Tranquility

Here's to a very productive, yet peaceful, weekend!

Saturday Snow....

Yes....every now and then (translation: once every few years; thank you, global warming) we actually get a little snow here in Knoxville. Oh, sure, there’s tons of snow up in the Smokies but I’m talking about in the "big city." So it was nice last weekend to see some of the white stuff, even though it was responsible (yep, even such a small amount) for canceling my Saturday morning class in the art of bookmaking. But that made way for me to have a wonderful lunch with Liyin, Yeheng, and her husband, Hua. I’ve been back from China just long enough to really be missing the food. It was delicious (as you can see from some of the remnants)! After eating we sat at the table and enjoyed over an hour of wonderful, lively conversation. You see, here in the States, my Chinese friends and I can discuss such topics as the Falun Gong, the one-child policy, and other subjects that might be a little touchy discussing in China. We also talked of differences in Chinese and American culture and I explained to Yeheng (who is fond of using her extended middle finger to point to things) the meaning of that pleasant physical symbol. It was a wonderful (and delicious) way to laze away three hours in the middle of a snowy, Knoxville day.

Hear Me Now, Believe Me Later......

Buy this book! Really. Do yourself a favor and introduce yourself to the emerging world of graphic novels (in this case, Palestine is non-fiction). I belong to a international literary colloquy and for the next 3 months we are reading works by Palestinian and Israeli authors. This is my first graphic read. Loved it. Really loved it. Takes you back to early childhood days of enjoying books that included pictures. This book, however, is for adults. Sacco, an artist and journalist, spent 2 months in the Occupied Territories and brings enlightenment to the Palestinian way of life. Sacco's drawings bring this book to life in your mind. The impact would be far diminished if it were just text. I'm looking forward to reading his account of a stay in Bosnia, Safe Area Gorazde: The War in Eastern Bosnia, 1992-1995. Doesn't lunch look great? We had cold bulghar, cold seasoned eggplant on a bed of fancy greens, a sort of chicken pot pie, sliced lamb and delicious raisin bread pudding. I was surprised that I really enjoyed the cold eggplant. I can't say as much for the cold bulghar.
Also check out Maus by Art Spiegelman. Okay, so what are you supposed to do? That's right. Read Sacco's Palestine.

Reading Hunger While Eating...

This week, I read Hunger every day during lunch. Hunger was written around 1890 by Knut Hamsun, from Norway, and is about a young, starving writer who is constantly dealing with the physical results of not being able to eat. With a stomach full from lunch I read of the mind-altering hunger pains experienced almost daily as the narrator wanders around town, writing when inspiration arrives, giving in to hunger-driven lunatic behavior, and enjoying fantastic moments of clarity when all is right with the world. A quick read by a Nobel-prize winning author. Last week I finished South of the Border, West of the Sun, written by Haruki Murakami. My first Murakami and I must say, I'm eager for more. :)

Next Time, I'm Going Too!

What's on your Mantel?

Here's what's on a couple of mine. Reflected in the mirror, you can see the wings a little drunk butterfly left in my yard one night after a wild Halloween party. And can you see the orb in the middle photo? A ghost, perhaps?

Hot and Sweet!

In China, to purchase and eat a hot, baked, sweet potato is much like having dessert! For 1 RMB or less (12 cents) you can enjoy this delicious snack on a cold, wintry day such as this one in Beijing. These "portable vendors" can be anywhere; on neighborhood streets, or just outside a fancy office building. This one was very near Chairman Mao Memorial Hall at Tianamen Square. Although I didn't notice it at the time, it looks like these potatoes are sold by weight. Liyin enjoyed it very much. Me, the picky American eater, thought, "Huh? A baked potato without salt and butter?" Luckily, Liyin shared hers with me and I must say it was steaming, sweet and exceptionally delicious. We attracted quite the crowd when we purchased the potato. Apparently, American tourists don't normally buy food like this off the street. So about 10-15 Chinese folks watched intently as I bit into the portion of the potato that Liyin broke off for me and they all laughed when I said, in Mandarin, "very good, very good." And I did mean it. It was very, very good. :)

Slow Fade to Gray.....

It’s starting to spread. More and more are sprouting. It was so easy, when I was in my 20's, to arrogantly proclaim how I would never dye my hair when it started to turn gray. About 6 years ago I stopped dying my hair auburn and let it grow out to its natural brown shade. Now I’m starting to get more gray hairs than I can continue to pluck. I’ve discovered that plucking, although working wonders as a short-term fix, leads to short, curly gray hairs that I’m now forced to leave be like springs busting loose from an old couch. At a glance and from about 4 feet out I can still fake it. But we (my gray hairs and I) know they’re there. What to do, what to do. Dying (because I insist it be done professionally) is somewhat expensive. My hair grows fast and requires touch-ups about every 10 weeks. Do I really want to look like I’m 50 when I’m still in my 40s? Nope. Do I want to look like I’m in my 40s when I’m in my 50s? Yep. Hmmmmm.

Have A Seat....

Sometimes I think of all the things that I know, both from living life and self-exploration, and all that I’ve had the good fortunate of seeing and experiencing. Mostly, however, I am overwhelmed by all that I don’t know and the gazillion places I have not seen; experiences not experienced. When I come across incredible opportunities to travel, such as my recent trip to China, it fuels my desire to see and do it all. I’m restless, wondering how to best make use of the back half of my life. If I’m lucky enough to live to an old age and have knowledge of when my time is about up, will I be filled with regret because I didn’t take advantage of or create opportunities for myself? Being and knowing me, I’m sure I will. Already, I regret that it took me this long to understand myself as I do. With age comes wisdom and enlightenment, sure; but couldn’t I have made better use of earlier years? Absolutely. That particular realization does not fill me with despair or gloom. I am grateful that my life is now rich and full and I’ve realized what level of importance to place on the facets of my life in order to make that claim. Of importance is to pay attention to the future; to make the most of what lies or could lie in front of me. In order to do that I should make some changes. I should prepare. This will require strong effort, willpower, motivation, and friends. Having a multitude of diverse friendships in my life is probably what I cherish the most (I feel I should say "next to my son," which is, of course, true, but why do mothers always feel the need to validate their love for their child/children?).
This is the kind of rhetoric that springs from my state of restlessness. Sometimes I feel like a nomad who has stayed too long in one place.
I have much to contemplate. Mental energy-requiring contemplation.