Life isn’t always easy. That’s why, when it is, I try to drink it all up without asking too many questions.
I like how taking random pictures gets me to stop and appreciate the beauty and fun of any particular moment. because even on a tough day, I might happen to see a doll riding a brass horse and reading the headlines of the local papers, and it might make me smile.
this past week was sort of stressful for me, and instead of wishing things were somehow different I like looking back and thinking about the little things that I enjoyed.
discovering recently that the juiciest dumplings I’ve ever tasted can be found at a Korean restaurant minutes from my home.
finally cashing in our 2 for 1 coupon at the aquarium on a date with marcel.
remembering the days when I had access to these seats.
jellyfish.
they’re so amazing.
breaking all the rules. don’t tell anyone.
biking around the park. and running into this.
apple pie with cheddar. milkshakes that come in big metal cups.
sitting on the grass and watching spandy andy. he’s becoming kind of a big deal.
cracking up with asia.
nutella. with everything. pineapple. chocolate cake. toast. bananas. crepes. spoon. finger. just make it happen.
summer. its being kind of a tease these days. which kind of makes it all the more exciting.
and discovering this little video, full of random clips. I like how it reminds me that life, in all its everyday randomness and sometimes challenging ups and downs, is pretty amazing. right here and right now.
This poster kinda speaks to me. To ‘love all the people’, ‘barter and swap’, ‘champion the underdog’ and ‘bake cake’ are little reminders I’m happy to stand behind.
We build relationships with the people in our lives – friends, family, lovers – sort of in the same way we play a game of Jenga, only often backwards. If each block were to represent an individual we are in some way acquainted with, the people we are closer to are closer to the base. Closer to the heart, and more fundamental to our stability. Our foundation, really.
As we become closer to someone, understand them better, create a space for them closer to our hearts, their block is moved closer to the bottom. We become stronger, more whole.
Similarly, when you lose a friend or loved one, it’s like a block is pulled from it’s respective position, with the corresponding effects on our personal structure depending on the logical factors – their previous position, whether the shift was slow and careful or abrupt and aggressive, how stable the network was beforehand.
Last night I sat waiting, somewhere vaguely after midnight and before daylight, achieving minimal success in my personal battle to fight back tears. My boyfriend’s block – the block belonging to the lovely, and non-Canadian passport holding young man who had just taken me on a trip to a surprise destination (Portland!) – had been quit aggressively shaken by a man with a numbered badge and big words. Words that made me quite anxious indeed.
Luckily, they were words that, after much unpleasant waiting, the filing of intimidating reports, turned out to be unfounded. I guess some people are just fond of big words.
We were sent on our way. And I realized how close to my foundation this man who was two years ago not even part of my structure had become. I realized the instability – potential collapse – that would come were his block to be abruptly and tactlessly pulled from the position it had acquired. I thought about the people I love, and how hard it would be to lose any of them.
As we drove through my sleeping hometown I decided that in 2010 I would take more time to really love everyone, and everything, that I love. The people, the food, the places, the things like swimming and biking, baking, reading, gallery going… and so on. I want to make sure to take the time to appreciate and enjoy.
And so, from our trip a few hours south I learned that when life hands you lemons … you best quickly hurry to the Pearl Bakery and kindly ask – beg, if necessary, this is no time for dignity – for them to bake you a batch of their beautiful lemon tarts. They are peace-makingly delicious; flavored with the ability to at least soften (if not erase) any blow. If only I had brought with me a small bag of them for comfort in the waiting room
Here are some of my favorite moments from this year past:
- Admiring the Zebras at the fantastically East German Tierpark Zoo, with one of my favorite people ever.
- Fly fishing at the Jaolin River, Haida Gwaii
- Mauerpark flea market, a place I wish I could be much more often
- Canoeing at a friends place in Friedrichshagen
- Going to the lake (with this book, which I could not put down, and from which I made the chocolate cake within hours of reading of, and have made at least a half dozen times since)
- My favorite holiday!
- Grabbing three pairs of Mr. Torgerson’s incredibly retro skis to explore Mount Washington cross country
- Thanksgiving at a friend’s farm on Vancouver Island
