the agitation of the unexpected

Sometimes I come across an article that is an ornately stitched tapestry of words, and it makes me happy. Even if I don't start out understanding the subject matter (the name Christopher Hitchens was vaguely familiar but didn't ring a loud bell) even if the sentence structure astounds my word-filled heart (I do love language, and the art of language)...

This happened today while reading an article on Christopher Hitchens by Martin Amis. As I perused the article, my eyes lingering here and there and then pouncing forward to the next happy literary moment, I came across the following phrase: "What we love is the agitation of the unexpected."

I find it delightful, appropriately simple, and absolutely true. To me.

Who knows if anyone else would love this article as I do, the intelligence of the writer apparent and the friendship between the writer and the subject so evident. (I admit I am more intrigued with the author than his politically controversial and word-witty friend.)

Aside from the language, I really do love to share in the feeling of camaraderie between one friend and another. It is a world unique to the pair, with a history that creates a million glinting facets honed and polished, a shining glittering thing that represents then, now, and soon-to-be.

The Article

Christopher Hitchens