Contrary to appearances, I have not dropped off the map! I'm still right here in this lovely, nearly magical kingdom. I am, however, recovering from such a rush of work and total blackout of my computer that this has been a very long time coming. Sorry for the silence.
First the rush of work - - - this is exam time. I don't know why I let it it take me by surprise, but I guess that is probably true to form. And of course, I've made multiple resolutions about how I will do it differently next time. (And next time, hopefully, I won't be "under the weather" for the whole period. Thank goodness I am, at very long last, feeling like myself again, just in time to launch into the new term. And there's a rumor that spring is coming. Hooray!)
Exams are an interesting phenomenon at StJ and most of the other schools around here. I certainly understand why the school promises client companies they will be kept informed regarding their employees' progress. I've had moments of almost/nearly/possibly offering to put a course together for the school to offer to various HR departments about how they could get the most for their dollars. Now, I'm not quite that foolish, but it is a bit disturbing to see little things which would be relatively easy to "fix" and which would make for a better experience for everyone (selfishly, I would add, me included). Be that as it may, the big yard- or meterstick is grades for all students in January and June. First, of course, for some of the classes it is a DIY (the "Y" being me!) project. At least this time I knew to collect material for that. Others are required by their companies to take a standardized exam written by the school. Easier at the front end, more difficult on the other. And then there is the grading, the explaining, and entering lots and lots of data into the school's database. Because it was just upgraded, we also had to enter extra reports on all students. O.K. -- lots of work, but that's just part of the job.
Sorta -- in the middle of it all the "new and improved" DB decided it didn't like my computer, and shut me down completely. It wasn't just the i'net I was missing, as has happened so often before. It was the whole thing. All I had was a screen showing that I was beginning a reply to an email -- only the reply box was black. Talk about frustrating -- or not talking about it would be better! Anyhow, thanks to the magic of technology and the wizardry of my incredible NC computer man, I am now back up and running!
It's all come together in a perfect combination -- exams and reporting completed, good health in spite of all the germs flying around the trams and metro, and a fresh start with some current students as well as a new beginning with a couple very interesting students. What a great time!
Then a great weekend to enjoy the freedom! Yesterday morning was my Czech class. Oh, it is not easy! I never thought it would be, but it's especially difficult when I give time to exams and health instead of homework! And yes, I have enormous empathy for my students. Fortunately, I had a realistic picture of life before I started Czech lessons -- we all work and we all have other obligations. And now I not only can can understand just not being able to fit in homework but also with why some parts of our grammar are so difficult for Czechs to learn. Our teacher is SO good, and is moving to Majorca soon to be in the same country as her husband. Great idea for them, not great for us! I've learned so many things from her, not just some of the language.
Mid-afternoon was the start of another great party. My T'giving party friend hosted a "Mid-winter Blues" party. What fun, what great food in enormous quantities (yes, I did my part to cut down the amount of leftovers!), what a marvelous way to spend a Saturday.
Now it's time to play a bit of catch-up and get ready to see a movie with a Czech colleague. We're going to The Curious Story of Benjamin Button, which is, I've heard, an F. Scott Fitzgerald story. I've also heard it's VERY long. So much for the rest of this day - - -
I've made a "starter" list of places to go / things to do when the weather is a bit more hospitable. And slowly I'm gathering folks who say "I'd love to go there with you." Just little one-day leave-in-the-morning, explore the town, return-in-the-evening excursions. Of course I'll "take you along with me." Until we start that, you just know I can't keep from telling you about this marvelous town. Yes, I'm happier than ever here. Yes, it's a wonderful life! And yes, I know there'll be more to share as I move into a more normal routine. Until then, I wish you joy, wonder, and good health in all your daily travels.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
The Circle I'm In
Another busy week, full of the ordinary, blessed with those shining moments of anticipation/realization which seem to give life to more moments that are equal mixtures of routine and shimmer.
The week started with a marvelous morning at the Foreign Police. And I am passing it along for two reasons: first, because it is so seldom that marvelous and Foreign Police are used in the same sentence, and second because it was such a successful encounter. It was not wonderful to answer the alarm at 3:30 a.m. and realize my US friends had not even gone to bed yet. (I'm sure that jolt was not helpful in getting re-oriented to Prague time!) I am now carrying (a copy of) my "Long Term Resident" visa around with me. And every once in a while I look at it just for the joy of knowing that is really me! I must admit the pictures are getting worse, and I hope just a little of that downhill trend is the photography, not the aging of the subject. This time the photographer would not let me smile. Oh, well. Didn't keep me from getting the visa :-) and yet again :-)
I am still struggling to make a slow return to "normal" health, which could be interpreted multiple ways at this stage of life. By the end of the week I'd shaken off almost all remainders/reminders of my post-holiday cold. I even have leftover medicaments (Czech term) from the Lekarna (trans. "Chemist" -- a pharmacy with only few other items for sale, all having to do with health and well being) just in case whatever-this-is hits again. Since it seems to be making the Prague rounds, I'm hoping the leftovers will be a voodoo spell against the bug entering the flat again! Maybe it will recognize there is no welcome here and leave me alone.
The week also contained some wonderful students "ups" and some disappointing "downs". Lately I've been enjoying the emergence of humor in a second (or third/fourth) language in several of my upper level students. It is my theory that spontaneous humor, not just a repeated joke, is yet one more sign of fluency. You have to know your way around a language and have a feel for the lovely nuances of just the right word to be able to engage in irony, puns, or simply a good turn of a phrase. This week I was gifted with three different examples. Here's one: a student began our session asking if I'd heard about the new airport in NYC. "Well, it was actually only one more runway. . . " And he knew it was acceptable to joke about the USAirways landing in the Hudson because there had been no serious injuries.
The "downs" are cancellations of classes I really enjoy. I've lost eight teaching hours in the last week or so. I anticipated I would be losing hours because of the economy, but that was not the cause of any of them (yet!). Just a "perfect storm" of unusual circumstances which is leaving me with my eyes open for new students and feeling the loss of some whose company I really enjoyed. It will be really interesting and painful to watch events transpire over the next few weeks and months.
This is an especially busy time (not good when what I really want to do is sleep!) preparing exams, writing end-of term narrative reports on each student, and doing a lot of rescheduling to keep up with frequent absences. I must admit it is much more difficult to begin and end the day in such darkness. I enjoy all the "little" things I'm learning, such as what it means to live in a "higher" latitude than any US city below Alaska. It's wonderful to know that the days are getting longer, but it is definitely not noticeable yet. Add all the cloud cover of snow, near-snow, "freezing fog" -- first time I've encountered that forecast, and it's pretty dreary much of the time. Only the weather, that is!
There is "time off for good behavior" this weekend! A French colleague is hosting a "French Toasts" get together at his home. I'm curious how his French toast differs from mine. I know that the first difference is a chestnut spread, brought from home when he visited at the holidays. And the second is that he's sharing his mother's homemade jams, also the accepted topping, with all of us. Add in the international flavors with pot lucking, the accents, and the enjoyment of each other's company, and it will be a great afternoon. Wish you were here to share it with me.
It will soon be my first anniversary! What a wonderful year. It seems silly and redundant to say yet again how happy I am to be here. Life always has its routines; it always takes work to make things happen; there are smiles and new friends and hundreds of stories everywhere. How blessed and contented I am that this is the place where I can do that continuous learning. My wish for you -- that you are having the same "new" year where you are.
The "circle of days" is such an apt expression for my life right now. None of them goes far off course on its own new trajectory -- maybe there will be a little of that when spring arrives. And each of them brings its own particular joy, something to treasure and protect as the circle continues, along with all the ordinary daily tasks which carry them forward. It is -- really -- a wonderful life!
The week started with a marvelous morning at the Foreign Police. And I am passing it along for two reasons: first, because it is so seldom that marvelous and Foreign Police are used in the same sentence, and second because it was such a successful encounter. It was not wonderful to answer the alarm at 3:30 a.m. and realize my US friends had not even gone to bed yet. (I'm sure that jolt was not helpful in getting re-oriented to Prague time!) I am now carrying (a copy of) my "Long Term Resident" visa around with me. And every once in a while I look at it just for the joy of knowing that is really me! I must admit the pictures are getting worse, and I hope just a little of that downhill trend is the photography, not the aging of the subject. This time the photographer would not let me smile. Oh, well. Didn't keep me from getting the visa :-) and yet again :-)
I am still struggling to make a slow return to "normal" health, which could be interpreted multiple ways at this stage of life. By the end of the week I'd shaken off almost all remainders/reminders of my post-holiday cold. I even have leftover medicaments (Czech term) from the Lekarna (trans. "Chemist" -- a pharmacy with only few other items for sale, all having to do with health and well being) just in case whatever-this-is hits again. Since it seems to be making the Prague rounds, I'm hoping the leftovers will be a voodoo spell against the bug entering the flat again! Maybe it will recognize there is no welcome here and leave me alone.
The week also contained some wonderful students "ups" and some disappointing "downs". Lately I've been enjoying the emergence of humor in a second (or third/fourth) language in several of my upper level students. It is my theory that spontaneous humor, not just a repeated joke, is yet one more sign of fluency. You have to know your way around a language and have a feel for the lovely nuances of just the right word to be able to engage in irony, puns, or simply a good turn of a phrase. This week I was gifted with three different examples. Here's one: a student began our session asking if I'd heard about the new airport in NYC. "Well, it was actually only one more runway. . . " And he knew it was acceptable to joke about the USAirways landing in the Hudson because there had been no serious injuries.
The "downs" are cancellations of classes I really enjoy. I've lost eight teaching hours in the last week or so. I anticipated I would be losing hours because of the economy, but that was not the cause of any of them (yet!). Just a "perfect storm" of unusual circumstances which is leaving me with my eyes open for new students and feeling the loss of some whose company I really enjoyed. It will be really interesting and painful to watch events transpire over the next few weeks and months.
This is an especially busy time (not good when what I really want to do is sleep!) preparing exams, writing end-of term narrative reports on each student, and doing a lot of rescheduling to keep up with frequent absences. I must admit it is much more difficult to begin and end the day in such darkness. I enjoy all the "little" things I'm learning, such as what it means to live in a "higher" latitude than any US city below Alaska. It's wonderful to know that the days are getting longer, but it is definitely not noticeable yet. Add all the cloud cover of snow, near-snow, "freezing fog" -- first time I've encountered that forecast, and it's pretty dreary much of the time. Only the weather, that is!
There is "time off for good behavior" this weekend! A French colleague is hosting a "French Toasts" get together at his home. I'm curious how his French toast differs from mine. I know that the first difference is a chestnut spread, brought from home when he visited at the holidays. And the second is that he's sharing his mother's homemade jams, also the accepted topping, with all of us. Add in the international flavors with pot lucking, the accents, and the enjoyment of each other's company, and it will be a great afternoon. Wish you were here to share it with me.
It will soon be my first anniversary! What a wonderful year. It seems silly and redundant to say yet again how happy I am to be here. Life always has its routines; it always takes work to make things happen; there are smiles and new friends and hundreds of stories everywhere. How blessed and contented I am that this is the place where I can do that continuous learning. My wish for you -- that you are having the same "new" year where you are.
The "circle of days" is such an apt expression for my life right now. None of them goes far off course on its own new trajectory -- maybe there will be a little of that when spring arrives. And each of them brings its own particular joy, something to treasure and protect as the circle continues, along with all the ordinary daily tasks which carry them forward. It is -- really -- a wonderful life!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Ordinary Isn't Boring
"X" marks the spot. We are "here" -- the end of the first full week of the New Year. It's been a refreshing return to at least some sense of normalcy. January means winter to me, and winter is exactly what we have!
It would be nice if it were even a couple degrees warmer! We haven't reached 0 (Celsius) -- and I'm talking about moving "up to"! -- yet this week, and I believe it isn't forecast for next week. Sunday/Monday brought snow. Monday was beautiful. It snowed the whole day -- sometimes enormous lazy flakes, sometimes furious little ones, but generally slow and steady. No whiteouts! By mid-day Tuesday, there was a lot of brown slippery stuff around. Because we are well below freezing, it isn't even slushy. Some (only a few) of the walks are cleared very well, but in most cases it's a sometimes thing. So in addition to bundling up, I'm walking very, very carefully and a bit more slowly than usual. It's been mentioned many times that this is more like a Prague winter -- last year was too warm. One of the nice things about "having a history" is that I can remember last Spring. And I know it will come again. I'm already compiling my new list of things I'll do when it is not quite so cold and not quite so difficult to get from here to there!
Teaching for StJ just keeps getting better. Nearly a year later, and it is still the right place for me. How blessed I was in all the events leading to this placement. And it is so nice to be told how much my work is appreciated by both my boss and my students. Sure, now and again I have a class I'd rather give to someone else. It is wonderful, however, to be in a situation where it was so nice to move past the holiday break and be able to see people I really enjoy.
Speaking of "nearly a year," Monday is my next trip to the Foreign Police. Last week was the time for all the appointments required to get it in order -- insurance papers, landlord papers, stamps from the Post Office (have no idea what that's for), photographs (and I do look a lot older than last year :-(, on and on. Of course, I am obsessing about having all my papers in order and knowing which tram/bus connection to make. It has not been many months since my last trip. Getting the visa is necessary for anything beyond the 90-day visitors' stay. From now on the visa extension will be an annual thing. It is supposed to be easier getting the extension. The hard part is decision making: Q: How early must I get there to be able to get a number for the line (think "deli") then be called and finish in one day? A: 5 a.m., and the doors don't open until 7:30. Q: Must I take an interpreter (Czech is the only language spoken at the FP)? A: No. Katerina, our wonderful office manager, will come to help me if there is any problem. That lengthens the FP visit, but whatever . . . . anything to get done. Q: Since I will be alone this year (I went with a colleague who arrived when I did last year) what do I take to "do" while waiting? A: Hmmm. A book to read, some Czech vocabulary to learn, and maybe even some knitting, I guess. A good friend spent 12 hours on her recent trip. I know myself, however, and since the big room is really chaotic, I know I won't get "real" work done -- too many interruptions, too much moving from one place to another, etc. Then of course there is the fact that I usually teach eight hours on Monday. Arrangements have already been made for the morning classes; I know I won't make them. Then yet another terrific StJ person, Jaromir, will stay in contact with me -- Czech Republic, the land of cell phones and (free) text messaging! -- and cancel afternoon classes if and when necessary. What a production. Fortunately it is only once a year!
And speaking of "schools" and "classes," I have now joined another school part time. Alka Language Specialists has been in business nearly 20 years. Congratulations to them! They're smaller than StJ and do exactly the same kind of business -- work with companies/institutions/organizations on a contract basis, sending teachers to the site for classes. Neither school offers "public" classes. I have three classes with them already -- great students in each class and at a super location for me -- and they are asking for more of my time. One of the difficult things about this kind of work is that most companies want their English classes either first thing in the morning or last thing in the afternoon. It's called "peak time." I've been SO fortunate that StJ has filled most of my daytime hours as well. Yes, I get tired; and yes, I have to prepare and do other class work at night. But it means I get more opportunities to do what I love doing. Now with the two schools it will begin to be a bit of a rub. Of course StJ has precedence -- I "owe" them my peak time, but it is difficult to sit back quietly (that's always been hard for me, as you know) when things are in such a state of change and wait for #1 to make up its mind before accepting something from #2. Oh well - - this will sort out, and very quickly, I think. I'm just so pleased to be working with the people I've met there already.
It was interesting that the assigned material for one of my classes on the first day after the New Year was about wishes and life changes. Of course we also talked about resolutions (usually kept from 3-10 days). So certainly it is in my mind as well as on the lesson plan. One of the differences between the two, we noted, is that we have no control over wishes. So yes, I have a wish, and yes, I know I don't control the outcome. I wish I could continue doing this for many years. I'm aware of all the things which could change the outcome -- health, accidents, things in the States that I would want to be available for, many other things I can't or won't imagine now. How happy and how fortunate I am to be in this spot at this time, especially since technology means I am not cut off from family and friends as I would have been even a few years ago. And I feel as though I'm just now really settling down into the routine, becoming able to do things more efficiently and effectively, and certainly to enjoy each moment more than ever before.
And yes, I have a couple resolutions that I realize are dependent on me and my efforts. The first is to get serious about learning Czech! My teacher's great; the change from one four-hour class a month to two two-hour classes is really helpful; and I'm enjoying a small bit of reward for my small bit of effort. I must raise the bar on it, however. Demand more from myself and expect better results -- no more of these "my brain is tired and old" thoughts! I hate feeling stupid, and I do feel really stupid when I have no clue what a notice about tram service means or when someone is asking a question or being especially friendly and I have to reply, "Anglicky" along with some other word which means "I don't understand" or "I'm sorry." What is so terribly daunting is that it will take forever to be "good", but that doesn't mean I can't get a bit better. And I do resolve to make more regular efforts to reach that. (And it is so much more difficult than it used to be.)
Another resolution is to be even more organized about my "To Do in Prague" list. There are advertisements for concerts I'd like to attend or places with regular performances I would enjoy. As I continue reading Czech history (and I resolve to continue that -- it's really fascinating as well as difficult to retain, since I'm so unfamiliar with so many Central European rulers, wannabes, and political intrigue) I continue to learn about more places I want to visit. And Prague is full of lovely green places, marvelous parks with their own fountains and sculpture, delicious little cafes with lots of history floating about. My resolve: write these things down and start ticking them off the list!
My most important resolution: never lose sight of how blessed I am and have been -- my health-- keeping this schedule at this time of my life; my family; my friends -- those with whom I've shared years and many experiences, those who are part of this amazing new place, and those I have yet to meet; the places I've been; all the memories I have collected and cherish. Yes, sometimes I despair over the situation in the States, the malevolence and violence toward individuals and countries around the world, the rigid focus on that which divides rather than finding and placing value on that which unites. And I am always reminded that my attitude can be contagious, I can help bring about even a small change in someone else's world. Yes, I'd wish for peace, for respect for the dignity of human life, for intelligence, wisdom, and a lessening of pandering to vested interests. But those are wishes. I can resolve to be responsible for my thoughts and actions. And I do.
šťastný nový rok -- Happy New year to you.
It would be nice if it were even a couple degrees warmer! We haven't reached 0 (Celsius) -- and I'm talking about moving "up to"! -- yet this week, and I believe it isn't forecast for next week. Sunday/Monday brought snow. Monday was beautiful. It snowed the whole day -- sometimes enormous lazy flakes, sometimes furious little ones, but generally slow and steady. No whiteouts! By mid-day Tuesday, there was a lot of brown slippery stuff around. Because we are well below freezing, it isn't even slushy. Some (only a few) of the walks are cleared very well, but in most cases it's a sometimes thing. So in addition to bundling up, I'm walking very, very carefully and a bit more slowly than usual. It's been mentioned many times that this is more like a Prague winter -- last year was too warm. One of the nice things about "having a history" is that I can remember last Spring. And I know it will come again. I'm already compiling my new list of things I'll do when it is not quite so cold and not quite so difficult to get from here to there!
Teaching for StJ just keeps getting better. Nearly a year later, and it is still the right place for me. How blessed I was in all the events leading to this placement. And it is so nice to be told how much my work is appreciated by both my boss and my students. Sure, now and again I have a class I'd rather give to someone else. It is wonderful, however, to be in a situation where it was so nice to move past the holiday break and be able to see people I really enjoy.
Speaking of "nearly a year," Monday is my next trip to the Foreign Police. Last week was the time for all the appointments required to get it in order -- insurance papers, landlord papers, stamps from the Post Office (have no idea what that's for), photographs (and I do look a lot older than last year :-(, on and on. Of course, I am obsessing about having all my papers in order and knowing which tram/bus connection to make. It has not been many months since my last trip. Getting the visa is necessary for anything beyond the 90-day visitors' stay. From now on the visa extension will be an annual thing. It is supposed to be easier getting the extension. The hard part is decision making: Q: How early must I get there to be able to get a number for the line (think "deli") then be called and finish in one day? A: 5 a.m., and the doors don't open until 7:30. Q: Must I take an interpreter (Czech is the only language spoken at the FP)? A: No. Katerina, our wonderful office manager, will come to help me if there is any problem. That lengthens the FP visit, but whatever . . . . anything to get done. Q: Since I will be alone this year (I went with a colleague who arrived when I did last year) what do I take to "do" while waiting? A: Hmmm. A book to read, some Czech vocabulary to learn, and maybe even some knitting, I guess. A good friend spent 12 hours on her recent trip. I know myself, however, and since the big room is really chaotic, I know I won't get "real" work done -- too many interruptions, too much moving from one place to another, etc. Then of course there is the fact that I usually teach eight hours on Monday. Arrangements have already been made for the morning classes; I know I won't make them. Then yet another terrific StJ person, Jaromir, will stay in contact with me -- Czech Republic, the land of cell phones and (free) text messaging! -- and cancel afternoon classes if and when necessary. What a production. Fortunately it is only once a year!
And speaking of "schools" and "classes," I have now joined another school part time. Alka Language Specialists has been in business nearly 20 years. Congratulations to them! They're smaller than StJ and do exactly the same kind of business -- work with companies/institutions/organizations on a contract basis, sending teachers to the site for classes. Neither school offers "public" classes. I have three classes with them already -- great students in each class and at a super location for me -- and they are asking for more of my time. One of the difficult things about this kind of work is that most companies want their English classes either first thing in the morning or last thing in the afternoon. It's called "peak time." I've been SO fortunate that StJ has filled most of my daytime hours as well. Yes, I get tired; and yes, I have to prepare and do other class work at night. But it means I get more opportunities to do what I love doing. Now with the two schools it will begin to be a bit of a rub. Of course StJ has precedence -- I "owe" them my peak time, but it is difficult to sit back quietly (that's always been hard for me, as you know) when things are in such a state of change and wait for #1 to make up its mind before accepting something from #2. Oh well - - this will sort out, and very quickly, I think. I'm just so pleased to be working with the people I've met there already.
It was interesting that the assigned material for one of my classes on the first day after the New Year was about wishes and life changes. Of course we also talked about resolutions (usually kept from 3-10 days). So certainly it is in my mind as well as on the lesson plan. One of the differences between the two, we noted, is that we have no control over wishes. So yes, I have a wish, and yes, I know I don't control the outcome. I wish I could continue doing this for many years. I'm aware of all the things which could change the outcome -- health, accidents, things in the States that I would want to be available for, many other things I can't or won't imagine now. How happy and how fortunate I am to be in this spot at this time, especially since technology means I am not cut off from family and friends as I would have been even a few years ago. And I feel as though I'm just now really settling down into the routine, becoming able to do things more efficiently and effectively, and certainly to enjoy each moment more than ever before.
And yes, I have a couple resolutions that I realize are dependent on me and my efforts. The first is to get serious about learning Czech! My teacher's great; the change from one four-hour class a month to two two-hour classes is really helpful; and I'm enjoying a small bit of reward for my small bit of effort. I must raise the bar on it, however. Demand more from myself and expect better results -- no more of these "my brain is tired and old" thoughts! I hate feeling stupid, and I do feel really stupid when I have no clue what a notice about tram service means or when someone is asking a question or being especially friendly and I have to reply, "Anglicky" along with some other word which means "I don't understand" or "I'm sorry." What is so terribly daunting is that it will take forever to be "good", but that doesn't mean I can't get a bit better. And I do resolve to make more regular efforts to reach that. (And it is so much more difficult than it used to be.)
Another resolution is to be even more organized about my "To Do in Prague" list. There are advertisements for concerts I'd like to attend or places with regular performances I would enjoy. As I continue reading Czech history (and I resolve to continue that -- it's really fascinating as well as difficult to retain, since I'm so unfamiliar with so many Central European rulers, wannabes, and political intrigue) I continue to learn about more places I want to visit. And Prague is full of lovely green places, marvelous parks with their own fountains and sculpture, delicious little cafes with lots of history floating about. My resolve: write these things down and start ticking them off the list!
My most important resolution: never lose sight of how blessed I am and have been -- my health-- keeping this schedule at this time of my life; my family; my friends -- those with whom I've shared years and many experiences, those who are part of this amazing new place, and those I have yet to meet; the places I've been; all the memories I have collected and cherish. Yes, sometimes I despair over the situation in the States, the malevolence and violence toward individuals and countries around the world, the rigid focus on that which divides rather than finding and placing value on that which unites. And I am always reminded that my attitude can be contagious, I can help bring about even a small change in someone else's world. Yes, I'd wish for peace, for respect for the dignity of human life, for intelligence, wisdom, and a lessening of pandering to vested interests. But those are wishes. I can resolve to be responsible for my thoughts and actions. And I do.
šťastný nový rok -- Happy New year to you.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
I'm Back - -
- - - and it's time for the "new" of the New Year.
As I looked out into my dearly familiar courtyard (definitely not on the list of "places to visit" but equally definitely mine) while waiting for my electric kettle to boil, "I Love Paris" popped into my head. Prague fits into the rhythm only by making two syllables out of the "a", but certainly the sentiment works for me. We're in the "winter" phrase big time right now! Cold Cold Cold and windy, and I'm told it gets colder! We've also had a bit of snow each of the past few days, enough to bring out the boots and watch out for slick spots, but not enough to rearrange activities.
Last winter I kept hearing ". . . but this is unusual" when folks were discussing the weather. It was strangely reminiscent of my first few years in NC. Weather was always a safe topic of conversation on the BlueCross shuttle bus, and I learned after only a few trips that whatever was happening at the moment was not the "usual." My expectation, based on early Prague conversations, is that it will get colder and there will be more snow. So we're missing the Parisian "drizzle", thankfully, but getting the Prague drifts.
Google/gmail has added "themes" to users options. Though I'm not usually curious about "new and improved" changes to things which are working fine just as they are now, thank you very much, I did check this out. And I now have my local "weather situation" on my gmail page. Yep, it is snowing across the top of my page with drifts piling up on their logo and my inbox heading. Very entertaining. And it is also snowing outside my window. The red roofs -- and I do love the red roofs of Prague -- are becoming pink and flat surfaces of the buildings are becoming slightly rounded. A great day to be inside!
And even as I anticipate a return to my students and the familiar rhythms of travel/teach/travel/prepare, I'm also wondering what weather the next three months will bring. No problem driving! I do believe, however, I need to look for another pair of boots before the stores are displaying only swimsuits. I'm a little curious just how many steps would get me through three months. I know they'll need to be warm and dry.
And without rushing things, I'm really looking forward to watching Spring arrive. I do "love Pra-ague in the springtime." I now have favorite spots to anticipate and enjoy even as I discover new parks, new benches, and new breathtaking views. Gotta love a city with so many hills! Even the ordinary becomes extraordinary when it's a surprise. The gifts are endless. For many years I've realized I would have difficulty living in an area without four seasons. And yes, I may fuss but I'll look forward to the "summer, when it sizzles" (and the tourists -- I'm so glad I'm not living with that limited time) as well. It's a great rhythm, and I'm grateful to be repeating it.
My desk is orderly and clean. That was a lengthy two-step process! So many little pieces of paper which meant something important at one time or another and which have no apparent connection to anything in the near future; so many new "to do" lists to create; so many inconsequential decisions; and, of course, so many mental time-outs as I rearrange pictures of Alexander and Thomas. Then step two -- serious cleaning of every inch before bringing a new order out of the chaos. And it is complete.
Then there are the usual weekend activities such as food shopping and the trip to the laundromat. As you know, that weekly trip to the washers/dryers which work so well has been an important constant in my life. I've grown to know and enjoy the bilingual, helpful folks who work the front desk and, after some time, nodded to and then began to greet the lovely professional Czech woman who is the owner. I'm sure you've heard that coffee/tea and computer time are free for customers. (Yes, some folks do come in only to use the computers.) On my tray yesterday (coffee is always served on a tray in a "real" cup with its own cream/sugar) was a lovely crystal goblet with a smooth, delicious sherry/chocolate drink. New Year's thanks to a "special customer." And I felt very special indeed.
Tomorrow begins a busy month. I'm actually looking forward to a slight break from the usual teaching routine as we prepare for end-of-term exams. Today will be filled with changing out teaching materials. I've also joined another school as a part timer. Alka Language Specialists has been in business for 19 years -- I'm impressed -- is smaller than St. James and also specializes in in-company courses. I have three classes a week for/with them. They very thoughtfully gave me classes in an area and at a time I'm already working! Contracts with companies/organizations are changing, as I'm sure you'd guess, and this seemed like a good opportunity to branch out, add some new adventures. This week I'll have 32 teaching hours -- that doesn't include travel or preparation, so I do have to be supremely organized, not an easy task for me! As several of my classes at StJ come to an end (tho' I know others will be added later) and the new classes integrate more smoothly into the routine, life will settle down a bit for February (or at least that is the plan).
It is both interesting and demanding to read about the issues and challenges facing the States, Obama, and the American people. I am particularly grateful to be slightly removed from the egocentric views of much of the media and to have access both to columnists I admire (who always make me stretch and think) and to the press from other countries. My students surely keep me reading and thinking (and introspective) with their opinions and questions. And my mind is often traveling down yet another rabbit trail of interconnections, possible cause/effect relationships, and uncertainty and dread about the world Alexander and Thomas are being handed. I do think of you with concern and with a wish for a sense of balance and internal tranquility in spite of the external chaos and confusion.
So I'm definitely back in the groove of things. It's time for a new visa -- I can hardly believe it! And it's yet another new beginning with all the hopes, expectations, and promises of new adventures which go along with that. I hope your new year is joyous and hopeful also.
As I looked out into my dearly familiar courtyard (definitely not on the list of "places to visit" but equally definitely mine) while waiting for my electric kettle to boil, "I Love Paris" popped into my head. Prague fits into the rhythm only by making two syllables out of the "a", but certainly the sentiment works for me. We're in the "winter" phrase big time right now! Cold Cold Cold and windy, and I'm told it gets colder! We've also had a bit of snow each of the past few days, enough to bring out the boots and watch out for slick spots, but not enough to rearrange activities.
Last winter I kept hearing ". . . but this is unusual" when folks were discussing the weather. It was strangely reminiscent of my first few years in NC. Weather was always a safe topic of conversation on the BlueCross shuttle bus, and I learned after only a few trips that whatever was happening at the moment was not the "usual." My expectation, based on early Prague conversations, is that it will get colder and there will be more snow. So we're missing the Parisian "drizzle", thankfully, but getting the Prague drifts.
Google/gmail has added "themes" to users options. Though I'm not usually curious about "new and improved" changes to things which are working fine just as they are now, thank you very much, I did check this out. And I now have my local "weather situation" on my gmail page. Yep, it is snowing across the top of my page with drifts piling up on their logo and my inbox heading. Very entertaining. And it is also snowing outside my window. The red roofs -- and I do love the red roofs of Prague -- are becoming pink and flat surfaces of the buildings are becoming slightly rounded. A great day to be inside!
And even as I anticipate a return to my students and the familiar rhythms of travel/teach/travel/prepare, I'm also wondering what weather the next three months will bring. No problem driving! I do believe, however, I need to look for another pair of boots before the stores are displaying only swimsuits. I'm a little curious just how many steps would get me through three months. I know they'll need to be warm and dry.
And without rushing things, I'm really looking forward to watching Spring arrive. I do "love Pra-ague in the springtime." I now have favorite spots to anticipate and enjoy even as I discover new parks, new benches, and new breathtaking views. Gotta love a city with so many hills! Even the ordinary becomes extraordinary when it's a surprise. The gifts are endless. For many years I've realized I would have difficulty living in an area without four seasons. And yes, I may fuss but I'll look forward to the "summer, when it sizzles" (and the tourists -- I'm so glad I'm not living with that limited time) as well. It's a great rhythm, and I'm grateful to be repeating it.
My desk is orderly and clean. That was a lengthy two-step process! So many little pieces of paper which meant something important at one time or another and which have no apparent connection to anything in the near future; so many new "to do" lists to create; so many inconsequential decisions; and, of course, so many mental time-outs as I rearrange pictures of Alexander and Thomas. Then step two -- serious cleaning of every inch before bringing a new order out of the chaos. And it is complete.
Then there are the usual weekend activities such as food shopping and the trip to the laundromat. As you know, that weekly trip to the washers/dryers which work so well has been an important constant in my life. I've grown to know and enjoy the bilingual, helpful folks who work the front desk and, after some time, nodded to and then began to greet the lovely professional Czech woman who is the owner. I'm sure you've heard that coffee/tea and computer time are free for customers. (Yes, some folks do come in only to use the computers.) On my tray yesterday (coffee is always served on a tray in a "real" cup with its own cream/sugar) was a lovely crystal goblet with a smooth, delicious sherry/chocolate drink. New Year's thanks to a "special customer." And I felt very special indeed.
Tomorrow begins a busy month. I'm actually looking forward to a slight break from the usual teaching routine as we prepare for end-of-term exams. Today will be filled with changing out teaching materials. I've also joined another school as a part timer. Alka Language Specialists has been in business for 19 years -- I'm impressed -- is smaller than St. James and also specializes in in-company courses. I have three classes a week for/with them. They very thoughtfully gave me classes in an area and at a time I'm already working! Contracts with companies/organizations are changing, as I'm sure you'd guess, and this seemed like a good opportunity to branch out, add some new adventures. This week I'll have 32 teaching hours -- that doesn't include travel or preparation, so I do have to be supremely organized, not an easy task for me! As several of my classes at StJ come to an end (tho' I know others will be added later) and the new classes integrate more smoothly into the routine, life will settle down a bit for February (or at least that is the plan).
It is both interesting and demanding to read about the issues and challenges facing the States, Obama, and the American people. I am particularly grateful to be slightly removed from the egocentric views of much of the media and to have access both to columnists I admire (who always make me stretch and think) and to the press from other countries. My students surely keep me reading and thinking (and introspective) with their opinions and questions. And my mind is often traveling down yet another rabbit trail of interconnections, possible cause/effect relationships, and uncertainty and dread about the world Alexander and Thomas are being handed. I do think of you with concern and with a wish for a sense of balance and internal tranquility in spite of the external chaos and confusion.
So I'm definitely back in the groove of things. It's time for a new visa -- I can hardly believe it! And it's yet another new beginning with all the hopes, expectations, and promises of new adventures which go along with that. I hope your new year is joyous and hopeful also.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Happy New Year
Wishing you and those you love –
all who bring joy, meaning,
and significance to your life –
a year of inner peace amidst global chaos,
good health in times of challenges to our well being,
pleasure and contentment as we make our way through the complexities of daily life,
and the blessings of knowing we are cherished and protected.
Happy 2009 to you
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
'Tis the Season
. . . for some small part of nearly everything.
The season for reflection -- pondering the year just past could consume another year! What an amazing year (actually, fantastic lifetime) this has been. Recent conversations have brought so many memories to the surface, have shaped so many unexpected hopes and wishes, and, as usual, have highlighted so many shortcomings. Seemingly random encounters open virtual storehouses of thoughts, each of which could lead to its own dissertation or, conversely, could hit an immediate stone wall. Most of those will join a growing "To Do" list of both concrete and abstract self assignments. And of course, there will be the perpetual sense of hopefulness -- this year I'll really get organized, this year I'll really do things differently, this year I'll really make a dent in those good intentions!
The season for gratitude -- creating a list of the gifts of life, every size from petite to XXXXXL and beyond, is an endless task in and of itself. Most conversations, thoughts, and encounters seem to either focus on or somehow touch a deep well of gratitude for all the marvelous gifts I've been given: my family, my friends, countless opportunities, new horizons, all the seemingly accidental encounters and even dumb luck which have moved me through a virtual dictionary of emotions. And for each of them I am a deeply grateful.
The season for renewal -- renovating and refurbishing the various compartments of my brain is a never ending task. This season brings new emphasis and concern to the work. For some unexplored reason the holiday season always tucks this two-sided coin in my mental stocking: Joy and delight at all the wonders and a bit of wistfulness about the "roads not taken." And for every item on my mental punch list as I take occupancy of this House of 2009 (how can that be?) there will be a stronger sense of reality and urgency to get on with the job, whether interior decoration or external landscaping!
The season for regrets -- examining and bringing reality to the mistakes, lost opportunities, poor decisions, and general oooops, whether of 2008 or the accumulations of a lifetime. To paraphrase one of the British poets, distance does not lend enchantment to this view! I'm grateful for the lesson learned from an acquaintance some years past, a psychotherapist whose work with "women of a certain age" was beginning to hit the best sellers list of the time. She said that the difference between guilt and regret is that regret indicates you've learned something and now know how to act/interact differently. Guilt means you intended to hurt/harm another or yourself and may continue to do so. And though I wish to keep the regrets to a minimum in this season, I would fervently wish to eliminate the times when "I'm sorry" is caused by guilt.
The season for resolutions (and a few promises!) -- determining the most relevant changes and being constant and steadfast in bringing them about is such a global resolution. Yet I do know that I can change only myself, even as I wish I could bring positive change into and for the lives of others. Creating those ripples of new horizons for the lives I touch is a big resolution for this coming year. I will continue to make all the little promises which can help that happen.
It's a major season for me, my brain, and my heart. As we began this journey nearly a year ago now -- who'd have thought it would look and be like this? -- I had no idea where we'd go, what we'd see, who we'd meet. It's been an absolutely incredible adventure -- a magical triumvirate of people, places, and events. I must say, I can hardly wait to see what 2009 will bring, what the season's musings will bring about. I do hope you'll join me in the discoveries!
The season for reflection -- pondering the year just past could consume another year! What an amazing year (actually, fantastic lifetime) this has been. Recent conversations have brought so many memories to the surface, have shaped so many unexpected hopes and wishes, and, as usual, have highlighted so many shortcomings. Seemingly random encounters open virtual storehouses of thoughts, each of which could lead to its own dissertation or, conversely, could hit an immediate stone wall. Most of those will join a growing "To Do" list of both concrete and abstract self assignments. And of course, there will be the perpetual sense of hopefulness -- this year I'll really get organized, this year I'll really do things differently, this year I'll really make a dent in those good intentions!
The season for gratitude -- creating a list of the gifts of life, every size from petite to XXXXXL and beyond, is an endless task in and of itself. Most conversations, thoughts, and encounters seem to either focus on or somehow touch a deep well of gratitude for all the marvelous gifts I've been given: my family, my friends, countless opportunities, new horizons, all the seemingly accidental encounters and even dumb luck which have moved me through a virtual dictionary of emotions. And for each of them I am a deeply grateful.
The season for renewal -- renovating and refurbishing the various compartments of my brain is a never ending task. This season brings new emphasis and concern to the work. For some unexplored reason the holiday season always tucks this two-sided coin in my mental stocking: Joy and delight at all the wonders and a bit of wistfulness about the "roads not taken." And for every item on my mental punch list as I take occupancy of this House of 2009 (how can that be?) there will be a stronger sense of reality and urgency to get on with the job, whether interior decoration or external landscaping!
The season for regrets -- examining and bringing reality to the mistakes, lost opportunities, poor decisions, and general oooops, whether of 2008 or the accumulations of a lifetime. To paraphrase one of the British poets, distance does not lend enchantment to this view! I'm grateful for the lesson learned from an acquaintance some years past, a psychotherapist whose work with "women of a certain age" was beginning to hit the best sellers list of the time. She said that the difference between guilt and regret is that regret indicates you've learned something and now know how to act/interact differently. Guilt means you intended to hurt/harm another or yourself and may continue to do so. And though I wish to keep the regrets to a minimum in this season, I would fervently wish to eliminate the times when "I'm sorry" is caused by guilt.
The season for resolutions (and a few promises!) -- determining the most relevant changes and being constant and steadfast in bringing them about is such a global resolution. Yet I do know that I can change only myself, even as I wish I could bring positive change into and for the lives of others. Creating those ripples of new horizons for the lives I touch is a big resolution for this coming year. I will continue to make all the little promises which can help that happen.
It's a major season for me, my brain, and my heart. As we began this journey nearly a year ago now -- who'd have thought it would look and be like this? -- I had no idea where we'd go, what we'd see, who we'd meet. It's been an absolutely incredible adventure -- a magical triumvirate of people, places, and events. I must say, I can hardly wait to see what 2009 will bring, what the season's musings will bring about. I do hope you'll join me in the discoveries!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Sundries
So many little things knit themselves together to make a good day, a satisfying week, or a weekend in which everything seems to go just right. After all these years, I'm beginning to learn that my most important job (in every situation) is to be ready. Then just "go with the flow". And these times are almost always unexpected. That's how things have been lately.
► How many years now have I been humming along with "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire"? As usual, Wikipedia gave me a longer answer than I needed, but it certainly added some sparkle to my internal music score. I did know it was written during WWII, 1944 to be precise, by Mel Torme, that man with a golden voice. I didn't know he discovered four lines written by Bob Well, the lyricist, sitting on the piano. Wells wasn't intending to write a song; he was trying to "stay cool by thinking cool" during a hot Arizona summer. Those four lines -- Chestnuts roasting, Jack Frost nipping, Yuletide carols, Folks dressed up like Eskimos -- became what is/was the most-performed Christmas song. And it took only 40 minutes. (Enough time left to enjoy a glass of iced tea!)
And now it isn't just words -- "roasting chestnuts" is a real experience for me. When Dasa and Thomas and I were waiting for a train in her village this past summer, she exclaimed about the dying chestnut trees which had always sheltered the little waiting area. Tree after tree was either dead or soon would be. That was, I believe, the first time I thought about chestnuts coming from an "ordinary" source, as pecans do in Oklahoma. This holiday season I've seen many little stands selling hot roasted chestnuts as I walk between trams and between classes, and it was such a nice connection between summer and winter. But there has always been a reason to keep going, or to put it differently, a reason not to stop. This past week curiosity and some spare time won out! I indicated to the young man tending the chestnuts and the fire that I would like some. Right away he reached for a bag and a long handled large spoon, opened the giant pot, and weighed out my 100 grams. And yes, they were hot! Within a few moments, however, I could begin the peeling process. Oh my goodness. They are good! Rather soft, somewhat dry and mealy, very satisfying. Since I was close to the company, I closed the bag, hugged it tight so it wouldn't cool, and took it to my student. We opened class enjoying warm chestnuts and hot green tea -- talking in English all the time. It was just the right touch on a really cold day. One of the best parts was his smile of surprise when I asked to learn about eating chestnuts!
► All week the temperatures have been hovering in the mid- to high-20s at night, low- to mid-30s during the day, usually accompanied by a noticeable and sometimes brisk breeze. I normally wait to stroll across the Charles Bridge until a more pleasant day. This trip couldn't wait -- and it was wonderful. One of my "favorite" friends here is a lovely young California woman, former teacher of children with special needs, one of those people whose quiet smile just lights up a room. Whenever she admired a pair of earrings I was wearing the answer would always be "I got them on the Charles Bridge years ago." And she would always reply, "I wish you'd take me sometime." Yesterday we made our trip -- and I certainly hope it isn't our only one. What a marvelous excursion. We were both looking for gifts, both suitably huddled in our scarves and gloves, and both in the mood to walk and talk, and stop and look, and go back to something else, then forward to something new. Even the frozen fingers and toes couldn't stop us. They did, however, make us linger in the best looking heated tourist shop after we reached the other side of the Bridge! The trip was successful in every way -- she found just the right gift for a birthday party she was attending that evening, I found something I never thought of as a gift for Thomas (I do hope he likes it -- it's not on his list any more than it was on mine!), and we really warmed up at a small cozy restaurant near the US Embassy that she remembered from a freezing day trip last year about this time!
► And I never would have predicted that my plans for this Sunday evening would include a "Service of Lessons and Carols" -- one of my longstanding favorites of this season -- at an Anglican church. So many marvelous moments have been spent watching the Service from Westminster Cathedral at midnight on Christmas Eve. Other memorable times have been enjoyed preparing for and participating in the Service myself. And now, here I am, partway around the world, a series of unexpected choices bringing me to that Service again, joined by friends from Scotland, Britain, South Africa, and the US, as well an yet unknown friends. (I always enjoy eliciting the difference between "strangers" and "foreigners" from my students.) I do hope they folks planning the service haven't decided it's time for all new carols. And as I listen and sing, I know the memories will be crowding my spirit. It's a good thing I don't need to read the words. I'll be spending the evening with so many people who have shared the Service with me in the past. And who knows how many others will join the crowd in the future.
Have you noticed how much time we spend worrying about, fretting over, and dreading difficult events and times? (The news in the US is doing much of that for us, although personal concern is certainly justified!) My wish for you in this holiday season is that you will anticipate, expect, and plan for joy and peace. Joy waiting to surprise you in each new moment of your days, and peace deep within you, knowing that the right things do happen at the right time. It is our perception and awareness which is limited. I'm learning. Fortunately the process is continuously reinforced! I hope you also are being surprised by joy.
► What a super Mikulas ((pronounced mick'-oo-lahsh) party last weekend. First, I feel so honored to be included in events such as this with great people, marvelous multi-ethnic food, and a general good time. The hostess was the neat young woman who was the former Assistant Director of Studies at StJ and has now returned to teaching. We are able to spend a few moments together each week in the reception area where we have classes at the same time at one of the StJ clients. I always look forward to those times together. Yes, the flat was small and packed wall to wall with people. But what fun! Getting there, being there, and getting home just before the tram schedule switched over to the night service -- all of it. Laughter piled upon laughter, new ideas and interesting perspectives continuously floating around in the swirl of conversation. What an evening!
►
► Fast forward to another, longer tram ride in the early afternoon. The view was unchanged from the previous several hours when I shut my eyes for a few moments, I guess just because it seemed like a nice idea. Now I know it was preparation for a major gift, because when I opened them I was in the middle of an incredible winter wonderland. In that area of the city the snow was wet and heavy, the bare branches had been dressed in white fleece at least three inches thick, the grassy areas between apartment buildings were under an untouched blanket of white. It was so dramatic that all I could do was gasp and stare. What a gift! As I descended -- very carefully -- from the tram, I was in the middle of brown slush and puddles. And even with that I couldn't take my eyes away from the incredible beauty around me. Wish you could have shared it with me.
► How many years now have I been humming along with "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire"? As usual, Wikipedia gave me a longer answer than I needed, but it certainly added some sparkle to my internal music score. I did know it was written during WWII, 1944 to be precise, by Mel Torme, that man with a golden voice. I didn't know he discovered four lines written by Bob Well, the lyricist, sitting on the piano. Wells wasn't intending to write a song; he was trying to "stay cool by thinking cool" during a hot Arizona summer. Those four lines -- Chestnuts roasting, Jack Frost nipping, Yuletide carols, Folks dressed up like Eskimos -- became what is/was the most-performed Christmas song. And it took only 40 minutes. (Enough time left to enjoy a glass of iced tea!)
And now it isn't just words -- "roasting chestnuts" is a real experience for me. When Dasa and Thomas and I were waiting for a train in her village this past summer, she exclaimed about the dying chestnut trees which had always sheltered the little waiting area. Tree after tree was either dead or soon would be. That was, I believe, the first time I thought about chestnuts coming from an "ordinary" source, as pecans do in Oklahoma. This holiday season I've seen many little stands selling hot roasted chestnuts as I walk between trams and between classes, and it was such a nice connection between summer and winter. But there has always been a reason to keep going, or to put it differently, a reason not to stop. This past week curiosity and some spare time won out! I indicated to the young man tending the chestnuts and the fire that I would like some. Right away he reached for a bag and a long handled large spoon, opened the giant pot, and weighed out my 100 grams. And yes, they were hot! Within a few moments, however, I could begin the peeling process. Oh my goodness. They are good! Rather soft, somewhat dry and mealy, very satisfying. Since I was close to the company, I closed the bag, hugged it tight so it wouldn't cool, and took it to my student. We opened class enjoying warm chestnuts and hot green tea -- talking in English all the time. It was just the right touch on a really cold day. One of the best parts was his smile of surprise when I asked to learn about eating chestnuts!
► All week the temperatures have been hovering in the mid- to high-20s at night, low- to mid-30s during the day, usually accompanied by a noticeable and sometimes brisk breeze. I normally wait to stroll across the Charles Bridge until a more pleasant day. This trip couldn't wait -- and it was wonderful. One of my "favorite" friends here is a lovely young California woman, former teacher of children with special needs, one of those people whose quiet smile just lights up a room. Whenever she admired a pair of earrings I was wearing the answer would always be "I got them on the Charles Bridge years ago." And she would always reply, "I wish you'd take me sometime." Yesterday we made our trip -- and I certainly hope it isn't our only one. What a marvelous excursion. We were both looking for gifts, both suitably huddled in our scarves and gloves, and both in the mood to walk and talk, and stop and look, and go back to something else, then forward to something new. Even the frozen fingers and toes couldn't stop us. They did, however, make us linger in the best looking heated tourist shop after we reached the other side of the Bridge! The trip was successful in every way -- she found just the right gift for a birthday party she was attending that evening, I found something I never thought of as a gift for Thomas (I do hope he likes it -- it's not on his list any more than it was on mine!), and we really warmed up at a small cozy restaurant near the US Embassy that she remembered from a freezing day trip last year about this time!
► And I never would have predicted that my plans for this Sunday evening would include a "Service of Lessons and Carols" -- one of my longstanding favorites of this season -- at an Anglican church. So many marvelous moments have been spent watching the Service from Westminster Cathedral at midnight on Christmas Eve. Other memorable times have been enjoyed preparing for and participating in the Service myself. And now, here I am, partway around the world, a series of unexpected choices bringing me to that Service again, joined by friends from Scotland, Britain, South Africa, and the US, as well an yet unknown friends. (I always enjoy eliciting the difference between "strangers" and "foreigners" from my students.) I do hope they folks planning the service haven't decided it's time for all new carols. And as I listen and sing, I know the memories will be crowding my spirit. It's a good thing I don't need to read the words. I'll be spending the evening with so many people who have shared the Service with me in the past. And who knows how many others will join the crowd in the future.
Have you noticed how much time we spend worrying about, fretting over, and dreading difficult events and times? (The news in the US is doing much of that for us, although personal concern is certainly justified!) My wish for you in this holiday season is that you will anticipate, expect, and plan for joy and peace. Joy waiting to surprise you in each new moment of your days, and peace deep within you, knowing that the right things do happen at the right time. It is our perception and awareness which is limited. I'm learning. Fortunately the process is continuously reinforced! I hope you also are being surprised by joy.
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