Friday, May 1. 2015
The Smile
I wanted to stare at him. It was the first time we truly met. I wanted to stare at him, right into his face, as if it could tell me anything I wanted to know about him. But we are taught not to stare, so I didn't. Instead, we shared a few anecdotes, and a few laughes. Just, I didn't know were else to look but in his face, and that made me nervous.
She was nervous, too. Laughed and talked in a jittery way and spilled some of her coffee. What if we didn't get on? What if I didn't like him?
That was not my concern. I knew I would, if she did. I was afraid he might realise that stupid urge of mine to stare, hidden in tiny glimpses that took his face into focus, again and again. But that is definitely dangerous. Who stares cannot hide, and will truly be recognized. The eye sockets become open windows into any depths. If there are any, that is.
On the other hand, while he might find out everything about me, I was never going to learn more about him this way. Should I have asked him what kind of films he liked, what kind of books? Tell me what you read? Or maybe politics? Not a good idea, most of the time. What about a game? Should I have asked him to play with us? A perfect way to a person's true nature. Can he lose? Will he be fair?
Of course I didn't ask. And luckily it had not even occurred to me, then. As if those two had nothing else on their minds!
I was just sitting there, trying to be as easy going as possible, while not making a complete fool of myself. And maybe I managed. Because in the end, leaving, me saying bye-bye, and enjoy yourselves, and be good, and all this, he gave me first one of his transient, and then a more and more radiant smile, and so did she. She hugged and kissed me. Can't have been too bad, after all.
I guess he never realised the stare.
She was nervous, too. Laughed and talked in a jittery way and spilled some of her coffee. What if we didn't get on? What if I didn't like him?
That was not my concern. I knew I would, if she did. I was afraid he might realise that stupid urge of mine to stare, hidden in tiny glimpses that took his face into focus, again and again. But that is definitely dangerous. Who stares cannot hide, and will truly be recognized. The eye sockets become open windows into any depths. If there are any, that is.
On the other hand, while he might find out everything about me, I was never going to learn more about him this way. Should I have asked him what kind of films he liked, what kind of books? Tell me what you read? Or maybe politics? Not a good idea, most of the time. What about a game? Should I have asked him to play with us? A perfect way to a person's true nature. Can he lose? Will he be fair?
Of course I didn't ask. And luckily it had not even occurred to me, then. As if those two had nothing else on their minds!
I was just sitting there, trying to be as easy going as possible, while not making a complete fool of myself. And maybe I managed. Because in the end, leaving, me saying bye-bye, and enjoy yourselves, and be good, and all this, he gave me first one of his transient, and then a more and more radiant smile, and so did she. She hugged and kissed me. Can't have been too bad, after all.
I guess he never realised the stare.
Sunday, June 15. 2014
Once and for all
Have you ever experienced a moment where your brain gave orders your body would refuse to follow? Wait. It begins a long time before that.
I remember getting more and more astonished looks because I had started asking for, even demanding more definite decisions, and solutions, too. I could not bear it any longer that not even the simple things in life, the obvious ones, were to be ticked off and settled.
Then I just functioned for a while, out of habit I suppose, and it felt like diving without knowing when to be able to breath in again.
After a while I convinced myself, that nothing really mattered, and that especially I myself would not be able to make an impact, whatever I tried.
As soon as my brain had manifested that idea, there was an answer. So why do anything at all, my system replied. And it shut down.
The symptoms could only be physical, I thought, because I could hardly be a person for a psychological disorder. I am outspoken, energetic, humorous, and very emotional. Depression is an illness that obviously does not affect me. Since this is one of at least ten myths about mental health problems, I walked right into dyspnea, anxiety, and panic attacks. To me, they were nothing but the actual collapse of my organs.
When I really dealt with my problems, I had to learn and understand that it was a real illness after all I was facing, even if not physical, and that it was no use to get a grip, or a move on. I also realised that my condition was no one's fault, and that there was still a way to recover - if I found it. Talking about not being able to take pressure!
Despite all the terrors and fears, I had to find a meaning in life, so often talked and joked about, and so little understood. The ultimate question, and 42 will just not do, at all times.
We do have a few desperate options to cope with this question, such as religious faith, or drugs, or political extremism, which might be all the same thing, if you think it through to the end.
So in the end, there is one question you torture yourself with, constantly - and this is beyond, even despite having success, and love, and family and friends: "Is this all?"
So this is the truth, once and for all: We are lost. A vast universe, and all we really know is that we are lost. So therefore, all we really have in life is life itself, and if it is taken, than there is nothing.
This implies a massive responsibility for life, every life, and for ourselves.
We can only cope with life as long as we endure these facts. And we will have to do that in our own way.
©
I remember getting more and more astonished looks because I had started asking for, even demanding more definite decisions, and solutions, too. I could not bear it any longer that not even the simple things in life, the obvious ones, were to be ticked off and settled.
Then I just functioned for a while, out of habit I suppose, and it felt like diving without knowing when to be able to breath in again.
After a while I convinced myself, that nothing really mattered, and that especially I myself would not be able to make an impact, whatever I tried.
As soon as my brain had manifested that idea, there was an answer. So why do anything at all, my system replied. And it shut down.
The symptoms could only be physical, I thought, because I could hardly be a person for a psychological disorder. I am outspoken, energetic, humorous, and very emotional. Depression is an illness that obviously does not affect me. Since this is one of at least ten myths about mental health problems, I walked right into dyspnea, anxiety, and panic attacks. To me, they were nothing but the actual collapse of my organs.
When I really dealt with my problems, I had to learn and understand that it was a real illness after all I was facing, even if not physical, and that it was no use to get a grip, or a move on. I also realised that my condition was no one's fault, and that there was still a way to recover - if I found it. Talking about not being able to take pressure!
Despite all the terrors and fears, I had to find a meaning in life, so often talked and joked about, and so little understood. The ultimate question, and 42 will just not do, at all times.
We do have a few desperate options to cope with this question, such as religious faith, or drugs, or political extremism, which might be all the same thing, if you think it through to the end.
So in the end, there is one question you torture yourself with, constantly - and this is beyond, even despite having success, and love, and family and friends: "Is this all?"
So this is the truth, once and for all: We are lost. A vast universe, and all we really know is that we are lost. So therefore, all we really have in life is life itself, and if it is taken, than there is nothing.
This implies a massive responsibility for life, every life, and for ourselves.
We can only cope with life as long as we endure these facts. And we will have to do that in our own way.
©
Saturday, January 11. 2014
About Dinosaurs
Despite expectations, I am not on facebook, do not follow twitter, nor do I blog on tumblr, and I don't even connect via Google. I hardly play any games on my computer and none on my mobile. I also have no mobile internet and therefore cannot send or receive apps, mms or pictures. My Bluetooth is mostly deactivated, and I have no intercom or handsfree set. I do not like 3D, do not need HD, and I will not give in to Blue-ray either. I do not read ebooks and do not own a fax machine.
And finally: I hardly ever watch TV or listen to the radio.
I do watch films or series on DVD. I do go to the cinema now and then. I do read many books, and a selected few papers and magazines. I draw sometimes and listen to music. I love to listen to audiobooks. I write.
I do talk on the phone. I write e-mails, but I also send letters and postcards.
I play cards and other games.
One thing at a time.
There are still some of us left.
And finally: I hardly ever watch TV or listen to the radio.
I do watch films or series on DVD. I do go to the cinema now and then. I do read many books, and a selected few papers and magazines. I draw sometimes and listen to music. I love to listen to audiobooks. I write.
I do talk on the phone. I write e-mails, but I also send letters and postcards.
I play cards and other games.
One thing at a time.
There are still some of us left.
Saturday, October 13. 2012
Something distinctly different
The other day, I went to a perfumery in order to lift my spirit by sniffing a little Poison. This is by no means a contradiction, and perfume-experienced people know that the name of a frenchman stands for this Poison as one of the most extraordinary scents in this world. So, while I was indulging myself in this heavenly aroma therapy, a woman entered the shop addressing one of the sales ladies. She asked for Poison, but before I had the chance to get jealous I realised what she had said. Instead of simply pronouncing it in English, ˈpɔɪz(ə)n, she had been willing to pay attention to this perfume's French origin. Therefore, she pronounced it pwasɔ̃ , with an unvoiced s, in French "poisson", and not, as she should have, pwazɔ̃ , in French "poison". One tiny little difference, but a distinct one, if not to say distinctive, since a consonant pronounced voiced or unvoiced can be most significant. In this case, the scent of fish is definitely not a perfume.
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