I received a note from a friend yesterday. He expressed a cautionary word about my interest in reading Nietzsche, about sliding from a productive skepticism into a grim cynicism. Nietzsche is not everyone’s cup of tea. His writings skirt the edge of madness. In the final months of his life he did suffer from insanity. The risk that comes with a fascination with Nietzsche, and with the inclination to wrestle with his words has to be taken seriously.

I thought about that last night while watching the Academy Awards presentation program with my wife. The peak moment of the awards came with the duet by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. The night before we watched the movie, A Star Is Born, in which they are the main characters. The Academy Award performance from the movie of “Shallow”, a tune written by Lady Gaga —was a tour de force, sizzling with electricity.

Swept along by the emotional power of the song, I realized that I have a life-line that I can count upon. The relationship of many years, between Laura and I, is my tether to this world. There is the regard and solicitude which I have for our three children, their families and the grand-children. I have a circle of friends as well. All of these bind me to the sunlight of this world.

A tune comes to mind which captures a sense of the relationship between Laura and I. Making Love Out Of Nothing At All, written by Jim Steinman, was made a great hit by Air Supply in the 80s.  The point is expressed plainly, lyrically,– wrapped in the luscious keyboard and guitar riffs of arena rock. I am eternally young when listening.  I cannot imagine life without the woman who is my best friend.

Here is a stunning cover of the tune by Terry Lin of Taiwan. This video is worth experiencing………

It is true that we love life;
Not because we desire to live,
But because we desire to love.
There is always madness in love.
But there is always, also,
Some method in madness……

—excerpt Thus Spoke Zarathustra
By Friedrich Nietzsche, Discourse on Reading and Writing

Making Love Out of Nothing at All
by Air Supply

I know just how to whisper
And I know just how to cry
I know just where to find the answers
And I know just how to lie
I know just how to fake it
And I know just how to scheme
I know just when to face the truth
And then I know just when to dream
And I know just where to touch you
And I know just what to prove
I know when to pull you closer
And I know when to let you loose
And I know the night is fading
And I know the time’s gonna fly
And I’m never gonna tell you everything I’ve gotta tell you
But I know I’ve gotta give it a try
And I know the roads to riches
And I know the ways to fame
I know all the rules and then I know how to break ’em
And I always know the name of the game
But I don’t know how to leave you
And I’ll never let you fall
And I don’t know how you do it

Making love out of nothing at all
Out of nothing at all, out of nothing at all
Out of nothing at all, out of nothing at all
Out of nothing at all
Making love out of nothing at all

Everytime I see you all the rays of the sun are
Streaming through the waves in your hair
And every star in the sky is taking aim at
Your eyes like a spotlight
The beating of my heart is a drum, and it’s lost
And it’s looking for a rhythm like you
You can take the darkness at the pit of the night
And turn into a beacon burning endlessly bright
I’ve gotta follow it ’cause everything I know
Well, it’s nothing ’til I give it to you
I can make the runner stumble
I can make the final block
I can make every tackle at the sound of the whistle
I can make all the stadiums rock
I can make tonight forever
Or I can make it disappear by the dawn
I can make you every promise that has ever been made
And I can make all your demons be gone
But I’m never gonna make it without you
Do you really want to see me crawl
And I’m never gonna make it like you do

Making love out of nothing at all
Out of nothing at all, out of nothing at all
Out of nothing at all, out of nothing at all
Out of nothing at all, out of nothing at all
Out of nothing at all, out of nothing at all
Out of nothing at all, out of nothing at all
Out of nothing at all, out of nothing at all
Out of nothing at all, out of nothing at all
Out of nothing at all
Out of nothing at all, out of nothing at all
Out of nothing at all, out of nothing at all

Songwriters: James Richard Steinman