It's Impossible

It’s Impossible

As I listen Bocelli singing - or was he crying - “Somos Novios“ (It’s impossible), the story of Abram who was about to sacrifice his son Isaac came to my mind. It’s impossible that a loving father, mother ever would, could sacrifice their child that way? Would, could you ever consent to lose, to sacrifice a loved son, your husband, your father for a war? And I think of the compulsory military service. It’s just impossible.

So said the Choir Conductor.

March 2010

Take An Umbrella When It Rains

Take An Umbrella When It Rains

“Pray and God will grant you,” something like that is said.

Your grandma said, “Don’t ask if you don’t want to be disappointed.”

But I tell you that you will never pass your exam if you don’t study, though you would pray God a thousand times for it but when you study hard you will succeed even without praying. You could pray God for not to rain but God wouldn’t ever obey orders of any man. So when God sends you rain take an umbrella with you.

That’s Opa Johan’s advice to his granddaughter.

March 2010

Opa Johan's Way Of Loving His Wife

Opa Johan’s Way Of Loving His Wife

“How delicious! Do you want some more dear?” as he passed on an empty dish-plate to his wife while suppressing his laughter.

March 2010

Opa Johan Disagreeing His Wife

Opa Johan Disagreeing His Wife

Having a lot of food, many dishes, isn’t a paradise as people might think. It’s hell. And the fridge is so filled now. I said, tell your good friend not to send me more. I wanted to refuse her but you insisted, to never refuse if she sends me so often, it would be ungrateful, she’s so kind to care for you, as I’m away in Adelaide.

So, you’ve the heart to torture me with head-aches, worries how to keep them in the fridge which already is overflowing, wash, return her dinner-carrier and eat the same food for days, just for the sake of not disappointing and gladden your friend. That’s having a wife who is more honoring, more loving her friend than her husband. And you said you love your husband. What do you say? Check-mate, you little fool.

March 2010

It's Wonderful

It’s Wonderful

As I’m leisurely sitting in my roof garden, delighted hearing birds chirping, warbling above, seeing butterflies, bees visiting the flowers, so close in front of me with my cup of morning coffee-milk on the partition wall, I wonder how ants without senses of sight, hearing, smelling could climb up the wall, scent the milk, communicate and tell his companions of it. It’s marvelous that they could chase a crippled, sick insect, walk, pass each other on a thin stretched wire without fear of falling, find them high up in a tree, don’t stray in finding their nest.

That’s but an ant, not to speak of a bat, who sleeps hanging for hours upside down without being tired, don’t bump in the dark, catch little insects in their flight. I heard of certain seabirds that for years do not perch but stay, sailing in the air and sleep while flying. And what of an egg hatching within just three weeks into a chicken, complete with bones, brains, feet, eyes, a beak, … and alive, a crawling caterpillar transform into a sleeping pupa then transform again into a beautiful flying butterfly complete with wings, feet and colors, a firefly carrying its tiny light without batteries, a lamp for life.

A lot of books couldn’t contain all the breath-taking wonders - if we only have come to realize this - of creatures, plants around us could do, which seem so simple, so ordinary.

February 2010

Opa Johan's New Year's, Birthday Wishes

Opa Johan’s New Year’s, Birthday Wishes

When someone is always number one, succesful, strong, very healthy, so smart, insufferable, how I wish him dearly, sincerely, that once he would be overcome by a severe illness, visited by a misfortune and grow old.

Now will I wish, congratulate myself, you, every one, for a bit of misfortune and pray God not to bring too much success, prosperity and good health for us in the years to come, so we would be prevented from becoming a very unbearable, hateful person.

Amen

February 2010

A Fox Might Lose Its Hair But Not Its Tricks

A Fox Might Lose Its Hair But Not Its Tricks

“Tiger Woods confesses his illicit love affairs publicly and regrets it deeply. He said, playing golf very well, becoming famous and earn a lot of money makes it easy for him to go astray. He is determined to correct, reform his life. I’ve read his confession in the internet” Opa Johan said to his wife.

“Ha, ha. A fox loses his hair but not his tricks as the Dutch saying goes.”

“Were I in his place, wouldn’t I regret it, instead I would be grateful for the happy, splendid time I had with them and I remember the ice-dance of Tessa Virtue en Scott Moir, winners of the Vancouver Olympics, so glorious, so happy. Why could such happiness be forbidden so one has to do it secretly, stealthily? If husband and wife could captivate, charm, enchant each other, why seek, chase after forbidden fruits?”

“Blame the money, his fame, the beautiful women for his misbehavior? Blame God who created man and beautiful woman that way. Suppose it was I did it to you and don’t ask for your forgiveness, would you divorce me? I think I would ask God for pardon and you’ve nothing to complain, ha, ha.”

February 2010