Tuesday, January 10, 2006
And then it was winter...
We live in a western Canada mountain valley, near the town of Nelson, BC (amazing place, by the way). There has been plenty of snow high up in the mountains since November, but we've had an unusually warm winter and no snow down where we live (view from my home office). Two days ago, green lawn - this morning this... It's beautiful in its own way - even if a gray sky."In the depth of winter, I finally learned that
within me there lay an invincible summer."
- Albert Camus
within me there lay an invincible summer."
- Albert Camus
"In the depth of winter, I finally rejoiced
that I'm going to Mexico in February."
- Gary
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Hello Gary,
yes - there is a similar trend here right now. We are supposed to be in the middle of cold and snowy days, but the green grass is making an appearance.
So you are leaving for Mexico in February? Ah, how I envy you because I never made it there - and what a great time to go there...
Love that you have blended in this "poetic" post of yours - must do the same on my blog since too much cynicism flows through my blood these days. Maybe compassion and beauty will work on humans - as backing soda works on smelly carpets.
I'll give it a try!
Instead of going to Mexico, in February I will teach "world evolution" according to Steiner or rather Anthroposophy (something that might make you yawn again..) But I will try to give it my best to stimulate students to have their own thoughts and that they pursue research beyond limits of my own presentations.
So that's my quest for February.
Greetings, Lukas
yes - there is a similar trend here right now. We are supposed to be in the middle of cold and snowy days, but the green grass is making an appearance.
So you are leaving for Mexico in February? Ah, how I envy you because I never made it there - and what a great time to go there...
Love that you have blended in this "poetic" post of yours - must do the same on my blog since too much cynicism flows through my blood these days. Maybe compassion and beauty will work on humans - as backing soda works on smelly carpets.
I'll give it a try!
Instead of going to Mexico, in February I will teach "world evolution" according to Steiner or rather Anthroposophy (something that might make you yawn again..) But I will try to give it my best to stimulate students to have their own thoughts and that they pursue research beyond limits of my own presentations.
So that's my quest for February.
Greetings, Lukas
Wow, that's the scene outside your house? It looks beautiful. Ofcourse I can admire it sitting here among the green grass (bits of it) and the sunshine and 3Cdegree weather we're having right now. No wonder you've divulged into poetry. hehehe
In the middle of the night there was this devastating stillness,
Of Icy hexagons falling down.
On the carriage of manic depressive illness,
Running through that Canadian town..
Of Icy hexagons falling down.
On the carriage of manic depressive illness,
Running through that Canadian town..
Zee, sorry if I dissed Rudolph Steiner! I am a tremendous fan of Waldorf education, but couldn't get drawn into the study of anthroposophy myself.
Dimitri - for you a Haiku:
Dimitri the friend
Wisdom flies through waves on waves
Drift to open mind.
Dimitri - for you a Haiku:
Dimitri the friend
Wisdom flies through waves on waves
Drift to open mind.
Hi Gary
A interesting photo and warm and cosy as it looks I guess its not so easy to survive in the winter chill.
Last night I was speaking with old country friend who holidayed in Canada for 2 months last year. He described it to me as one of the best holiday experiences of his life.
I am looking forward to more photos of your beautiful country and learning more about aboriginal Canadians and your Metis ? peoples.
I think it must be hard at times to keep your thoughts on work, with the winter wonderland beckoning at your doorstep, yet as you said in an earlier posting winter also has it mild depressive side.
I understand Nelson might be a friendly community orientated lifestyle for its residents,old worldly and homely.
Is that the case ? .
A interesting photo and warm and cosy as it looks I guess its not so easy to survive in the winter chill.
Last night I was speaking with old country friend who holidayed in Canada for 2 months last year. He described it to me as one of the best holiday experiences of his life.
I am looking forward to more photos of your beautiful country and learning more about aboriginal Canadians and your Metis ? peoples.
I think it must be hard at times to keep your thoughts on work, with the winter wonderland beckoning at your doorstep, yet as you said in an earlier posting winter also has it mild depressive side.
I understand Nelson might be a friendly community orientated lifestyle for its residents,old worldly and homely.
Is that the case ? .
Lindsay, in case my winter mania gives the wrong impression - this is an incredibly beautiful part of earth and yes, Nelson is a really interesting town, with people from all over the world, a thriving art, drama and music scene and a focus on education. It has over 300 Victorian era historic houses etc. also. I like it!
Come visit - I'd be honoured to show you around...
Come visit - I'd be honoured to show you around...
Now that's a beautiful photograph, I love how you composed the close up against the distance.
And Chive envies you deeply, going to Mexico like that.
And Chive envies you deeply, going to Mexico like that.
Tell Chive I'm going with a buddy - the wives didn't have enthusiasm for it and didn't want to leave teens behind - so Dave and I decided to fly off on our own. He's the active type who will go kayaking, diving, biking etc... I'll be in the hammock reading or walking on the beach - we'll meet up for beer and food later.
In a word: Bee-uuu-tee-full.
I envy you. I am really annoyed that this winter has been so warm in Ohio. November was very cold and snowy, and then just before Christmas it became warm and our snows have been brief and melt within a day or so. Grrrr... winter is supposed to be wintery dammit!
I envy you. I am really annoyed that this winter has been so warm in Ohio. November was very cold and snowy, and then just before Christmas it became warm and our snows have been brief and melt within a day or so. Grrrr... winter is supposed to be wintery dammit!
I love snow falls like this one...for about three days, and them I'm wishing for warm weather again! I hope you're staying nice and cozy, with a hot mug of tea, a thick blanket and a good book (or at least another good blog post).
This is gorgeous, Gary. I love days like this, as long as I get to stay at home. No wonder your blog and your comments are always so interesting and fun. You have great inspiration. It's supposed to be about 60 degrees here all week so yours will probably be the only snow I see all winter.
Brrr!
Enjoy Mexico! I know it was a shock to my system to go from Manzanillo to Montreal in two days! I didn't realize how much my blood had thinned out since I've been living in California. I was such a wimp about the cold in Montreal!
Enjoy Mexico! I know it was a shock to my system to go from Manzanillo to Montreal in two days! I didn't realize how much my blood had thinned out since I've been living in California. I was such a wimp about the cold in Montreal!
# posted by 
: 9:59 am
: 9:59 am
Madcap - there is room for one more guy on the trip and Chive seems like someone who'd fit in. But I'll leave it up to you!
Now I know why I can't find anyone at home. They're all over here and some are writing poetry. Hi Dmitri.
Lindsay writes poetry as well.
Have a wonderful time. I'll be thinking of you as I sit here in "sunny" CA.
Lindsay writes poetry as well.
Have a wonderful time. I'll be thinking of you as I sit here in "sunny" CA.
surprisingly I miss Canadian winters...
used to live in Northeren Ontario - no bloody snow here the 3 winters I've seen - kids have almost forgot how to play outside in it....
and here is a poetic response to your post.... by my favourite poem and very often my inspiration...
Starlings in Winter
Chunky and noisy,
but with stars in their black feathers,
they spring from the telephone wire
and instantly
they are acrobats
in the freezing wind.
And now, in the theater of air,
they swing over buildings,
dipping and rising;
they float like one stippled star
that opens,
becomes for a moment fragmented,
then closes again;
and you watch
and you try
but you simply can’t imagine
how they do it
with no articulated instruction, no pause,
only the silent confirmation
that they are this notable thing,
this wheel of many parts, that can rise and spin
over and over again,
full of gorgeous life.
Ah, world, what lessons you prepare for us,
even in the leafless winter,
even in the ashy city.
I am thinking now
of grief, and of getting past it;
I feel my boots
trying to leave the ground,
I feel my heart
pumping hard. I want
to think again of dangerous and noble things.
I want to be light and frolicsome.
I want to be improbable beautiful and afraid of nothing,
as though I had wings.
~ Mary Oliver
used to live in Northeren Ontario - no bloody snow here the 3 winters I've seen - kids have almost forgot how to play outside in it....
and here is a poetic response to your post.... by my favourite poem and very often my inspiration...
Starlings in Winter
Chunky and noisy,
but with stars in their black feathers,
they spring from the telephone wire
and instantly
they are acrobats
in the freezing wind.
And now, in the theater of air,
they swing over buildings,
dipping and rising;
they float like one stippled star
that opens,
becomes for a moment fragmented,
then closes again;
and you watch
and you try
but you simply can’t imagine
how they do it
with no articulated instruction, no pause,
only the silent confirmation
that they are this notable thing,
this wheel of many parts, that can rise and spin
over and over again,
full of gorgeous life.
Ah, world, what lessons you prepare for us,
even in the leafless winter,
even in the ashy city.
I am thinking now
of grief, and of getting past it;
I feel my boots
trying to leave the ground,
I feel my heart
pumping hard. I want
to think again of dangerous and noble things.
I want to be light and frolicsome.
I want to be improbable beautiful and afraid of nothing,
as though I had wings.
~ Mary Oliver
Thanks Callooh - this is a very beautiful poem - starlings probably are the wallflowers of the bird world - yet this poem brings them into an inspirational light (well, brings me into it actually - starlings don't read poetry...)
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