“I love you dearly...”--- Joan Baez

 Joan Baez and Bob Dylan are two unforgettable names in 60’s and 70’s and their  influence on popular music are incalculable. As songwriters, they pioneered several different schools of pop songwriting, setting the stage for the next wave of lighter, country and R&B influenced singer-songwriters like James Taylor, Elton John, who began topping the charts in the very early 1970s.

What I am concerning now is not their reputations in music world but the story behind these two musicians. It is said that Baez had a giant crush on Dylan, which seemed to be a public secret at that period. How about Dylan? ---Things there were always ambiguous.

 Bob Dylan & Joan Baez

Joan Baez

There is something that I wanna say to Baez.

Dear Joan,

Probably he was into you as well otherwise he wouldn’t write numerous songs for you and even announced to the whole world that most of his compositions were inspired by a girl named Joan Baez. Yes, he did treat you well but this potential romantic partner was sometimes a bit more distant and didn't take you as seriously as you might want, right? The most important thing was he never said anything to you while he appeared to enjoy the flirting only, didn’t he? He made everything confusing…

Baez, you has been always waiting for him even till now, right? That’s why you rejected the guys who were after you with no hesitation. But did he say anything to you? Did he ever try to have a mature, reasonable, realistic conversation about how you two would handle a romance? I guess not, right? He had been flirting, but he had not made any serious intentions clear. That was far from a done deal. Had your heart turned more depressed as time passed?

That period must be quite tough for you, I know, the vagueness prevented you from cleaning up.  In order not to give any pressures on him, you even had to pretend to be only a good friend with him, didn’t you? I eventually understand why people say “I’m not into you” when what they really mean is “I am so into you!” All sorts of crazy-but-human fears, all sorts of crazy-but-human defense mechanisms come into play.  Nevertheless, it is easy to deceive ourselves and others, but it is difficult to be really serious and honest in our spiritual practice.

 Dear Joan, you love him dearly, don't you? But what’s love?  I guess both you and me are confused now. But is this guy the one? Is he your Mr Right? Do you really like this guy in a hold-hands-when-we’re-80 kind of way?

He is a very nice guy but the thing is he himself even doesn't know his accurate feelings towards you ( or he doesn't fall into you at all?), and are you trying to continue with your maybe-endless-waiting?  Actually, it hurts less to rip a bandage off than to slowly pull it off. If he couldn't be cruel to be kind, then please be cruel to be kind to yourself and let yourself be rewarded as you deserve. I know, it should be very tough for you…but let's have a go, shall we?

If you are still reluctant to leave, if you are still sentimentally attached to those diamonds he gave to you in your life, please also keep in mind that time is already long enough and even rust has appeared on diamond. He is offering you diamonds and rust, and you've already paid...

Just wish him everything goes well in the future and let... him...go...

Best,

Jasmine

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

这么远, 那么近......

So nearby, yet so far away.

The shortest distance= The longest distance

Only an ocean away, only a smile away......