Repulsed by the sombre chill of Wharf Street I made my exit through the other door. Fore street; basking earlier under blue and red twinkle lights, was tumult now: the traffic lights swung about and ghastly wind added to the gloom. As I was walking by the Monument square, my eyes fell on a notice displayed at Portland Public Library: an invitation for hot tea and cake. The black and white image of a faceless woman, sitting with her shapely legs crossed in an elegant blouse and skirt; next to a table set for tea, had me enthralled. I stepped inside.
She was tall and slender; draped in an ankle high skirt and a cashmere turtle neck; complimented by leather boots - other than the boots that were shiny all her apparel was the same shade of matte black. Her champagne hair fell on her shoulders and she wore no other accessory but a silver skull on her ring finger. It was hard to tell by the lines of her face that she was nearing the end of her sixth decade. Gina welcomed me with a smiling face to her "death cafe".
"Warmth of tea is associated with life and sweetness of cake with celebration!" I disdained.
"Pluralism is acceptance of all ideologies: you may relate with Wordsworth more, irrespective you esteem Plath", she went on politely, " You may perceive death as cessation of life or a continuation in a different form or a dimensional shift but why would you associate it with misery? It is an undeniable fact then why the taboo?"
It took me an hour to realize that the snow I was associating the gloom with would melt at these mountains and flow through the rivers to cultivate life both inside of it and outside through the forests it shall feed. Death Cafe model is the brainchild of Bernard Crettaz; further developed by Jon Underwood and Sue Barsky Reid. It harbours the ideology: "when you embrace death, you celebrate life!"
