As you will soon see, I had more fun interviewing Quentin Crisp than jut about any other celebrity. George Carlin was a close second though.
Me: And did you gather a lot of insight as you wrote?
Quentin: I did! I did! And it was very insightful, though it was never a philosophy or psych major. I find that in the end of my life, I was really self-taught. This is what fascinated me so much about my entire life.
Me: You can draw a lot of insight that comes from self-reflection that comes from writing, can’t you?
Quentin: Yes.
Me: I find that in my own writing. Can you tell us a little about a life that influenced the one as Quentin Crisp?
Quentin: A previous life that influenced my last one?
Me: Yes.
Jamie: He shows me a female Russian female ballerina. The costumes, the jewels, you know, sewn into the fabric.
Me: Yes.
Jamie: Very elaborate, so obviously very well funded. Money is definitely behind it. He is a little grown woman. Very, very petite.
Quentin: In that life, as soon as I was born, I knew that I was meant to be a dancer. I had such drive and such passion. I was very pleased with myself with that life—very satisfied. After I couldn’t dance anymore, I got very ill and died—within 6 to 8 moths after not being able to dance anymore. My life was over. I came in that life to have this purpose, and I now you’re curious to know why, but when I came into this life I had no drive about who I was and what I was going to do. I very much feel that the majority of my life was spent lost and with loose ends. It wasn’t until the end of my life that I realized that that was what I had craved so much—to be lost and full of loose ends. It actually indeed was a direction for me.
Me: What was a direction for you? Can you clarify “being lost”?
Quentin: Yes.
Me: That sounds like an oxymoron. What purpose did that serve?
Quentin: Freedom.
Me: Ah! Freedom from purpose.
Quentin: Freedom from purpose and freedom to get into whatever sticky situation that sought me or that I sought after.
Me: So that uncertainty gave you the gift of opportunity that blinders toward purpose would have denied you.
Quentin: Freedom—
Jamie (giggling): I wish I could mimic him! He’s so elaborate! So awesome! He’s got—he looks, um—oh, I hope I’m not going to insult him—it looks like he has costume makeup on.
Me: Um hm
Jamie: Okay. Like a performance makeup, though he’s not dressed like he’s performing anything.
Jamie and I giggle.
Me: And so that freedom from purpose gave you what?
Quentin: My life.
Me: Yeah.
Quentin: It gave me the opportunity to be the artist, the writer, the socialist, the storyteller—everything.
Me: Did it release a lot of creativity in you?
Quentin: It released more than that.
Jamie (giggling): I think he’s being a little nasty.
Me: Huh?
Jamie (giggling with obvious embarrassment): I think he’s being a little nasty, because Erik is giving me this look like I didn’t catch on.
Me: Uh oh! Quentin! What are we going to do with you!
Quentin: Anything you want!
Jamie and I belly laugh!
Jamie (sniffing back tears): Oh man, I like him!
Me: Me too!
Jamie: He’s like just enough of uncomfortable, you know.
Me: Can we keep you, Quentin?
Quentin: Please. Maybe you need a new editor.
Me: You silly!
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