The Supper After the Last by Galway Kinnell

The Supper After the Last by Galway Kinnell

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The desert moves out on half the horizon

Rimming the illusory water which,among islands,

Bears up the sky.The sea scumbles in

From its own inviolate border under the sky.

A dragon-fly floating on six legs on the sand

Lifts its green-yellow tail,declines its windgs

A little,flutters them a little, and lays

On dazzled sand the shadow of its wings.Near shore

A bather wades through his shadow in the water.

He tramples and kicks it;it recomposes.

Obsessive Packer Goes Northwest

Yours truly is headed out to the airport again on Tuesday, this time to Seattle..well,actually to San Juan Island for ten restful, yoga, hiking and blackberry picking filled days! Which means, packing yet again. Over the course of my life, I’ve been in literally hundreds of airplanes, so I have packing down to an art form.

For my trip to Washington, this means lots of exercise clothes, warm layers for cold evenings, and a change of nice clothes for celebratory birthday dinners. Lightweight wool socks, thermal long underwear, corduroy pants, and a brand new Barney purple fleece jacket are the main focus items of my Pacific Northwest wardrobe.In my closet on San Juan, a woven purple and burnt sienna scarf, red fleece vest, and threadbare sweat pants await. The sweatpants are perfect for blackberry picking, which requires all skin to be covered else you get scratched beyond recognition.

Today I just finished packing, and my little Samsonite carry on is stuffed with neatly rolled Athleta pants, running shorts, running socks, cotton shirts,yoga mat (if you fold it in an alternating vertical and horizontal pattern,it will fit!), a nice purple cheongsam top for dinners out. Not to forget various watercolor painting brushes,eraser,charcoal pencils, pad and travel watercolor set! Alas, I forgot the painting supplies in Europe, so I will make up for it in WA!

Only two pairs of shoes are necessary: running shoes and Simple vegan flats.However, I am packing some black Chinese style embroidered flats for the dinners.I also have the hilarious rubber gardening clogs at the house, so I am sure those will make an appearance, as well as rubber Wellingtons (“wellies” in Scotland and UK).

And last but not least, my one piece for swimming in Egg Lake…if it warms up enough!

"Untouchable"

Just a few minutes ago, I finished reading a very empowering article in the NYTimes, “From Untouchable To Businesswoman.” This article featured Kakuben Lalabhai Parmar, an Indian artisan from the state of Gujarat. If the Indian caste system still applied, Ms.Parmar would be classified as an “untouchable”, the absolute lowest rung.

That is what angered me, the fact that a human being could (and can) be labeled, limited and totally subsumed by a stupid title! This caste limited Kakuben to the boundaries of her home; she could not go anywhere, interact, or touch anything to do with anyone of a different caste.

Of course there are vice versa cases, such as the Queen of England, but that is quite a one sided ordeal. People who meet Elizabeth have to use a certain title, manner of speech, and curtsy or slightly bow from the waist. Well, why shouldn’t anyone who meets Kakuben curtsy?!

I feel like we humans should treat everyone the same in this world. I have met people who work as dishwashers, maids, cleaners in Red Carpet Clubs who are much more honest, humble,intelligent and open minded than the people who employ them. But I don’t go judging those who I do not know. I feel that everyone should be approached with a smile, an open mind AND an open heart.

Anyone can do anything in this world; you can go from being forced to live in a hut to being a successful, world traveling artisan. And just think, how much further could we endeavor with genuine smiles on our faces?

Happy Weather!

I feel like I have finally conquered my twelve hour jet lag ! Last night I fell asleep on the futon for an hour,from 8 to 9, then I went to sleep at 9 and woke up around 5:40.Those are my normal going to sleep and awakening hours so..BREAKTHROUGH!

Now, if I wasn't going to Seattle on Tuesday, I would be racing around the isle doing all sorts of things.Instead I am organizing to meet a friend,organizing a meeting,writing lots of letters,cleaning,packing yet again...and enjoying the weather!

You see, in Hawai'i it is disgustingly humid 8 months out of the year.However it has been mildly rainy, breezy and even downright cool at night.Perfect for jet lagged strolls after dinner ! Just need to watch out,since I'm not in the isolated Dutch countryside where there no cars,plenty of forests,gnomes and fields of crops.Meaning there are cars here! eek!

well off to do yoga in moist,post rain morning air!

Back to Humidity

Back to Humidity

Yesterday was a very long day for me. The previous day, I took three trains to Amsterdam…usually it takes three and a half, four hours, but this time it was a full SIX hours before I got to my B&B in Diemen ! c’mon! it was hot, in the 90s, and long and I was just glad to get it all over with.

I flew from Amsterdam to Chicago at 11 am, had to be there around 9:30. I hate planes, but hey to go anywhere you really want to these days,you must make sacrifices, as long as you offset it ! The only bad experience I had through the entire trip was my earplug expanded too much, and I couldn’t get it out with my hand! I had to resort to using one of the plastic knives, which the caused the man sitting next to me to laugh so much I thought he was really going crazy.

Needless to say, I didn’t use earplugs for my next two flights that day. Chicago to San Francisco was a three hour nap for me, and as I sat waiting for my flight in San Francisco, who should show up but…

EVNO! my sweet friend from university, who was getting a philosophical counselor certification in New York. It was great to see a friend in an airport for once,and to catch up. We watched one another’s loads (both of us had a backpack and a separate cloth bag stuffed with organic treats for the long haul) and caught up on our various sojourns.

But it ended up that we were four rows apart, so now and then I would catch a glimpse of typical Evno: the only entirely blanketed head for the entire flight. What we to do to stay asleep and calm, oh boy.

Well, I didn’t get a chance to go into Amsterdam at all.I predicted that, but anway I much prefer cities in autumn and winter. Heat,crowds, the energy in the summer really irritates and overwhelms me. When I was in Amsterdam in December, it even snowed lightly, making the air stiller and more magical as you awoke. I can recall the Henri Cartier-Bresson exhibit I saw at FOAM precisely, and walking up the Prisengracht, around Vondel Park and the Rijksmuseum.

I think the best way to see a city is walking anyway. On a bicycle, aside from dealing with what turns to take, you go by so fast that you don’t notice specific architectural details, cool places that locals frequent, and great photo opportunities.

And the perfect places to walk are Croatian towns and cities, mainly because you cannot ride bicycles in them! The limestone streets are often long and narrow, with no bike racks, and thousands of steep steps lead up houses, hills, shops, museums and libraries. My cousin in Hvar showed me the library there, and I spent a happy few minutes looking at all the books.

Now I missing Hrvatska (Croatia) intensely: the drama of everything, the landscape,my wonderful family, ancestral villages, the purest ocean, produce, how friendly,genuine and warm people are. Hrvatska runs in and through my veins and heart, and I cannot wait to fulfill my dream to live there someday.

Viva Hrvatska!

Stormy Weather

Two days ago we had a big storm hit.Tonight around ten we will have a HUGE storm hit. It has been traveling through France, Belgium and now the Netherlands for a whole ten hours. The storm two days ago was only fifteen minutes, but thrashing rain and wind and tunder and lightning made it very memorable.
All of us were sittingoutside after lunch, all of us includes:
Claudio and Rosanna, Benedetta's parents visiting from Urbino,Italia
Benedetta and Arthur
Kasia, from Melbourne,Australia
Jeremy,from Rochester,NY
me from Hawai'i.
Needless to say, we all whipped out our cameras and took videos and pictures. Arthur raced off to turn on his expensive lightning protector. This shuts off the electricity but provides power for the electricity.And since Arthur had an actual ball of lightning in his house once, he ain't taking any chances.
Kasia is gone now, and Arthur's parents arrived today. I plan on being asleep when IT HITS. I feel bad for the cats, they don't really have any shelter except for the open garage. The 16 year old Perisan,Chocolate, was wet for hours after the last storm, and I found her happily sleeping on the washing machine when it did a hot wash. However the cats cannot come in, so they will have to rough it outside.
Today I've been picking lupine seed pods and sunflowers. When a sunflower starts losing it's yellow over the seeds, it's ready to be beheaded ! Then you take all the yellow off,and put it in a tray to dry. With the lupine, you take off the black seed pods, pop them open and remove the seeds.
In the coming days,I will be harvesting lavender, oregano, thyme,mint,zucchini,broccoli,green beans,peas, and collect marigold seeds. There are bunches of lavender hanging to dry,and even some large pink roses, which Benedetta uses to make facial cream out of. I planted twenty four young basil plants yesterday, after taking out all the whole broad bean plants, which entailed dragging them to the compost heap in many trips.
Off to enjoy the calm,sunny weather before the storm!

Sweltering Days in Netherlands

It’s close to 100

and we eat fried zucchini flowers, broad bean and snap bean spaghetti and salad

The zucchini flowers must be picked in the morning, as they close up when it gets hot.

They are lightly fried in flour, water, egg (from the hens only a matter of feet away)

Also there is homemade foccacia pizza with peppers and champignons (mushrooms).

Yesterday we had my favorite Italian dish, pesto linguine, it was so delicious, the pesto without cheese for me as only goat milk cheese does not cause a headache.

Last night terrific thunder, lightning, and rain storms pounded the rest of the country, especially in the north near Appeldoorn. We only got some rain.

Throughout the past six years, this area has gotten hotter and hotter due to global warming. Months go by without rain, and Arthur has to spend thousands of Euros watering his meadows in order to keep his sheep alive. This year eleven were born, sky rocketing the little herd up to 25. Unfortunately, this weather is determined to become permanent at some point, and this whole area will end up a desert.

However that doomsday has not come, and we enjoy the company of Benedetta’s parents visiting from Italia. I give the six cats their two annual weeks of petting, and enjoy my walks. Nearby there are two nice small forests, however the poplar one will be cut down for flax in the autumn. This saddens me for various reasons; four days ago I went there, napped and meditated, and experienced Die Kabouter (the Gnomes). It was simply amazing, and I staggered back to the house full of positive, glowing energy.

However Die Kabouter have been playing with me ever since ! I was boxing broad beans and one plastic container disappeared right before my eyes. And yesterday one of my earplugs vanished, right in front of my eyes again. My search ended in vain. Most people are scared or ignorant or in denial of such realities, but the more you expand your beliefs, the more you expand yourself.

Everyone else collapses of heat exhaustion, fleeing to cool corners and cold showers. I try to follow the Ayurvedic method, by drinking warm tea and adjusting to the temperature. The trip to the organic shop was highly anticipated yesterday, and I readied my greedy eyes, fingers and stomach.

I scurried first to the impressive tea section, which I can recall from memory. Into my basket went Yogi Licorice, Pukka Refresh, and Yogi Detox teas. I hemmed and hawed over the loose tea section, but they take up too much room in a suitcase. Then I picked out three packages of suiker vree (sugar free) biscuits, one in particular, Aquarius Sesame, is delicious with pindakass (peanut butter).

Eyeing the juice section but decided to get mini containers of chocolate soy milk instead. Then a small jar of pindakass for when I am on my own for four days. Crunchy spicey muesli, Weleda Iris face milk, and a few things I cannot even recall now ended up going back with me. I wisely resisted the huge jars of Acacia Honing (honey), my suitcase cannot fit it, and I have lavender honey from Croatia already.

Well,time for daily I Ching reading in the shade.

Tot ziens!

The importance of lowly things...

True joy must spring from within. But if one is empty within and wholly given over to the world, idle pleasures come streaming in from without. This is what many people welcome as diversion. Those who lack inner stability and therefore need amusement, will always find opportunity of indulgence. They attract external pleasures by the emptiness of their natures. Thus they lose themselves more and more, whichof course has bad results…..
Exceptional modesty and conscientiousness are sure to be rewarded with success; however, if a man is not to throw himself away, it is important that they should not become empty form and subservience but be combined always with a correct dignity in personal behavior. We must understand the demands of the time in order to find the necessary offset for its deficencies and damages. In any event we must not count on great success, since the requisite strength is lacking. In this lies the importance of the message that one should not strive after lofty things but hold to lowly things.

I Ching

Heil Lekker

Heil Lekker means very good in Dutch,which is appropriate for this entry, as here I am in sunny Netherlands, Vlagtweede to be specific. This tiny village is half an hour by train from the exciting university metropolis of Groningen, which is three hours from the even more exciting metropolis of Amsterdam.
This trip I elected to skip Amsterdam completely. Cities are hotbeds of energy, places where it is nice to be for a day or two, but also where all your money is consume much too quickly. So here I am at Hop en Grut, Arthur's farm. It is a little different now as Benedetta is the lady of the house. So there are fewer WWOOFers, she is a calming force and a wonderful, loving woman. Benedetta is, of course, Italian, but she moved here and got a job after only three months! Luck of the Itatlians.
I arrived here at 11 pm on the night of the 30th of June. What a journey I had! Awakening at 6:30 in Korcula, Croatia, I took a minibus to the town, then a boat to the mainland, another minbus to Dubrovnik. In Dubrovnik I was shoved off the bus to another bus, where they nearly forgot my huge hulking suitcase, and driven to the airport. There I waited for several hours, napping, reading the I Ching, and picking at the soggy sandwiches I had made earlier.
From there I took an airplane to Zagreb, a mere 40 minute flight. However we were slightly delayed, and upon the arrival in Zagreb my fellow travelers to Amsterdam were quite anxious! over tanned, wearing neon clothing, in the mid 50s, they were a flustered bunch, literally dashing about and yelling at the customs agents. It was highly amusing, and the agent led us through the airport yelling, "Amsterdam! Amsterdam!" as if we were some sort of mute caravan! What summarized the sitatution the best was me saying to over tanned, neon blue woman, "This is typical of Eastern Europe!" and it IS!
So upon the arrival in Amsterdam (yes dear readers, it did end safely!), I hurried through customs, but they wanted to talk for once.
"What are you doing here?"
"Visting friends in Vlagtweede, near Groningen"
"Groningen, ah you like it there?"
"Yes" (slightly imaptient look as I have only 12 in which to get bag,catch train!)
"Are you carrying any unsual items?"
"No" (ME?!)
and so on...finally they let me go! I rushed to find my bag, as usual,the last one on the carousel doing happy laps. I rushed to the train ticket office, knowing I could make the 18:50 (6:50 pm) train.
"You only have three minutes before the train leaves,so I advise you to hurry!", said the ticket seller.
And hurry I did! I seized my ticket and schedule, raced to the escalator, descended down the stairs, looked furiously for track 3..finally asked a man where it was.
"On the other side, you have to go up and then down again!"
"ALWAYS!" I vented, as I recall the same thing happened last year!
I grabbed my green rhino suitcase, and struggled up the stairs with it, in the meanwhile squashing a man against his own luggage. He let out some sort of protest in Arabic, but I didn't have 4 seconds to to seeif he was still alive.
I descended, made all my three trains, and made a very nice friend,Astrid, on the train from Groningen to Winschoten.
The days start for me nearing 7 am, I grab my yoga mat, head outside, and do an hour of asthanga yoga. Sometimes one of cats comes to check on me, I especially like Tomat, a white and red beauty with ginger eyelashes and pale green eyes. There is also Chocolate, an archaic grey Persian with a rather witchy look, but who is gentle and adores attention.
This afternoon I walked down the tree shaded lane. It's especially windy, so everything is dancing and pleasant. I stopped at the used book and antique barn that a couple runs,they remembered me from last year. They showed me their various goats, two of which are so fat it looks like they ate a mini fridge! An adorable, chesnut colored miniature pony was beckoned towards me, with eyelashes as long as as a finger.
I got three books:
Miss Pickerell Goes to Mars by Ellen MacGregor
Possessing the Secret of Joy by Alice Walker
The Pocketbook of Short Stories (Hemingway,Maugham,Cather,Tolstoi,O Henry, Maupassant, Dorothy Parker, Thomas Mann, Mark Twain, S.V. Benet, Edgar Allan Poe, Mansfield, Bret Harte, Balzac, Saki,Stevenson are just a few!)
Many strawberries and nettles have been picked, and my favorite breakfast, strawberries sliced open with peanut butter inside, has finally been fulfilled.
Tot ziens (see you!)
Tajna