It's winter now, and I've migrated through to the East coast of N. America via Cameroon, Central Africa. The views have been stunning, my senses invigorated! And now the return to familiar trees has made a bird like me to feel that I have a home. I've been preening flight-worn feathers and taking in the view.
Then unexpectedly this week, a call came to take wing again, this time to Haiti, wondering was I available to join the flocking there? and my adventure feathers fluttered at the chance to take flight...
But deep within, instinct knew that it's not the season for me to fly. My flight pattern has landed in these trees, in woods I know well and woods that know me.
There are times to flit and fly. And believe me, I thrill at wind under my wings. And taking flight is my first response. But in the favor of wisdom, I choose now to perch, ...for I have reasons to sing.
Today, I picked out a little stream-side perch and I plan to chirrup and celebrate there like the British bird that so moved me 7 months ago. Already my brother and his nuthatch flew by to sing me a tune!
So sing I will! on behalf of those flying, along with those who are suffering, for the joy set before us, for the gifts along the journey. Sing!
wrensong
here's one I saw:
a tiniest bird, not but 2 inches from beak to tail and perched a meter from where I was passing, was caroling with all its soul. I stopped, awed into silence. This fruffy little tuft of a guy sang and chirruped like a lark or a wren and s/he put out sound that would have carried to the back of a large auditorium. It was utterly glorious.
a tiniest bird, not but 2 inches from beak to tail and perched a meter from where I was passing, was caroling with all its soul. I stopped, awed into silence. This fruffy little tuft of a guy sang and chirruped like a lark or a wren and s/he put out sound that would have carried to the back of a large auditorium. It was utterly glorious.
Volume
6 litres of saliva a day
is approximately what your salivary glands produce.
Sometimes it seems the same volume of thoughts flood my brain or even 6 litres of words in so many conversations a day
and I lay on my bed, spent, spinning.
I am learning, as I walk along the sidewalk pavers and under trees spilling from fenced front English gardens, to voluntarily relax my involuntarily tensed mental muscles that are fervently driven to 'make sense' of the world..to say,
hey,
let's not wind up tight trying to work out imponderables, like wringing out a towel that's still wet but just can't be wrung any tighter- it's no help!
let's gawk a little longer at birds. let me put my whole self into this moment of gratefulness- not just a mental calculation of thanks or compartmentalized pleasure- but all. here. now. that's what this heart was made for.
In the past 11 months, I must say, a lot of water has spilled over the dam and I've not fully realized or absorbed the experience yet. This forward rushing current- the brain wrung tight over language acquisition, cultural bridging, relationships everywhere- has me still in that same mode: looking forward, quickly back and then to the action-filled present.
But, I have the space in my life for this lesson now. This time will surely pass into another season less spacious. So I welcome this walking lesson. The tilt-back of stance, the round-me gaze, my ear cocked...I hope with all my heart the lesson sticks.
I think for me, this may be part of the 'renewing of your minds' that Paul urged us followers to be open to?
is approximately what your salivary glands produce.
Sometimes it seems the same volume of thoughts flood my brain or even 6 litres of words in so many conversations a day
and I lay on my bed, spent, spinning.
I am learning, as I walk along the sidewalk pavers and under trees spilling from fenced front English gardens, to voluntarily relax my involuntarily tensed mental muscles that are fervently driven to 'make sense' of the world..to say,
hey,
let's not wind up tight trying to work out imponderables, like wringing out a towel that's still wet but just can't be wrung any tighter- it's no help!
let's gawk a little longer at birds. let me put my whole self into this moment of gratefulness- not just a mental calculation of thanks or compartmentalized pleasure- but all. here. now. that's what this heart was made for.
In the past 11 months, I must say, a lot of water has spilled over the dam and I've not fully realized or absorbed the experience yet. This forward rushing current- the brain wrung tight over language acquisition, cultural bridging, relationships everywhere- has me still in that same mode: looking forward, quickly back and then to the action-filled present.
But, I have the space in my life for this lesson now. This time will surely pass into another season less spacious. So I welcome this walking lesson. The tilt-back of stance, the round-me gaze, my ear cocked...I hope with all my heart the lesson sticks.
I think for me, this may be part of the 'renewing of your minds' that Paul urged us followers to be open to?
twins
The palate of variety , in a city like London, is almost endless...but the other day, my twin sat down beside me on the bus. And in my peripheral vision, I watched her act out...me!
Presumably my age, she got on the bus, took to the upper level and sat in the front seat, even if it meant doubling up with someone. She settled in and thought about her day as we made the first few stops, then pulled out a book- parallel texts in French and English (something I also have out of the library). She opened to where she thought she'd left off and read a bit, with occasional looks out our front seat panoramic window, interested in the life on the street. It wasn't long however until she became preoccupied with the thoughts piling to the front of her morning brain that her gaze out the window became persistant and the book lay open and forgotten in her lap. I smiled. Her stop came, she closed the book, replaced it in her bag and set off for the day.
I had thought my twin was in Virginia. In fact [she] sat right down beside me!
Presumably my age, she got on the bus, took to the upper level and sat in the front seat, even if it meant doubling up with someone. She settled in and thought about her day as we made the first few stops, then pulled out a book- parallel texts in French and English (something I also have out of the library). She opened to where she thought she'd left off and read a bit, with occasional looks out our front seat panoramic window, interested in the life on the street. It wasn't long however until she became preoccupied with the thoughts piling to the front of her morning brain that her gaze out the window became persistant and the book lay open and forgotten in her lap. I smiled. Her stop came, she closed the book, replaced it in her bag and set off for the day.
I had thought my twin was in Virginia. In fact [she] sat right down beside me!
recent circles
WORLD
Around the circle of volunteers-in-training we were originally from Hungry, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Ethiopia, USAmerica, Japan, England, DRCongo, Ghana, Afghanistan, Russia.
FRENCH/ WORLD
In French class, where I am easily the junior by 25 years, I enjoy the mix of flavors from England, Korea, Ireland, Switzerland, Austria, Israel, France.
ITALIAN
I recently spent lots of time with a bunch of Italians with my Italian/Cape Verdian friend with whom I speak French. It's not that hard to get the gist of the main topic of conversation, but when went to open my mouth, I wasn't sure whom to address in which language since some also spoke Spanish and English.How confusing! I am not at all nimble in switching between languages.
SLICE OF LIFE
Once a week I walk my neighbor girl to school. It's a brief immersion into the responsibility of parenting and school attendance and little friends and a playground full of all walks of life.
Around the circle of volunteers-in-training we were originally from Hungry, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Ethiopia, USAmerica, Japan, England, DRCongo, Ghana, Afghanistan, Russia.
FRENCH/ WORLD
In French class, where I am easily the junior by 25 years, I enjoy the mix of flavors from England, Korea, Ireland, Switzerland, Austria, Israel, France.
ITALIAN
I recently spent lots of time with a bunch of Italians with my Italian/Cape Verdian friend with whom I speak French. It's not that hard to get the gist of the main topic of conversation, but when went to open my mouth, I wasn't sure whom to address in which language since some also spoke Spanish and English.How confusing! I am not at all nimble in switching between languages.
SLICE OF LIFE
Once a week I walk my neighbor girl to school. It's a brief immersion into the responsibility of parenting and school attendance and little friends and a playground full of all walks of life.
Conversions
And all these years, my Mum told me "A pint's a pound, the world around."
I'm thinking of asking bartender if he's mistaken.
That's not the only wacky conversion around here.
Go to the grocery and the apple bin will tell you it's 1 pound per kilo. Up until now I thought it was 2.2.
Try this list of conversions:
Bri-ish = United Statesian
yard = yard
garden = yard
coffee = 11am
hot drink from roasted beans = coffee
tea = 4pm
a hot drink from leaves = tea
trousers = pants
pants = underwear
half five = 5:30 o'clock
2.5 = half five
ring me = call me
give way = make way
have a look = take a look
mind your head = watch your head
performed at football games = cheers
cheers! = "see ya" or "Thanks for that" or "take care" or "excuse me, thanks"
Isn't language fun?
(and a Brit would say "Language is so fun isn't it.")
Tips on how to be well rested
1) Rest head on pillow to facilitate better concentration for deciding the hour at which the alarm should be set. Wake up refreshed!
2) Carefully plan and adjust alarm to a 'disciplined' (ungodly) hour to arise in the morrow. Happen to not turn alarm On. Bon nuit!
Testimonials:
" I love waking up with the day instead of my bleeping $%"£$%" - Lazy in London
" When I opened my eyes and my alarm hadn't yet gone off, I thought, wow! I must have slept really well!" - Starry-eyed Student
"I just wanted to thank you for these excellent tips and strategies. I have been sleeping so well ever since!" -Happy in Highgate
2) Carefully plan and adjust alarm to a 'disciplined' (ungodly) hour to arise in the morrow. Happen to not turn alarm On. Bon nuit!
Testimonials:
" I love waking up with the day instead of my bleeping $%"£$%" - Lazy in London
" When I opened my eyes and my alarm hadn't yet gone off, I thought, wow! I must have slept really well!" - Starry-eyed Student
"I just wanted to thank you for these excellent tips and strategies. I have been sleeping so well ever since!" -Happy in Highgate
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