Something Special In Bogor Botanical Gardens

Something Special In Bogor Botanical Gardens

Bogor Botanical Gardens is a paradise, too many to mention all the beautiful sights, wonders. I especially capture, mention one, an unnoticed beautiful thing there is:  i.e. Decent visitors that don’t leave their spoils, dirts behind  as in Monas Park.

Monas Park is a garbage park after every holiday.

December 2011

Does It Prove?

Does It Prove?

Does it prove that when someone gets half a million viewers visiting his blog, his videos in You Tube in a month and I, me but 20 viewers that his is worth 25 thousend times more than mine?  So I comfort myself.

December 2011

Could You Ever Choose Your Parents?

Could You Ever Choose Your Parents?

“Oh, my God, why am I not good looking, a poor, slow learner, suffer asthma, diabetes, cancer, ... I never asked to be born. Why be born if you should inherit the poor, undesirable qualities of your parents?”  So said a thouhtful young girl.

Pak Arif: “Then blame your parents. Forbid them to marry, or forbid them to have children.”

Young girl: “What if handsome men marry beautiful women, the smart, with the smart, the healthy with the healthy, their children would be beautiful, clever, healthy, ... Or have an Indonesian marry one of the West or marry a Chinese, ... Children of mixed parents are very goodlooking and they are often chosen as a model in a magazine or to play in a cinetron.”

Pak Arif: “Yet someday in the future, people would be able to give birth to children with good qualities by regulating the DNA before birth so they don’t suffer from undesirable inherited deceases, illnesses. They also would be able to determine the sex.”

“Would you prefer to be born according to your parent’s discretion or according to your own choice, wishes? Except you ever could choose your parents. What if your parents are cats? You willing-, unwillingly must be born a cat. Ha, ha.” So si Upik interupted.

Pak Arif: “But at least, I believe, Man is created that magnificent that he still could manage, be able to improve himself to become - more or less - to what he wants, desires. A blind man can learn, practise himself till he can “see” by means of his touch, and hearing.”

December 2011

On The Green House Effect

On The Green House Effect

Our world population of today is about 7 billion. I insist, it has become a serious harm, threat for all that’s living in the world.

Lower  the population for instance to 3 billion through birth control and the green house effect will certainly drop. All creatures of the earth would rejoice too. It’s just common sense, and simple as that.

Why fuss,  talk, have conferences, seminars, rules, the Kyoto Protocol, ... of lowering green house effect almost without any effect, while the world population still increases. That’s what is scaring me.

Could you forward this to one of the world leaders who are so concerned with the threatening green house effect?

December 2011

On URL Or Blog Address

On URL Or Blog Address

Knowing someone’s URL or blog address is the same as though having it as our’s. Well, I don’t need to become a follower or subscriber of someone’s blog or blog in You Tube if I know or someone told me his/her URL. I can visit it any time as though visiting my own blog. Except, I’m too lazy to visit them. Ha, ha.

Besides with Google it is sufficient just to know the blog's or the author's name.

December 2011

Charming "Antholes"

Charming “Ant Holes”

I never cared to write in Picasa and You Tube where my Pictures and Videos were located as I think Indonesia to be so small, almost unnoticed in the world. Moreover, the places which I visited during my wandering, running, biking travels into the country and took the pictures, were just  “ant holes”. No one would, could see them. Why weary my readers of my blog, viewers of my pictures, videos with their names?

But since I tried if Picasa’s “Photo Location” could ever find the places where the pictures were located, I never thought, dreamed of, it could be found, be seen, I was perplexed, dumbfounded that it could. 

I very repent the loss of my world Bos Atlas before, now not anymore. This is even far better. When you switch from “Map” to “Satellite” and zoom in, all my “ant holes” are there, even smaller ones and other places in their neighborhood I haven’t visited yet.

From now on will I gladly write them in my blog, in Picasa and You Tube. It’s fascinating to see the places almost live in the Google map.

I can pride myself in having visited running, or on my bike and all along the way those charming, captivating sceneries, even though they were mere “ant holes”, no famous sceneries in foreign countries. I hope one day to visit “Ujung Kulon” on foot or on my bike.

Fishponds In Paradise, Bojong Gede

December 2011

On The Nobel Prize

On The Nobel Prize

Wat a joy, delight to have your fancy, fantasy roaming so daringly even to the utmost impossible, unbelievable imaginations.

A very long time ago have I a cherished thought, that I always would remain the same, not become greater, nor smaller were people to praise or blame me, or awarded or not awarded me the Nobel Prize.

And I thought of all the trouble, agony, the wars of going to Oslo or Stockholm were I granted the Nobel Prize which does not make me a bit greater. A dog would never care for the Nobel Prize but I’m a man who does not want it – why flatter myself? - what if he is “forced” to. Could I have the courage to say no, to war when people,  VIP’s, even the president urge me to go, decline the most prestigious offer and disappoint the Nobel Prize comittee?

I’m so grateful, so lucky, that such a fate would, could never, ever befall me as I never aimed and never would be able to succeed. I’m happy without any granted prize whatever.

Then, how happy am I when unexpectedly to receive a reader’s letter, who thanked me warmly for my published writing. It doesn’t matter if I have no success in earning a lot of money, or never getting a Prize for Literature, but have success in a reader’s heart. That would make me feel like receiving a heavenly boon, gift. This is what I wrote in my Foreword, published in the bahasa Indonesia, 1996.

December 2011

Wonderful, Unbelievable

Wonderful, Unbelievable

Imagine how wonderful, unbelievable our Indonesian people travel in overcrowded trains for more than an hour when there’s no toilet.

December 2011

If It's God's Will

If It’s God’s Will

When I asked the Psychologist if I could be cured, recover from my heavy stress he said, “Sure, if it’s God’s will.”

If he just simply said, “Sure, according to human and medical knowledge” I would be happy but if it depends on God’s will, am I still distressed, downhearted.

So, when we always have to depend on God’s will – I’ll return to Indonesia next year if God so wills it, I’ll celebrate my 80th birthday if God so wills it -  it’s the same as having nothing to depend upon.

December 2011

Warning

Warning

It takes courage to open a blog if you can’t pride yourself on any extraordinary achievement, you have nothing to offer, nothing special, exceptional, never visited any country abroad, never won any award of national, not to mention of international niveau, you’re not a writer but if you think that I am, then I’ve become so. I warn you, if you insist to reading this blog, go ahead. Don’t you ever be sorry or be disappointed. 

As the cricket sings:

Warble as a nightingale I can’t

Though you would teach me.

Not chirp as a cricket I can’t

Though you would unteach me.

so am I proud and happy with my blog, or my cricket’s song. Well, I believe one day people even will love a real cricket’s song and  a frogs’ concert.

December 2011

The Volley Ball Coach On The Classification According To Height

The Volley Ball Coach On The Classification According To Height

We even have an Olympic Games for invalids for they certainly have no access to the Olympic Games.

We even have a wheel chair tennis for invalids for they certainly have no access to playing tennis.

We even have sitting volley-ball for invalids for they certainly have no access to playing volley ball.

We even have ... That’s humane.

Invalids only amount to a small percentage as compared to those that are not invalid.

But the world population with normal height which amount almost to a hundred percent have no access to world volley ball, basket ball as they are relatively very, too short, while world volley ball, basket ball are dominated by players who are  so extremely, very tall of over 190 cm which consist of not even one percent of the world population.

Therefore, classification to player’s height is a necessity in Volley ball* and basketball as is the classification according to weight in boxing, weight lifting, ...  to be fair and humane.

 *See Classified Volley Ball 1, 2, 3

November 2011

Reminiscences Of A Marathoner

Reminiscences Of A Marathoner

Well, imagine the agonies of an aging, graying man to be able to run 42.195 meters; of waking when still heavy with sleep, of sore feet, blistered toes, bruised toenails, of parching thirst, in the blazing sun, to build up the physical condition required.

Making the hellish journey as pleasant as possible, he starts as early as four o’clock on Sunday mornings, arriving at six at the outskirts of Jakarta when Nature awakes, he travels through paths, byways, into a Paradise of the countryside, of villages, woodland, fields, … What’s wandering through a park or traveling comfortably in a car?

Where no city’s bustle will annoy his ears, then he, a city-man becomes a Child of Nature, stops or walks slowly to enjoy the song of cicadas, the sounds of flowing, falling water, the rustling trees, the shade and cool breeze, delighting, inspiring man again and again.

Where he chanced to watch two squirrels chasing about in trees. Did you ever chance to see a squirrel in Jakarta nowadays? What’s seeing a squirrel in a cage or preserved in a zoological palace of science?

When such delightful scenery as a lake, a river, a brook or even a creek invites him to take a dip after running and sweating in the sun.

When no ads and billboards will catch his eye but a swimming mother duck with lovely ducklings, or washing; bathing nymphs and beauties; while thirst is turning water into nectar and wine.

Then, very tired after traveling, to return, all the way back home, when busses offer him a heavenly ride just for Rp. 200.- while other heavenly pleasures awaits him; of drinking juice or just cool water out of the kendi (earthen drinking vessel), of taking off his shoes and feel the delightful sensations of walking barefooted on the cool floor, of the freest, deepest breathing, youthful vigor and keen appetite, then close the day with a blissful sleep to crown that day’s feast.

And they descend on you in a natural way like a heavenly blessing, or a subtle heavenly reward.

Those who have never suffered writhing with rheumatism, toothache, stomachache, gasping for breath by an attack of asthma, keep waking an eternity by insomnia, don’t realize the heavenly treasures of good health.

A feeling of gratitude comes with the conviction that even an aging man without any talent for sport as he is, can still make it. Which is so encouraging when he feels himself to be too small and of no significance before, ever to perform this highly improbable feat: to run the marathon and it has brought him greater self confidence as well as improved the quality of his life through better health.

Anyone (heaven is impartial) can have a share in these blessings just by exercising their body they like.

The Indonesia Times,

August 6, 1988 Revealing the Heavenly Treasures Behind The Marathon

November 2011

Who Is That Lovely Girl?

Who Is That Lovely Girl?

Who is that lovely girl in the photo, follower of one of my blogs? I can’t do otherwise than ask for her hand as I’m still a young scarecrow in disguise, but really a prince of just over 81 years, conveyed with a cartload of flowers and a thousand kisses.

Don’t you ever be sorry if you refuse, reject, decline my offer.

So now kiss me. You owe me a kiss.

November 2011

The Mighty Ruler

The Mighty Ruler

And there’s the mighty ruler but as only small bacteria attack him or a stroke or …, he becomes so sick, so weak, so small, so helpless, turns a bit wiser and was cured from his delusion.

June 2009

November 2011

On Lying

On Lying

I don’t like lying, not so much as though I’m a good, honest man, but I hate to waste my time to invent a lie, so tediously, carefully, convincingly fabricated and on top of it, always be on the alert of my words, behavior to be in accordance with the lie. Better be silent or not lie though people might hate you.

November 2011

We Always Have Time

We Always Have Time

For those, whom we love, for whatever we like, desire, we always have time, find time, a lot of time, even when we have no time, we take the time which is meant for other purposes.

A lover would, could even postpone, neglect, forget his duty, cancel appointments, forgo his niceties, just to meet his girlfriend. When there’s a soccer world championship broadcasted live even after midnight a soccer fan would abandon his sleep.

“I’m busy”, “I’ve no time”, I’m sorry” is an euphemism of saying, “go to hell with it.”

November 2011

Genuine Or Fake?

Genuine Or Fake?

Works of art remain the same;
People’s valuation fall and rise.

A painting of Monet was sold for U.S.$ 1.400.000, TV reported. If - for the sake of preserving its message -, one should own, see the genuine painting, or watch, hear a live performance in a theatre or concert hall, to be able to enjoy art, then, shouldn’t we also have to read the genuine hand- or type-written script of an author to enjoy a novel? We even read translations with hardly any suspicions.

I’d just be as happy and grateful with copies or call them fakes. To have a nice printed copy of a painting on a calendar, an opera on a disc or video, the cheapest edition of a translated novel, a good imitation of beautiful antique ceramics, the Venus of Milo in miniature, … I can still hear Mozart on a tape recorder or performed through artists other than Mozart himself as well.

Fakes are nothing but kinds of replicas, such as copies, editions, imitations, translations, transpositions, recordings. Why not produce replicas of the works of art in a way people publish books or issue records? Then art will come down within the purse of all for anyone to enjoy and be familiar rather than be a scare. So one can afford to have his own private gallery of art without having to spend a fortune to buy or see the genuine works abroad.

It doesn’t belittle Tolstoy or his novel if one can have a translated version for just 50 U.S. cents, nor does it make Monet or his painting a bit greater, because people honored him with such a huge sum for a piece of his works.

The difference between the genuine and a fake will become less. Some day we won’t be able to distinguish between them anymore. Such as a book, which is as genuine as its original script except for misprints, or as music transposed into another key.

Aren’t so called fakes art too? And they help us to overcome the barriers of time, of place, of language and our limited means.

The Jakarta Post, October 4, 1986

That was just some  twenty five years ago. But today I don’t care to have my own art gallery of copies or so called fakes, not genuine works of art anymore. My ‘Windows Live Photo Gallery’ in my computer is now not my photo gallery but my pictures-, videos- studio for working to make them ready for  You Tube.

And but a year ago I so eagerly wanted to print me my blogbook, yet today I don’t want it anymore, even were it offered me for free as I think that I can make me an e-blogbook now. I was so worried then when my writings, most favorite, valuable books would be lost, but to day I don’t mind it as I think that all the works of art can and will be preserved, saved in You Tube, in the internet.

November 2011

Watch For A Chance To Capture The Bird

Watch For A Chance To Capture The Bird

And there’s that little bird, so frustrating, furiously flying against the windowpane of a parked car in the garden, again and again. Is she attacking her opponent mirrored on it? It would make a nice, unusual video of the bird. But I couldn’t capture her with my camera as when I go outside from my room she flies away. 

Certainly, there’re no two happenings, occurences would, could ever be exactly the same. This chance might be for ever lost.  But I just am lucky as the little bird came again the next day. From behind the glass window-pane now I aimed – she is so very small - zoomed in and recorded. A bit blurred, but never mind.

And here she is, sure not a dazzling colored proud peacock. I couldn’t  get a sharp, clear  picture of her with my digital pocket camera, yet am I so happy as she’s alive in You Tube now and for ever.

November 2011

The Swallows

The Swallows

I aimed at the flying swallows but to my distress I couldn’t almost see anything of them except my face mirrored, hindering me on the screen of my digital pocket camera. I aimed at the sky at random, zoomed in, zoomed out again and I felt wretched. I opened it in my computer. The swallows that I captured were flying so fast and there were a lot of blank spots without a swallow.

But as I found a very short beautiful recording of the birds, I thought I could still make me a nice video for You Tube. I slowed down its speed, lengthened by doubling the recording and I saw a beautiful view of flying swallows through a frame, more fascinating than seeing them actually live, flying in the open air. Besides, I’ll make me some beautiful snapshots out of it for my ‘chewspictures’ blog. And as it’s that good, I owe this to the very smart digital pocket camera and Windows Live Movie Maker.

October 2011

What Is A Weed?

What Is A Weed?

A weed is a plant that is not wanted, not planted undesired and grows anywhere. They’re cleared out,  eradicated, though they might grow into a beautiful flower plant, a fern, a chevelure, a lotus, an orchid, ... or a tree, a waringin, a beautiful forest, ... 

A weed treated, cared for, looked after, loved ... stop being a weed and become as honorable, beautiful, lovable as  our plants, trees in our garden, flower pot, vase are. All our plants once started as a weed.

There’s no weed whatever that’s not wonderful, extraordinary. If we see and judge that’s just an ordinary weed, our inner eyes fail to see its beauty.

Here she is after more than 20 years

October 2011

Faster Uploading To You Tube

Faster Uploading To You Tube

It takes me sometimes 10 to 12 hours to upload my videos to You Tube, Can you imagine my distress when after every 15 minutes you have to wake up the computer from its “sleep” (monitor turns black). You must be on the watch, you can’t go out, you can’t go to sleep. When you forget this, the upload might fail, be cancelled and oh, how miserable(!) you should start anew after waiting so long. I’ve search after faster methods in uploading to You Tube in Google, but no way.

And I thought it would be OK when the computer could be set, so, that the computer would not “sleep”. I asked my very smart computer service officer how I could settle this.

He said open the “control panel”, click on “Power Options” choose the setting “Never” so that the computer “never sleeps”. Then turn off your monitor lest it would be burned.

So now I succeed. I’don’t care whether the computer can’t upload fast to You Tube anymore. It doesn’t matter when it would take a very long time. I can turn on the monitor again and handle my computer activities as though I’m not uploading to You Tube. I even have still access to internet and can have my sleep and the video uploaded when I wake up besides.  Ha, ha.  

October 2011

Kiss Of Gratitude

Kiss Of Gratitude

This dying old man couldn’t speak, he had no voice, no words. With difficulty, a lot of effort, he raised himself and kissed her. He was so grateful, she even wasn’t his wife. He was so happy and had prayed, thanked God for sending her to him before. “You change my life”  he said to her.
He had invited her to share his lodging about a year ago. He was so old. They did not sleep together.

On his sickbed he cried,  he, who was so tall and strong before, as though a little child seeking comfort with its mother. He felt so miserable, helpless – he had cancer - and even wasn’t ashamed of her who was so small, so feeble. “I need you” he said to her, “nothing else” as she, a young woman of the East, wetting his dried lips, silently, lovingly nursed him, an old, sick man of the West, perhaps even more than a married wife would do for her husband.

”She’s my wife”, he said, testified in the hospital to his friends.

Yet when he died, she was relieved, felt so happy that he was freed of his anxiety, torture, cancer, death agony, more than her sadness of missing him. 

Are those that aren’t married less happy than those who are?  

October 2011

This Lovely Weed

This Lovely Weed

How she, this lovely weed, rejoices as she grew from the dark undergrowth and saw the sun.

October 2011

This Lovely Weed

This Lovely weed (her neighbor)

The Baby Waringin

The Baby Waringin

And there’s no earth, soil to live on. How did she get her weight out of nothing but dust, air and almost no water, growing, standing, fastening herself in a corner of a wall?

October 2011

Wrong Again!

Wrong Again!

Little girl was drawing with crayon. Wrong, she wiped with a darker color. Wrong again, another color on it, wrong again. In her anger she swept through her painting with black. Failed, she thought, but it was displayed on the wall in the class room as good, valuable by her drawing teacher.

 1969

 October 2011

He Was A Prince, A Very Woman Lover, Lady Killer

He Was A Prince, A Very Woman Lover, Lady Killer

“And I thought of  Bill Clinton, Khadafy, Sadam Husein. But best in my eyes, opinion is our late president Soekarno.” So said Opa Johan to me. “He was  so manly, stately, brave, handsome, a prince, a very woman lover, lady killer. We, Indonesians may be ranking far below of other  nations in development, yet are cultered, civilized, humane. We don’t reproach, blame, impeach him for having so many wifes legallly or perhaps secretly. King Salomo had more than a hundred wifes, but I picture him a bit feminin.

“I don’t think Soekarno would very regret his down fall as when he reflected on his happy life before with the many beautiful women he had had, conquered.”

October 2011

I Thought I Was That Good

I Thought I Was That Good

“I thought I was that good” said Opa Johan to Pak Arif.

“But as I now think, what is there that does me credit? It started not according to my will but only afterwards it became my will because I accidentally encountered and so liked it.

“How can I want something that I do not know? What is beauty if I never knew it before? By chance I met a beauty and so knew and loved her. If I love music I also by chance heard beautiful music, otherwise I would not like and study music. If not by chance I knew the computer, I certainly never would learn to use the computer. When I wanted to study at the University I didn’d know about the many studies it provided before.

“I never thought, wanted to write, shoot foto’s, make recordings before, but as I  accidentally knew and later knew how exciting, engaging it was,  did I want it, learn it. When someday I am well versed  in it that does not do me credit but owe it to the occasion to be aquainted with.

“When I’m 81 now, without needing glasses and still be able to cycle some 50 Km, that was because by chance I read  W. Bates how to read better without glasses and read Cooper on staying healthy with aerobics.

“I’m lucky to be still alive going  through the dangerous times of riot and revolution, from running into accidents, ...

“Formerly someone said that life starts at 40, then someone today asserts, i. e. comforts himself,  that life starts at 80 as he celebrates his 80th year. Opa Johan whispered, I’m bragging now, I’m so sorry if one starts really living in old age,  I started living even when I was not five. Ha.Ha.

“Sure, you are very extraordinary, not by mere chance, or being lucky, as fundamentally, basically, each man and woman is very extraordinary created said Pak Arif. Ask Pak  Chew about it.”

October 2011

I Don't Repent My Wrong I Did On Purpose

I Don’t Repent My Wrong I Did On Purpose

“You pay me Rp 8.000.-. This is Rp. 7.000,-“ said the woman of the foodstall as she handed me my picnic.

“Sorry. It’s my fault but doesn’t matter.”  I laughed, it’s so cheap and don’t repent my wrong I did on purpose.

October 2011

You Blockhead

You Blockhead

Little girl said affectionately to her father who prepared her milk: “the milk isn’t sweet enough, you blockheeead” stressing on the word blockhead. How wonderful it was. It was much warmer than hear her say “dear father”.  There was no one who ever had the courage to say so to him.

1969

 October 2011

Y o u

You

How I love you.

Though I’ve never seen you,

Might never meet, speak to you.

You could have lived some thousand years before

Or may be you’re a woman of the far future

But I have heard you somewhere, through a telephone, a song, a thought ...

You are alive in my mind.
June 2009

September 2011

Dry, Save On Land

Dry, Save On Land

I don.t believe that the examinators,  jury we so regard in awe, judging a candidate for a Phd. are really very knowing, the only knowers. To question topics,  the best you know of, the best you are trained in, your expertise, that’s not a fair battle. Suppose, instead, they were examined, even on the same subject as there are many aspects, sides to it. Would they stand the test, ordeal?

“What if they were picked up to prove that they’re smarter than a fifth grader in the TV-show ‘Not smarter than a fifth grader’? Certainly, they’re the best, save, dry on the ‘land’, since  no one asks them questions, no one judging them, not as those ‘sailing’ facing the storms. And I remember a professor who is famed, praised, renowned as the ‘Killer’. Sure, if he lectures the same subject for years then what is there to be proud of?  Ha, ha.” So was si Upik’s remark.

“With internet, anyone can have free access to knowledge” comments Pak Arif.

September 2011

Fascinating Movie Making

Fascinating Movie Making

I am so happy as I now succeed to preserve, save, rescue my old audio CD’s without shooting, re-editing them again and upload them to You Tube. Otherwise I would lose them forever.

I have to overcome a lot of difficulties, tedious work which I willingly, patiently would do, such as knowing how to copy the CD to the computer, then one by one so tediously write the titles, otherwise you have no way which music you want to upload. Then pick up (browse) a suitable picture for the “Windows Live Movie Maker” to edit, then “add music”, that is tricking the Movie Maker into editing my  audio CD - while it is refusing to edit my DVD and VCD - and search for the title of music you want to upload.

That’s easy enough, but now you must see to it that picture playing time, match music playing time.

But you can also take a video instead of a picture and so make a more fascinating video, with music and bird’s sounds for instance.

There’s a lot of fascinating movie making in store for me. This is an early version which I managed to turn out.

September 2011

Musing On Fire

Musing On Fire

How peaceful, warm is a small fire in a candle, an oil-lamp, fire-side, camp-fire but fearful as a house on fire, in an eruption of a volcano.

The first thing I remember when there’s fire, is to rescue my dogs, save my writings, books, recordings, lest they would be lost forever as they are my treasures,  then my papers and my money.

But to day have I stored my thoughts, pictures, videos in my blogs, and You Tube. My money is in a bank.They are save there, I’m not worried when there’s a fire or lost.

Sure, some people write a book, write in a respected, scientific journal, magazine to preserve their writings but mine in my blogs and You Tube  are certainly not less honorable.

September 2011

The Humane Director

The Humane Director

He so cares, is so considerate, worried, anxious, about the wellbeing, soul of his laborers.

“Don’t give them a big pay, let them work over-time. So they have to work very hard. That would make very descent husbands as they have no time, so don’t go astray, ruin their lives, waste, spoil the money on women, gambling and drinking.” so he argued.

He also asked the factory doctor to give a lecture to his laborers on healthy and very cheap diet in order to stay healthy, as his workers often have to visit the doctor.

The doctor scornfully said, “give them milk, meat, fruits, ... to stay healthy.“ 

“Higher pay. No over-time.” But this he didn’t say.

September 2011

An Exceptional Woman

An Exceptional Woman

Though she has but about a half of a body, she wasn’t awkward among the people. She could drive a car and perform the daily activities only with her hands. She has her husband and a child. That was what I saw on TV.

I pictured her husband to be very special as he could still love her, a woman who has but the upper part of a body, perhaps from the hips, buttocks upward. It would be different if she were a miss world. Then men would run after her.

This woman certainly must be very beautiful in another way as just with such a poor physical condition she still could be loved by a man. And I remembered the story of Beauty who loved the Beast.

Only a woman who almost has no hope to giving birth of her own child knows the immense joy, happiness when she really succeeded to give birth to a normal healthy baby. I believe that despite all this, she’s not any the less happy than any normal man or woman. She certainly could write, sing, play the piano, paint, swim, … if she wanted to.

Someone said: “Just of a loss of our teeth, hair, one would be worried, feeling awkward. Walking a little distance, in the sun, in the rain one would complain. Imagine, try it. She walks on her hands, not in a wheel chair.”

Despite her handicap, her extraordinary accomplishments limited in a smaller world - as I muse and think of Helen Keller -, certainly must be as amazing as those that were praised for passing summa cum laude on their PhD degree, or winning Pulitzer, Nobel  prizes,  having their books filmed, translated in many foreign languages, or championing mountain climbing, surfing, parachuting, visiting the  seven wonders of the world, ... 

December 12, 2004

September 2011

The Choir Conductor Unwilling To Step Down

The Choir Conductor Unwilling To Step Down

 I love my choir. I have cared, “watered” them till they grow beautifully today after some 12 years by now. I would never willingly leave my choir to the care of another conductor, even though he might be better than I am. The choir would languish and die. Except if he/she could love this choir of uneducated, untalented old agers of over 70, nearing 80 years, more than I do. Yet, I don’t believe there is any one who ever would.

Is it wrong if I am so unwilling to step down? Could a loving mother ever leave the care of her children to another woman, even were she poor? 

September 2011

Dogs Only, Love, Respect The Old Man

Dogs Only, Love, Respect The Old Man

 I remember him, the old man. When he was a little child, he was so small, weak and behind the others.  But today, am I surprised. He still is healthy in old age. How he managed to do so I don’t know. He is so happy, cheerfully talking to some dogs on the road-side. People regard him less than human, an inferieur being. No one respects, loves him, - I don’t think he has a wife - but these dogs do. They are his friends, his neighbors.

 On Sunday’s, he is waiting to get a tip, an extra earning for looking after the cars - not many cars – that were parked during church service. There are not many people who have a car in the congregation.

 September 2011

A Flower

A Flower

There were beautiful yellow flowers on a vegetable field. But a more beautiful flower was on the bank of a lake, washing,  with her little child.

1970

August 2011