This has been an extraordinarily ordinary week. As I think about it, it almost seems that it is a week representing my life: common, ordinary, daily routines; putting one foot in front of the other, doing the next thing which needs to be done. Then the routine is graced with so many lovely moments, moments that others either share with me or have in common with me; so much that is good and too much that is bad; so little thoughtful time and so much hustle; and the thread which ties it all together -- the people who come and go, who come and linger, or who come to stay seemingly forever in my heart if not in my presence. It's been one of those weeks.
It's been wet and mostly too cool. Now, in a wonderfully serendipitous moment, I'm prepared for the weather. Several of us were in a conversation about the lack of a wet weather and/or in between weather coat. I was still using the winter coat I brought with me. Fortunately (for me) the weather had cooperated -- stayed much cooler than usual. The coat conversation had two primary topics -- where to find one (corner vendors, second hand shops, etc.) and how much we'd have to pay. As we parted there were comments about waiting for the next week and/or making do. My last words before the trams arrived were "Well, I could get it today if it were under 100 Kc." Now, who'd ever think . . . Arrived in my neighborhood and noticed as soon as I got off the tram a little sign I'd never seen before: Second Hand, 30m. Thirty meters was less than half-way up the block, so I quickly made a left turn, discovered that I'd arrived 15 minutes before closing time, and went straight for a coat rack. AND walked out five minutes later with a really nice London-Fog type coat (no liner) for only 80 Kc. How about that!! What a lovely moment.
The week seems to be a blur of rushing and waiting, rushing and waiting. It seems that each time there was a gem of a person, a place, or an idea, I ended up moving on to another mental place. Here are several which have remained with me --
A brief conversation with a very bright young man about how we can maintain a balance between wanting government agencies to "help" with social problems without abdicating any personal responsibility and concern for those who clearly cannot care properly for themselves.
Finding an article in Lifestyles magazine, Czech edition, about Vaclav Havel and Forum 2000. Here's the setting -- I'm once again at my wonderful laundromat. I've already had a fruitless search for some reading I could think about, perhaps even Ann Lamott or Dawna Markova style. I really wanted something to read or I never would have selected something that slick. O.K. -- judge a book (magazine) by its cover! That's what took me inside. There was a lengthy article about the Forum 2000 conference in 2007. I don't remember hearing about Forum 2000 -- the first meeting was in Prague in 1997. The foundation focuses on key issues facing civilization. You may be sure I'll keep up with it in the future. This particular article combines quotes from ten years ago with the problems still facing us, all of us, today. From Havel then: "It is my deep conviction that the only option is for something to change in the sphere of the spirit, in the sphere of human conscience." From those in a business symposium now: "Already dozens of companies with massive economic and political power are more influential than many governments. Business support limited to charity and sport may no longer be enough." This "lucky find" will stick with me for a long time!
Getting a "real" opportunity for a hair cut! HOORAY! Three times now I've struck out. Speaking English is a big drawback. At last a friend of a friend of a friend. . . You know the way these things happen. And would you believe the salon is right in my new neighborhood. I went to the salon with the two (one who speaks only English, one who speaks English and Czech) to meet Vladka, the hair stylist who speaks only Czech. It was pretty scary to stand by for a long conversation about what can be done with my hair and how I'll look much younger (yeah, right) when all I wanted was more of the same. Well, that wish was at least six weeks ago. Now I'm ready for anything! Talk about feeling helpless! Of course I'll take my Anglicky-Czech dictionary -- it's always with me. I just don't believe I can thumb the pages fast enough to keep up with the pace. We'll see what happens this week.
It's time to get ready for the surprises and pleasure of another week. Getting ready is my job. Sending the surprises I'll leave to the universe! I'll just keep on with the "one foot in front of the other" routine, watching and waiting for each next moment. I'm wishing wonderful surprises for you also.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Uppers and Downers
Moments, not meds!
Upper -- watching two beautiful dogs play leapfrog in a lovely little park right beside the Vlatava River, tower of Charles Bridge only a block away.
Downer -- walking in the rain, yet again. Or still!
Upper -- being able to answer a question for directions and be understood.
Downer -- sitting on a tram behind a young man who was obviously very ill and very disturbed
U -- having a baby about six months old "communicate" with me as we walked along the street, talking, laughing, gesturing, generally having a grand old time, he in his stroller, I on my feet
D -- feeling SO disorganized, carrying way too much paper around way too often
U -- coming home to the peace and grace of my own flat
D -- trudging, not walking home
U -- watching the parks turn green, in spite of the cold
D -- the cold
U -- turning a corner to find a row of "painted ladies", Prague (or San Francisco east) style, lovely not-quite-pale yellows, pinks, greens, blues
D -- realizing it was the wrong corner
U -- joining new friends for an incredibly wonderful children's marionette show (the art is very alive and well in Prague)
D -- missing family and loved friends
U -- going somewhere "new" and realizing it was familiar
D -- thinking about all the places I haven't gone
U -- watching mothers/fathers and their very young children on the metro and trams, the loving touches, the smiles, and almost always the child riding patiently in the area reserved for strollers
D -- missing the children in my life
U -- seeing the hint of a smile on a face that looks as though it seldom wears a smile
D -- seeing faces that seem to be frozen in sadness and/or anger
U -- hearing unexpected music, played well
D -- not hearing more music
U -- being here!
D -- not being "there" also!
Upper -- watching two beautiful dogs play leapfrog in a lovely little park right beside the Vlatava River, tower of Charles Bridge only a block away.
Downer -- walking in the rain, yet again. Or still!
Upper -- being able to answer a question for directions and be understood.
Downer -- sitting on a tram behind a young man who was obviously very ill and very disturbed
U -- having a baby about six months old "communicate" with me as we walked along the street, talking, laughing, gesturing, generally having a grand old time, he in his stroller, I on my feet
D -- feeling SO disorganized, carrying way too much paper around way too often
U -- coming home to the peace and grace of my own flat
D -- trudging, not walking home
U -- watching the parks turn green, in spite of the cold
D -- the cold
U -- turning a corner to find a row of "painted ladies", Prague (or San Francisco east) style, lovely not-quite-pale yellows, pinks, greens, blues
D -- realizing it was the wrong corner
U -- joining new friends for an incredibly wonderful children's marionette show (the art is very alive and well in Prague)
D -- missing family and loved friends
U -- going somewhere "new" and realizing it was familiar
D -- thinking about all the places I haven't gone
U -- watching mothers/fathers and their very young children on the metro and trams, the loving touches, the smiles, and almost always the child riding patiently in the area reserved for strollers
D -- missing the children in my life
U -- seeing the hint of a smile on a face that looks as though it seldom wears a smile
D -- seeing faces that seem to be frozen in sadness and/or anger
U -- hearing unexpected music, played well
D -- not hearing more music
U -- being here!
D -- not being "there" also!
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Oh, It's a Great Day - - -
for just about anything and everything. Murphy has left town. You know the guy -- if anything can go wrong it will go wrong! Well, he spent a considerable amount of time in my neighborhood this week! When I awoke this morning, I could just tell he was gone.
For starters, the sun was shining. (There hasn't been much of that lately -- I'm still wearing my winter coat, and it has been soaked more than once this past week.) To be certain I knew it was time to get up, there was a bird chorus under the window. I still don't know their names, but they have practiced well, and their music is lovely. Either they moved from Namesti Miru when I did or they sent their relatives to keep my company -- I do recognize the song. Whichever it is, I really appreciate their grace notes in my life.
It was such a wonderful morning to be lazy, to sort out and clean up all the papers of the past week and get a little jump on things that needed to be done for the coming week. It was also a great day for walking to the grocery store and coming home with lovely bread and really good radishes and apples, for riding the tram to the laundromat and coming home with everything clean except what was on my back, for getting acquainted with the shops and taking a few pictures of the graceful and colorful buildings in the neighborhood, for exploring the source of my "new" church bells, and for just enjoying a laid back day in this wonderful city.
About those church bells -- they come from the Church of the Sacred Heart, designed by the architect Plecnik, who also redid Prague Castle, and built in 1928-1932. One source says "ecclesiastical modernism reached new heights," another "one of the most inspiring pieces of modern architecture in the city," and yet another "it dominates a quiet square in the Vinorahdy quarter in Prague." That's my neighborhood, and I get to see the church with its enormous transparent clock and marvel every time I walk to the tram.
This would have been a very good day with only the bits and pieces of the ordinary. And yes, those everyday things do remain extraordinary to me. But it moved up to great about 4 o'clock. That's when I joined Toni, an American who's been here for nearly four years, at a terrific pub in Karlin, an area of Prague that was really devastated by the floods of a couple years ago. They have their own brews, as well as at least a hundred others. Of course I went for one (or two) of the house brands! And we talked and talked, ate some delicious soup and fried cheese, and talked and talked some more.
Definitely a great day -- and this is only half of the weekend!
For starters, the sun was shining. (There hasn't been much of that lately -- I'm still wearing my winter coat, and it has been soaked more than once this past week.) To be certain I knew it was time to get up, there was a bird chorus under the window. I still don't know their names, but they have practiced well, and their music is lovely. Either they moved from Namesti Miru when I did or they sent their relatives to keep my company -- I do recognize the song. Whichever it is, I really appreciate their grace notes in my life.
It was such a wonderful morning to be lazy, to sort out and clean up all the papers of the past week and get a little jump on things that needed to be done for the coming week. It was also a great day for walking to the grocery store and coming home with lovely bread and really good radishes and apples, for riding the tram to the laundromat and coming home with everything clean except what was on my back, for getting acquainted with the shops and taking a few pictures of the graceful and colorful buildings in the neighborhood, for exploring the source of my "new" church bells, and for just enjoying a laid back day in this wonderful city.
About those church bells -- they come from the Church of the Sacred Heart, designed by the architect Plecnik, who also redid Prague Castle, and built in 1928-1932. One source says "ecclesiastical modernism reached new heights," another "one of the most inspiring pieces of modern architecture in the city," and yet another "it dominates a quiet square in the Vinorahdy quarter in Prague." That's my neighborhood, and I get to see the church with its enormous transparent clock and marvel every time I walk to the tram.
This would have been a very good day with only the bits and pieces of the ordinary. And yes, those everyday things do remain extraordinary to me. But it moved up to great about 4 o'clock. That's when I joined Toni, an American who's been here for nearly four years, at a terrific pub in Karlin, an area of Prague that was really devastated by the floods of a couple years ago. They have their own brews, as well as at least a hundred others. Of course I went for one (or two) of the house brands! And we talked and talked, ate some delicious soup and fried cheese, and talked and talked some more.
Definitely a great day -- and this is only half of the weekend!
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