My Face

My Face
I see the shadows and the dark circles; the craters and the oozing sores. And as I slowly turn, here and there, I see spots of light, flecks, actually.
I have six and a half billion cells living on my face. Twenty-four thousand of my not-yet-matured cells die… every single day. Half, or over three billion subsist. No wonder I am not a pretty sight. And nearly all of my six and a half billion cells have a beef against other cells. What a mess…
How many can actually think? Or do think? Or live positively? Not many, but those are the flecks of light I see from far away.
I come closer, much closer. The closer I get, the uglier my face is. I am in despair, wanting to be beautiful and inviting, but no matter how much make-up I slather on, no matter how much rouge I cover my face with, no matter how many “surgeons” I employ, the ugliness of myself shines through.
What can I do? Scrape the ugliness off my face, leaving only the flecks of light? How beautiful would I be! But I have neither the power nor the stomach for it. Anyway, I have this very stupid belief that there has to be some fleck of light in every one of those cells. How do I activate that light? How do I make every one of them shine? I would love to cast a spell; a spell so powerful it deletes memory and inserts positivity. A spell so profound, it turns the nature of my cells away from greed, destruction and hate. Away from the hunger for power and away from being de-sensitized; away from fear of differences and towards curiosity.
Ahh, but I am a dreamer… I have no spell. The only spell that could (and probably will) work, is a deep-cell peel, using the most horrendous chemicals; chemicals used by ugly and negative cells to cause more boils, more oozing sores until my face can stand it no longer and I will be defaced.
And then, from far away, very high up above, I will see the new skin: yet unblemished, clear with promise and I will hope that my new cells will carry the DNA of memory of what brought them to light. And maybe, a big maybe, they will know how to shine.

Human kind

He sits there on the day and on the night, his belly resting on his spreading thighs and I wave just to give him some humanity. And I ask myself is he there or where are the places he could be? And the questions walk along with me while I see other people and things and comprehend them.
I walk down the path and trip a little on the slant while thinking how it is we come to terms with our sitting and bellies and what can we do? We can weed the patch around us and plant flowers or herbs and give them to passers-by with a smile and then the place itself is different. Do we have the energy for that? And if we push ourselves the first time, the second time pushes us and the third someone approaches with tomato seeds and we talk. And the times after that someone brings a book and we read and someone else brings a photograph and tells its story and then we share the chair and the belly jiggles in human delight.

Anti (although J says no)

J (the guy who shares my cooking), says I should never blog about things that upset me or worry me: who would want to read about that? The thing is, what upsets me and worries me is a little word; a small, four letter word: anti. Although comprised of only 15.4% of the entire alphabet, it resounds, booms, and screams from every and any media. It is the staple word and thought of most of the world's population. (From where do I get that fact? From reading newspapers, surfing the Internet and watching news and other delightful commentaries on TV).
Yes, I know I can watch reruns of All in the Family or read Little Woman. What I do not know, is where all this anti comes from? So much of it! Just imagine: if you are white, a woman, Jewish and living in Israel, you have four antis; if you are black, American, a woman, and you are a Christian, you have four antis. If you are a male Moslem, born in Turkey and working in Germany, you have four antis. If you are an atheist, a woman, a lesbian, born in Belfast, living in the Arab Emirates, we arrive at five antis.
Aren't we lucky? The way we are going, not only will we never run out of antis, we may even arrive at a nine or ten point anti!

Does it bother me?

Hate mongers, power seekers, racists: do they bother me? Of course they do! Do I do anything about it? Well, you see... I'm so busy right now... trying to keep my head above water... work projects, family, finances... Maybe when I have some time...
Apparently, all the negativity does not bother me ENOUGH to do something.
I went for a walk this morning, and all I could think of was what a woosie I am; doing nothing!
Decision: I WILL do! But what? Write letters to newspapers? Educate my grandchildren against all of the above? Done that... I hope they can cope in this world without joining the hate brigade.
Any suggestions? Anything at all? I am open to even the tiniest way to change our world to a more positive place.

Time

Yesterday was Sunday... I'm sure of it! Today is THURSDAY? How does this happen? "Time flies, on the wings of time..." Henry Van Dyke said
"Time is:
Too slow for those who wait,
Too swift for those who fear,
Too long for those who grieve,
Too short for those who rejoice;
But for those who love,
Time is not."
Just to reassure myself, I sat and watched the clock for 60 seconds. It took an inordinate amount of time. I feel much better now.

Sleep deprivation and Iran

Sleep deprivation... ha! New Year's resolution to get quality sleep... yep, sure, done that!
One son plus wife in China... don't worry about flight security, plunging temperatures and everything in-between. One grandson falling and hitting his head (did you hear the plonk?); no worry, he'll be fine. One father-in-law critically ill... nothing to be done... don't worry. No water supply to house for two days (fixing of pipes): use more perfume and don't pee.
Iran laughing maniacally at the world... Hezbollah growing more popular every day... Al Qaeda plotting in its underground world of hate and more hate... the Israeli-Palestinian "peace" talks stalled... USA not coming out of its jobless mode fast enough... BUT
To hell with the pipes and the Hezbollah! I do what I can, with what I have, to make a small, positive difference every day. Most people do. Many others (mentioned above) do what they can to make a negative difference... let us try to outnumber them... that is the only weapon we have.

THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS: NYTIMES: OBAMA MORTGAGE PROGRAM A MISERABLE FAILURE

THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS: NYTIMES: OBAMA MORTGAGE PROGRAM A MISERABLE FAILURE

What is Life?

Is it a time allotment given to us to fill? How much of this time allotment do we use trying to figure out what it is? The answer is: it just is. We try to "find ourselves" when we already ARE; we fill it with questions and analysis, instead of LIVING it.
As we approach the upper edge of our time allotment, with nearly no time left, we throw our questions and analysis in the garbage and we LIVE. Why not do this when our time allotment has lots and lots left? Because we are "taught" to behave in certain ways; we are taught that there are expectations to be filled; we are taught that LIFE has demands and rules. Does it? Does LIFE have demands and rules? The only demands and rules I can agree to are simplified in the Ten Commandments, and I am not a religious person. Or, my mother's favorite saying: "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
Other than that, breathe freely, enjoy whatever gives you pleasure, fill your time with appreciation of everything that inspires awe, do what makes you feel good about yourself.
No matter how long your individual time allotment is, it is always too short, so USE it; do not abuse it.

Guiding Social Behaviors

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Guiding Social Behaviors

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Social Interaction

Are parents responsible for the behavior of their grown children?
You are invited to friends for dinner. A grown son or daughter of the hosts is at the table. He/she speaks in strident, dismissive and belligerent tones. The hosts pander to the son/daughter, while you feel exceedingly uncomfortable. You try a change of subject, hoping the offspring will not enter the conversation, but he/she continues the attack mode.
What are the social expectations of a) the hosts and b) the guests in such a situation? I would love to hear your thoughts on this.
At Slideshare, I found (and agree with) the following information: www.slideshare.net/.../guiding-social-behaviors - United States.

2010: It's raining technology!

Who can keep up with the technologies we already have, and those which will imminently rain down on us: personal DNA to protect our writing; A dip in nanotube ink turns ordinary office paper into a high-energy electrode; Advances in antiaging drugs, acoustic brain surgery, flu vaccines--and the secret to IQ. www.technologyreview.com
Just a nano-drop in the inventor's bucket... here comes the deluge! Not only do I find it nearly impossible to keep up from an information standpoint, I cannot imagine being able to understand how many of these new technologies work. But then, I do not understand how my Alpha MITO works or my iPhone, but I do enjoy them tremendously.

New Year: why so much excitement?

Happy New Year! Parties, e-cards, toasts... why all the excitement? It is all encompassed by the word "new." We love "new." We can forget about the "old" and, for a moment, envision "better." Why is a new day, a new month not as exciting? Imagine awakening to a world that appreciates EVERY NEW DAY! Happy New Day... 24 hours of NEW breath, new opportunities, new thinking, new energy. An entire day belonging to each individual, allowing us to make the most of it if we so wish. We can choose to make it the best day ever... Not HUGE choices like at New Year, but tiny little ones: I can smile at strangers, I can think new and different thoughts and explore them, I can put positive effort in to my work, I can appreciate the fact that I breathe freely, I can listen to new music, I can help someone just for the fun of it, I can try to see people I know from different angles and maybe find more attributes in them to make me feel good... Every single day I have the power to fashion the day as I will. Tomorrow is promised to no one, but TODAY is yours! Make it the BEST... and if you are given yet another day tomorrow, make it even better.
Here is wishing you all a wonderful day and a wonderful 2010.

Anti

While writing "An Apricot Tree in Africa," I thought I was writing a coming-of-age narrative. A reader pointed out that it was a book fighting for human rights. Thinking about this statement, I have to concede that there is a lot of truth to it. My brain appears to be wired in such a way, that it is difficult for me to comprehend any "anti."
Of course I feel revulsion for all perpetrators of violence against blameless humans, but the hatred for "the other," the blind following of "statements of fact," (the Jews killed Jesus) or following delusional or political or power-hungry people, I cannot come to terms with.
In the South Africa I grew up in, Africans were considered stupid and lazy, yet they were trusted with bringing up the white children, keeping the houses of the whites clean and shining, cooking, laundry and all and any tasks that came to mind. The Africans were not allowed to sit on a chair in the houses of the white people; they sat on the floor.
The Jews were not allowed to join golf clubs. The "colored" people had their own transport, as they were forbidden to ride on buses meant for the white population. If people find all these "laws" acceptable, I remain the odd man out.

I have been running around the internet and I am exhausted! I have been visiting blogs of authors, book marketing blogs, and any blog to do with writing... Enough! I need a holiday. I came across an "unrelated to literature and its myriad convolutions" blog, which I thought was eye-opening, and wanted to share with you:
www.haifadiarist.blogspot.com.

My novel is now in the hands of an editor and instead of agonizing over how much of it is going to be left intact, I have decided to plot the next one. This is great fun! Living in one's imagination and creating a plot and characters allows me to forget the laundry (which is now living a life of its own), forget to eat (which in my case is positive), and to forget... oh shucks! Yeah, I'd better get going on the NB part of my to-do list!

Have you read the book The Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell? He also wrote The Tipping Point and Blink. In The Outliers, Gladwell provides a view of successful people from such a surprising angle, that I was totally immersed in his point-by-point explanation. He makes a lot of sense, and I especially found the "Matthew Effect"(For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance. But from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath." - Matthew 25:29) to be a brilliant line of thought.
Gladwell goes on to show that really successful people have around 10,000 hours of hard work or practice at what they do, before becoming "known". If we take only the "Matthew Effect" and the "Ten Thousand Hour Rule" (from the many subjects covered in The Outliers), we see that if we recognize opportunity and then put in the time and effort, we should succeed at what we do.
How do these actions play out in our society of instant gratification? They do not. There are no short cuts; there are no "instant" riches and awards.
We should instill these habits in our children and realize that their futures are at stake.

I bought something in Prague: a pillow! The best pillow I have ever slept on was waiting for me on my bed at the hotel. This is the pillow I would imagine the angels in heaven sleeping on, and now I own one!
Besides magical pillows, Prague envelopes you with centuries of thought, music and physical beauty. Tourists from everywhere and anywhere tread carefully, somehow realizing that history is present in every step. Tourists seem quieter than most other places (except for the Louvre), and Prague is clean...! Thousands of people, day in day out, and the city is clean.
Every city has its own aura: New York is busy, Paris is elegant, Amsterdam is a city of intrigue, London is surprising, Cape Town is breathtaking. Prague is compact and ethereal and quiet and stately and all of this resonates in the eyes of her beholders.
Now we are back home, trying to hold on to that "Prague" feeling, while mopping up the remains of a burst water tank and taking the carpets out to dry and welcoming the plumber with sheepish grins.
So, with a new pillow waiting, I bid you goodnight and good dreams.

Prague... city of inner quiet, cadence of centuries, held captive for the eyes of tourists from everywhere and anywhere, to admire a culture that comes from history books yet holds firm and beautiful today.
Why do we travel when we can see nearly every place in the world on television? Why do we awake at crazy hours and sit in airplanes squashed and uncomfortable and pay hard-earned money to physically be in different places? Look into the hundreds of faces walking the streets of Prague: Korean, Italian, Chinese, Dutch, Russian... they all have the same expression of calm and enjoyment. Forgotten for the moment are the worries of life; the incredible pace of our world today is put aside for a short while to breathe different times and to think of other cultures. It is more than being on vacation; it is belonging to a cleaner spirit, connecting to an ancient past that continues quietly in our frenetic world. It allows us to connect to ourselves; to think important thoughts.
That is what Prague did for me.

Going to Prague until Monday, so see you all when I get back.

Many years ago, in the land of the "I-know-everything" young adult years, I had a big mouth. I verbally stood up for the downtrodden and the exploited, and had an opinion (which had to be heard), on everything. I "knew" so much! Today, I know a little more, but have concluded that less use of my mouth can have better results. More use of the thinking part of my brain has many benefits to myself as well as to those around me. I'm sure you learned this at a much earlier age. But I am slow; very slow.
Now I actually think before I comment, criticize and give advice. The strange outcome of thinking before I open my (big) mouth, is that I am perceived as being more intelligent. I have not capitulated; I have not become a "neuter", nor a wishy-washy person: I still call it as I see it. I just wait for the right time, use a different tone and choose my words carefully.
My mom's favorite saying was "do unto others as you would have them do unto you". Keeping that in mind makes life smile.

What a day to be alive! The day has barely had time to wink at me, and already I have received so many gifts, beautifully wrapped! First gift is that I woke up - incredible, and thanks for that! Second gift is the garden in its green and pink and purple glory. Third gift is that my frozen shoulder is hurting less. Fourth gift is all the promises of an entire day; so exciting, whatever I want to make of it is entirely up to me. Fifth gift is planning who to give attention to; thinking how I can make my favorite people laugh. That one is a HUGE gift.
As I said (call me soppy, not-connected, blind, whatever), a wonderful day of opportunities dependent only on my mind-set. Yes, the world is in a sorry state; yes, people are killing one another everywhere for no reason or for stupid (in my opinion) reasons and millions are starving. What can I do about this? Make this a day to be remembered for as many people as I can.