Christmas cheer

My dear daughter smiles
Three pigeons on snowy roof
Christmas fades away.

(This post is part of my "Growing Up & Growing Old" project.)

Turning the tables

In the 70s, the Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club lived on pretense. The management and the members believed they were a cut above the riffraff. They also had a good restaurant that served lunches during the week. The other more humble, more laisse faire yacht clubs only served food out of vending machines.
 
My father, then president of a telecommunication company, was invited to a lunch at the Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club. He was invited by a manager of a competing company. She was one of the only female mangers in the field at that time. She had an old fashion name, Mildred. Yet, she was bigger than life… the puffed-up hair, the dangling clanging jewelry, and always wearing a power suit of glorious colours and large shoulder pads.
 
My father in contrast enjoyed wearing comfortable pants, a Jack shirt, and sandals. Even in winter.
 
He was admittedly not looking forward eating at the Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club, but he was, after all, Mildred’s guest.
 
As they arrived, my father noticed the nose of the maître de ruffling. “We do not allow our gentlemen guests to dine here without a jacket”, he said condescendingly. My father looked at him in disbelief. The maître de then used his two fingers to take out a jacket of sorts from a back cupboard to highlight his point. It was obvious at first glance the jacket was far too small for my father’s build.
 
My father turns to Mildred, a colleague he does not know so well, and asks, “Would you be so kind and lend me your jacket?” Mildred’s eyes sparkle. “Do you want me to remove the butterfly broach?” No no, he insists, that’s fine.

(This post is part of my "Growing Up & Growing Old" project.)   

For Claudia (RIP)

Our first White Christmas
With family and dear friends
Lost friend though not here.

(This post is part of my "Growing Up & Growing Old" project.)

Photo by Filip Bunkens on Unsplash

Winter solstice

Grey skies with dark clouds
Sigh, daylight never comes
Warm quilt on my knees.

Photo by Damian McCoig on Unsplash

Vimeo Staff Picks

Looking for inspiration? Do you want to tip your toes briefly in a pool of culturally interesting films. There is the wonder of Vimeo. Try skipping through their Staff Picks.

 
I tripped over “Shots in the Dark” with David Godlis. An excellent multimedia film focusing on one bar at one point in time. It was the moment in his young adulthood and my youth. 

Food for thought

Love this video, Day In The Life Of A Michelin Star Chef. Watch how Chef Jane of Jeju Noodle Bar in New York spends her days. She radiates such calm, intensity, and grace. A real treat.

To the dancer in you

Here are three K-pop songs that have given me much much joy. Whenever I need a pick-me-up, they indubitably raise my spirits. I find it fascinating how K-pop artists can sing and dance beautifully and how much they are involved in their art. The more popular artists often write or produce their music. 

The first treat is Move from Taemin (my all-time favorite of K-pop artist). The music video is a piece of art. A masterpiece. They published three music videos simultaneously, each focusing on another aspect of the song. The third one features the Japanese choreographer of the song, Koharu Sugawara, dancing along with Taemin. Brilliant. 

For a second treat, please watch the song Naughty, performed by Irene and Seulgi. Throughout the song, they magnificently use the “tutting” dance style. If you want to concentrate only on the dancing, here you can see them dancing the choreography in a dance studio. 

Finally, one of my favourite music videos last year was 'ON' Kinetic Manifesto by BTS. Not only are the staging and performance exceptional but the choreography is done by Sienna Lalau, a 19-year-old Hawaiian Samoan woman. You can spot her in this dance performance at the beginning. She is the one with purple hair in the center of the drummers/dancers.

(This post is part of my "Growing Up & Growing Old" project.)

x

The best idea I ever had

The best idea I ever had popped up in my head many many years ago. It was on a Saturday afternoon when I was 10 years old and playing with my best friend, Arlene. My father had brought the two of us to see our new house in Baie d'Urfe in Montreal. 

We ran around the empty rooms. which echoed our giggling excitement. To our amazement, we discovered the house had a laundry shoot. A modern wonder! From the top floor down into the basement there was a metal shaft to throw dirty laundry down.

While my father was off somewhere taking measurements of the rooms, Arlene and I were left to play on our own. We were fascinated with the laundry shoot. We'd throw our winter jackets down from the top floor, run downstairs, pick them up in the basement, run upstairs and start all over again.

Eventually, I wondered whether it wouldn't be more fun to go down the shoot ourselves. Like the tv series "the flying nun". After some planning, I decided to leave our jackets at the bottom of the shoot to cushion our fall. I thought it would be best to go head first so we could see where we were going. 

As I was holding Arlene by her dangling knees, and asking her if she was ready, my father entered the room. I heard a deep intake of breath in the stillness. He spoke ever so quietly and said to me, "Do Not Move." 

(This post is part of my "Growing Up & Growing Old" project.)  

The days are short and dark

Advent's candles lit
The wreath with its berries shines
Come darkness what may.

Photo by Laura Nyhuis on Unsplash