Tag: Family
Lightly child, lightly
I want to record these first sounds of our trip together, maybe because they feel like the last sounds of something. But at the same time I don’t, because I don’t want to interfere with my recording; I don’t want to turn this particular moment of our lives together into a document for a future archive. If I could only, simply, underline certain things with my mind, I would: this light coming in through the kitchen window, flooding the entire cottage in a golden warmth as I prepare the coffeemaker; this soft breeze blowing in through the open door and brushing past my legs as I turn on the stove; that sound of footsteps—feet little, bare, and warm—as the girl gets out of bed and approaches me from behind, announcing: Mama, I woke up!
~ Valeria Luiselli, Lost Children Archive: A Novel
Notes
- Photo: Common Muse (sunlight, shadow, light)
- Post Title & Inspiration: Aldous Huxley: “It’s dark because you are trying too hard. Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly. Yes, feel lightly even though you’re feeling deeply. Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them.”
Running on Christmas Day. No signal.
At 8 pm last night, I agreed with myself I wouldn’t post, wouldn’t share, wouldn’t clutter up Christmas Day with stuff on this blog.
But no, that wasn’t possible Now. So we’ll keep it short.
I hadn’t run in weeks, but the pull to get outside, was out-of-body. You need to get out. Today. Now.
30° F feeling like 26° F. Sun bright and beaming. It was high tide at the cove, a flock of Canadian geese, 25 or so, were floating at the base of the break wall, offering me their moment of silence.
He used to follow this blog, comment on certain posts. I could feel His finger reaching for the “Like” button towards the End when he was no longer up to offering comments.
Forgiveness is not a strong suit. Actually no suit I wear at all. I had to stop at mid-point on the run. Toxicity from the anger made another step impossible.
Anger burns for the Health Insurer, who silently collected his premium payments, and then provided notice that coverage wasn’t provided as promised because of an exclusion. And then to stick the knife deeper, terminated coverage retroactively for a month, causing a scramble by the Care providers demanding payment from Him, shuffling Him to a hospital, and that hospital shuffling him to another for lack of confirmation of Insurance Coverage, and this second one pressing for transfer to permanent skilled care. “We needed to provide him with a sedative. He’s really anxious, struggling to breathe.” And you wonder why he’s anxious? The cauldron boils over. Anger also burns, for those who took a vow with my Brother, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, only to let him fight alone in sickness. Continue reading “Running on Christmas Day. No signal.”
Yellow Paper (60 sec)
Dubbed “Yellow Paper,” the ad focuses on the homecoming of US military personnel for the holidays. It’s 60-seconds long, with the song “Welcome Home” by Joy Williams playing throughout. In it, a family drives to the airport in a snowstorm, hoping to get there on time. When they get to the airport, they pass out yellow paper and coordinate them into a ribbon shape.] The Yellow Ribbon program is part of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. It is the program that allows veterans to continue their education and enrich their lives by providing them tuition-free access to state universities. The yellow ribbon has come to symbolize US troops, Prisoners of War or Missing in Action persons, as well as the mental and physical health of our troops, among other things. The decision made by Toyota to use this symbol shows dedication to the people who protect and serve our country. (Source: Toyota Arlington)
For those with blocked youtube access, try this link.
Antonio Banderas: Proust Questionnaire
- What is your idea of perfect happiness? The very short instant right after accomplishing something very challenging.
- What is your greatest fear? The death of my loved ones.
- What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? My pathological incapacity to say no.
- What is the trait you most deplore in others? I don’t like fake people, impostors.
- What do you dislike most about your appearance? I would like to be four inches taller. (He’s 5′ 9″)
- What is your current state of mind? Excited and calm even if it is a contradiction.
- If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? The age. I would like to be 30 years old now.
- If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be? I wouldn’t change my family for anything in the world.
- What do you consider your greatest achievement? I survived Hollywood.
- If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be? A mountain.
- If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be? The ocean.
- What is your most marked characteristic? People always say my eyes.
- What is the quality you most like in a man? Integrity.
- What is the quality you most like in a woman? Compassion.
- What do you most value in your friends? Loyalty.
~ Antonio Banderas, excerpts from “Antonio Banderas Answers the Proust Questionnaire” Vanity Fair, December 12, 2019
Photo: Actor Antonio Banderas attends the “The Skin I Live In” premiere at the Palais des Festivals during the 64th Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2011 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)