Walking along the canal early this morning, the dark snow clouds above lend a dramatic atmosphere to the city’s silhouette. I watched a flock of ducks float upon the dirty waters amongst the winter debris, and wondered about spring.
I go to the train station to buy some tickets for two up-and-coming trips to Berlin. Late Friday afternoon. Crowded. One DB employee is trying to issue an old woman her tickets for her grandson’s visit over Christmas. She insists on paying for him to come up to visit her, while his parents insist on paying for the return trip. The old woman knows her grandson had a DB card (discount card), but she doesn’t know if the discount is 25% or 50%.
The DB employee patiently suggests that the woman should find out whether it is 25% or 50% before purchasing the ticket. The woman is obviously distraught at the prospect of having to come back again.
The DB employee sees the old woman’s disappointment and offers to let her call her daughter. She asks the woman for the telephone number. She doesn’t remember. Then... how about the name and address? The old woman says “Meyer” (like Smith) and the city, but she doesn’t know the street name. The DB employee checks an online telephone book on her computer for the name. She blinks twice. Then puts on a brave face, “Oh, there are a lot of Meyers in Fulda. Why don’t we start at the top. Does xxxx Ave. sound familiar?”
They were still at it, after I purchased my ticket and I am leaving. I’m a real Scrooge when it comes to Christmas. I’m glad the DB employee is not.
Yes, I know, another TED Talk. Your asking whether I haven’t linked often enough for all of you to get the hint about subscribing to the site. I probably have. Still, I’ll do it once more.
This time it is John Francis: I walk the Earth talk, whose argument thread is,
“If we are the environment, then all we need to do is look around us and see how we treat ourselves and how we treat each other (to know how we treat the environment).”
Quietly and with a endearing sense of self-deprecation, he tells a story that includes 17 years of living in silence and not riding in motorised vehicles on the way to become an environmental activist and UN Ambassador.
I tried to tell my walking friend about Mr. Francis last night. Unfortunately, I created the impression that he was a crazy person. We had a laugh over this. Yet, it is true that Mr. Francis’ tale is difficult to grasp. Listening to his story though, made me realise how wrong it is to think the solution to our over-spending of our precious ecological resources is a difficult matter. Mr. Francis tells us different. He says it is less rocket science and more equal doses of self-reflection, common sense and a willingness to step in changed direction.
I just finished reading my fifth murder mystery this week. A crazy, but fun thing to do. Murder mysteries are my drug of choice when it comes to escapism. When I go on such a gluttonous bout of reading, it is usually my body and mind’s way of saying “time out”.
These last months, since February, have been too busy and I’m in need of time to waste time. I’m sure you have all been in such a situation. So, I’m off to read another mystery, and I just might throw in a fantasy or two, before I get back to writing stories and finishing off various creative projects that have been bubbling on the back burner since last year.
One of the collages I made this afternoon. It's been glutton consumption of NPR podcasts. So many excellent, intelligent, entertaining ideas... a fine way to get lost in time.
We woke up this morning to a sunny, warm, no, hot day. Hallelujah. It was just a joy to walk around with not a care in the world.
The market ladies were all smiles and t-shirts. Others were dancing at the Huex street festival. There were people swimming in the city pond. The children started their six-week summer holiday today. Each in their own way, just slowed down and choreographed their activities according to their natural inclining. It doesn’t really matter what you do to celebrate, does it?
Elizabeth of the Woolgathering blog has been doing some lovely sketches during her family’s vacation on the east coast (I’m just guessing about the east part) of the States. For those of you still working and ignoring the call of leisure summer days, take a look at her drawings and maybe you’ll want to put down your pen, or turn off your computer, and walk out the door and enjoy some the warm breeze on your skin.
