Thursday, 29 April 2010
Tuesday, 27 April 2010
The P-P-Platypus Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gM5TjSOQ48
I want the ringtone! Can you imagine the reaction from folks on the bus or on a crowded subway to hearing this *grins* Do go have a listen!
What the heck...
Is this for real? Do people really do this?
I was browsing through the news this morning when starting my day. The one article was on "9 Ways to Ensure You Don't Get the Job". Link here.
The writer lists things like "Don't spam your resume" and "Don't ask what the company does". Fairly logical and reasonable, the kind of tips we see often, but I nearly fell out of my chair when I read:
And this....
I was browsing through the news this morning when starting my day. The one article was on "9 Ways to Ensure You Don't Get the Job". Link here.
The writer lists things like "Don't spam your resume" and "Don't ask what the company does". Fairly logical and reasonable, the kind of tips we see often, but I nearly fell out of my chair when I read:
Come with your own beverages.People do this?? Seriously?
Many hiring managers dislike it when people bring their own take-out cups of coffee to drink during an interview, according to career strategist Barbara Safani. It can come across as far too informal. And if you bring a child's Hello Kitty lunch box containing utensils to brew your own tea, as one candidate did when meeting Terdik, you will be memorable--but not in a good way.
And this....
Bring the family.I'm sitting here shaking my head... it boggles the mind.... We live in an insane world...
Erin Duddy, a recruiter at a small staffing firm in Raleigh, has been unpleasantly surprised when a candidate brings a baby or a child to an interview. "If you absolutely must bring children to the company, at least clear it ahead of time," she recommends.A hiring manager at a Florida hospital adds that bringing a spouse or parent to the interview--or letting a loved one negotiate your salary and benefits for you--is one way to ensure you'll get no salary and benefits.
Monday, 26 April 2010
What the heck...
Is this for real? Do people really do this?
I was browsing through the news this morning when starting my day. The one article was on "9 Ways to Ensure You Don't Get the Job". Link here.
The writer lists things like "Don't spam your resume" and "Don't ask what the company does". Fairly logical and reasonable, the kind of tips we see often, but I nearly fell out of my chair when I read:
And this....
I was browsing through the news this morning when starting my day. The one article was on "9 Ways to Ensure You Don't Get the Job". Link here.
The writer lists things like "Don't spam your resume" and "Don't ask what the company does". Fairly logical and reasonable, the kind of tips we see often, but I nearly fell out of my chair when I read:
Come with your own beverages.People do this?? Seriously?
Many hiring managers dislike it when people bring their own take-out cups of coffee to drink during an interview, according to career strategist Barbara Safani. It can come across as far too informal. And if you bring a child's Hello Kitty lunch box containing utensils to brew your own tea, as one candidate did when meeting Terdik, you will be memorable--but not in a good way.
And this....
Bring the family.I'm sitting here shaking my head... it boggles the mind.... We live in an insane world...
Erin Duddy, a recruiter at a small staffing firm in Raleigh, has been unpleasantly surprised when a candidate brings a baby or a child to an interview. "If you absolutely must bring children to the company, at least clear it ahead of time," she recommends.A hiring manager at a Florida hospital adds that bringing a spouse or parent to the interview--or letting a loved one negotiate your salary and benefits for you--is one way to ensure you'll get no salary and benefits.
Sunday, 25 April 2010
The leaning tree
Fallen,
yet strong
Needing support,
yet giving wisdom
Injured,
yet giving life
Careworn,
yet giving peace
On Friday mornings I teach at a renowned bank. Next to the bank is a little park with some old trees, perhaps not ancient, but old enough to have seen a thing or two of this life. I like to get to my student early, so that I can sit for a few minutes just drinking in the peace and coolness of the park. The very air feels and smells different in there. It's quite with just a few folk walking with their partners, their dogs, or just enjoying the place alone the way I do. I walk up to the old tree and touch it just to feel the peaceful energy. It seems to tell me to relax and breathe. I see the tiny shoot growing out of its thick trunk. There is always hope.
I leave the park renewed, ready for another day where little can get me down.
The leaning tree
Fallen,
yet strong
Needing support,
yet giving wisdom
Injured,
yet giving life
Careworn,
yet giving peace
On Friday mornings I teach at a renowned bank. Next to the bank is a little park with some old trees, perhaps not ancient, but old enough to have seen a thing or two of this life. I like to get to my student early, so that I can sit for a few minutes just drinking in the peace and coolness of the park. The very air feels and smells different in there. It's quite with just a few folk walking with their partners, their dogs, or just enjoying the place alone the way I do. I walk up to the old tree and touch it just to feel the peaceful energy. It seems to tell me to relax and breathe. I see the tiny shoot growing out of its thick trunk. There is always hope.
I leave the park renewed, ready for another day where little can get me down.
Saturday, 24 April 2010
Random oddities
Did you know that the time period when you're just falling asleep is called the hypnogogic state and the time of awakening is called the hypnopompic state? See the article here.
One seed appears to be sprouting. I think it's a catnip. Expressing my lack of conviction, Jurgis suggested I haul the cat over it and do a 'cat scan' for confirmation.
My bus was dying two days ago. It stalled every time the bus slowed down. I was the last passenger and had at least half my journey to go still. The bus driver insisted on trying to get me all the way. I had my own private, albeit barely functional, limousine. So sweet. The bus drivers know me well.
Our dogs were barking earlier. We looked out to find a guy standing on the neighbour's roof. Hands on hips, cigarette in one, he turned to us and said, "The tenants really trashed this place."
Speaking of tenants. Our neighbours on the same property moved out not too long after we moved in. Then the neighbours to our right moved out. The neighbours to our left are either doing a drastic spring clean or they're moving out too. Think we should change our deodorant? We had the same thing in our previous home where many of the houses around us ended up empty for a long time. I'm not complaining. It's infinitely quite. And speaking of empty houses. With so many empty houses, why is it always so hard to find a house to move into?
When I was walking in town this week, I saw an old Japanese man selling strands of origami cranes. His sign said, "Passaro Feriz." : )
I miss my origami queen. No one to make random birds for me at random places in town. Guess I should stick to roses.
One seed appears to be sprouting. I think it's a catnip. Expressing my lack of conviction, Jurgis suggested I haul the cat over it and do a 'cat scan' for confirmation.
My bus was dying two days ago. It stalled every time the bus slowed down. I was the last passenger and had at least half my journey to go still. The bus driver insisted on trying to get me all the way. I had my own private, albeit barely functional, limousine. So sweet. The bus drivers know me well.
Our dogs were barking earlier. We looked out to find a guy standing on the neighbour's roof. Hands on hips, cigarette in one, he turned to us and said, "The tenants really trashed this place."
Speaking of tenants. Our neighbours on the same property moved out not too long after we moved in. Then the neighbours to our right moved out. The neighbours to our left are either doing a drastic spring clean or they're moving out too. Think we should change our deodorant? We had the same thing in our previous home where many of the houses around us ended up empty for a long time. I'm not complaining. It's infinitely quite. And speaking of empty houses. With so many empty houses, why is it always so hard to find a house to move into?
When I was walking in town this week, I saw an old Japanese man selling strands of origami cranes. His sign said, "Passaro Feriz." : )
I miss my origami queen. No one to make random birds for me at random places in town. Guess I should stick to roses.
Random oddities
Did you know that the time period when you're just falling asleep is called the hypnogogic state and the time of awakening is called the hypnopompic state? See the article here.
One seed appears to be sprouting. I think it's a catnip. Expressing my lack of conviction, Jurgis suggested I haul the cat over it and do a 'cat scan' for confirmation.
My bus was dying two days ago. It stalled every time the bus slowed down. I was the last passenger and had at least half my journey to go still. The bus driver insisted on trying to get me all the way. I had my own private, albeit barely functional, limousine. So sweet. The bus drivers know me well.
Our dogs were barking earlier. We looked out to find a guy standing on the neighbour's roof. Hands on hips, cigarette in one, he turned to us and said, "The tenants really trashed this place."
Speaking of tenants. Our neighbours on the same property moved out not too long after we moved in. Then the neighbours to our right moved out. The neighbours to our left are either doing a drastic spring clean or they're moving out too. Think we should change our deodorant? We had the same thing in our previous home where many of the houses around us ended up empty for a long time. I'm not complaining. It's infinitely quite. And speaking of empty houses. With so many empty houses, why is it always so hard to find a house to move into?
When I was walking in town this week, I saw an old Japanese man selling strands of origami cranes. His sign said, "Passaro Feriz." : )
I miss my origami queen. No one to make random birds for me at random places in town. Guess I should stick to roses.
One seed appears to be sprouting. I think it's a catnip. Expressing my lack of conviction, Jurgis suggested I haul the cat over it and do a 'cat scan' for confirmation.
My bus was dying two days ago. It stalled every time the bus slowed down. I was the last passenger and had at least half my journey to go still. The bus driver insisted on trying to get me all the way. I had my own private, albeit barely functional, limousine. So sweet. The bus drivers know me well.
Our dogs were barking earlier. We looked out to find a guy standing on the neighbour's roof. Hands on hips, cigarette in one, he turned to us and said, "The tenants really trashed this place."
Speaking of tenants. Our neighbours on the same property moved out not too long after we moved in. Then the neighbours to our right moved out. The neighbours to our left are either doing a drastic spring clean or they're moving out too. Think we should change our deodorant? We had the same thing in our previous home where many of the houses around us ended up empty for a long time. I'm not complaining. It's infinitely quite. And speaking of empty houses. With so many empty houses, why is it always so hard to find a house to move into?
When I was walking in town this week, I saw an old Japanese man selling strands of origami cranes. His sign said, "Passaro Feriz." : )
I miss my origami queen. No one to make random birds for me at random places in town. Guess I should stick to roses.
Friday, 23 April 2010
Controversial
There are two subjects I avoid like the plague on my blog - religion and politics. If the truth were told, I'm chicken. I shy away from confrontation and these subjects bring out the worst in people. Another reason I never post on those subjects is because it tears away at the cameraderie in the people around me. Having said all that (take it as a disclaimer, if you like)...
I have a question for the Christians in particular...
If Jesus were here on earth today in flesh and blood, would he have gotten involved in elections? More to the point, would he have taken part in heated blog and Facebook discussions on whether or not a particular party is 'crap' or not (not language I usually use in a blog... it is quoted from a 'Christian's' rantings).
And tell me, while you're at it, does 'dissing' the 'other side' fall in line with the Bible's teachings on "love one another as you love yourself"?
No, I'm not targeting Christians. It's just that this kind of thing is something I only seem to see among Christians. In fact, the more they proclaim their Christianity, the hotter the debates are that they have.
Getting back to Jesus. He said that his Kingdom is not 'of this world'. (John 18:36 - 36Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." NIV) If Jesus was prepared to let things go and focus on his own Kingdom, why can't his followers do the same?
Wednesday, 21 April 2010
Book share
I have a new 'project'. I have a huge kist filled with books of all sizes and kinds. Some are very special books I'll never let go of unless really forced to. The rest are books I've hoarded over the past 11 years here.
These books I plan to share. My idea is to leave them on tables in public eating areas for people to pick up and enjoy. There's a proviso though. They are to keep the bookmark with the book and when they're done reading, they leave the book some place for someone else to enjoy.
Thanks to Jurgis for helping with the bookmark design and thanks to Nathalie and Tatiana for helping with the translation!
On the one side, in English and Portuguese, I have: "This book is free to take and read. The only condition is that you look after it and leave it for others when you are finished." That part is outside the book, so it is seen first.
The bookmark folds over and on the other side, I have two quotes, which appear on different bookmarks. Again, they are translated:
No entertainment is so cheap as reading, nor any pleasure so lasting.I don't have too many Brazilians reading my blogs, but if you want a copy of the bookmark template, I can send it along.
~ Lady M. W. Montague ~
I've never known any trouble that an hour's reading didn't assuage.
~ Montesquieu ~
Sunday, 18 April 2010
Food for today and food for the future
I sit here now with the sun streaming in behind me. This seat gets pretty hot in the afternoon. Too hot... laundry calls. The air is cooling outside.
Back...
Today was a general domestic day. I baked some raisin bread (click for the recipe). It was as good as it looks! Sorry to torment the dieters and daughters on foreign soil ; )
While it was rising, I sorted some cupboards... the pantry, the baking pans, etc. I love the idea of a house-husband, but I do wish he'd apply his usual perfectionism to my cupboards. I think it's a mental block with him. Dough hooks do not go with the serving spoons. They go in the drawer with the baking tools!
I spent some time potting around in the 'garden'. Jurgis was going to make some planters, but we don't have enough materials, so that's not going to happen. I did make some seedling starters though.
The bolts are there to stop them rolling off. My seeds are ancient, so I'm not sure if they'll germinate, but I won't know if I don't try. I labelled the bottles, as you can see. Hm.... let's see... lemon balm (my all-time favourite herb), catnip (an essential), German chamomile, Swiss chard (I miss that stuff), green beans (why was the seed bright pink??), peas and one more attempt at gem squash.
See the hi-tech closing device? Nifty, huh?
Back...
Today was a general domestic day. I baked some raisin bread (click for the recipe). It was as good as it looks! Sorry to torment the dieters and daughters on foreign soil ; )
While it was rising, I sorted some cupboards... the pantry, the baking pans, etc. I love the idea of a house-husband, but I do wish he'd apply his usual perfectionism to my cupboards. I think it's a mental block with him. Dough hooks do not go with the serving spoons. They go in the drawer with the baking tools!
I spent some time potting around in the 'garden'. Jurgis was going to make some planters, but we don't have enough materials, so that's not going to happen. I did make some seedling starters though.
The bolts are there to stop them rolling off. My seeds are ancient, so I'm not sure if they'll germinate, but I won't know if I don't try. I labelled the bottles, as you can see. Hm.... let's see... lemon balm (my all-time favourite herb), catnip (an essential), German chamomile, Swiss chard (I miss that stuff), green beans (why was the seed bright pink??), peas and one more attempt at gem squash.
See the hi-tech closing device? Nifty, huh?
Saturday, 17 April 2010
Real Luxury
The photo isn't mine. I found it on a 'joke' site.
She pulled up in front of the rickety gate with her 'borrowed' supermarket shopping trolley. Bottles and containers of all sizes filled the cart. She handed them over to her husband.
As we drew closer, we saw the contents of the bottles - water.
We also saw what they call home, a tiny slip of ground with a door they have to bend low to go through. The rusty cottage panes were stuffed with crumpled newspaper to keep the weather out.
We pulled along our street market cart, filled with the week's shopping. I can't even begin to imagine having to go out with bottles to collect water for home use. As far as we could tell, she must be getting her water from the petrol station on the corner.
We got home and turned on the tap to have a long drink of cool water. It's hot out there. I took some refreshing tonic water from the fridge. We live such a privileged life!
I think I’ll do well in prison
... certainly if this is the kind of food they enjoy!
Is it me or does the kid look slightly creepy leering at the bread like that?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36593375/ns/us_news/
NJ cafeteria workers punish food-fighting students
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - Students at New Jersey's Atlantic City High School have learned not to mess with the lunch ladies.
Cafeteria workers served only cheese sandwiches Wednesday and Thursday as punishment for a food fight.
School Superintendent Fredrick Nickles says the school supplies only the basic food requirement when there's been a food-throwing incident. Nickles says the policy has been effective over the years.
Story continues below ↓advertisement | your ad here
Only the group that engaged in the fight out of the school's three lunch periods was punished.
Parent Bridgitte Reid became angry after her daughter explained the menu. Reid called it "prison food."
A full meal was on the menu for students Friday.
**
What kind of food do they usually get then if cheese sandwiches are 'prison food'??? Growing up, I had cheese sarmies on a good day. Most days it was jam or peanut butter (or a combo). A sarmie and some junk juice and I'm as healthy as a horse... or make that an elephant. My childhood diet wasn't terribly conducive to being slim 'n trim, but that was its only downfall really.
I love cheese sarmies!!
Is it me or does the kid look slightly creepy leering at the bread like that?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36593375/ns/us_news/
NJ cafeteria workers punish food-fighting students
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - Students at New Jersey's Atlantic City High School have learned not to mess with the lunch ladies.
Cafeteria workers served only cheese sandwiches Wednesday and Thursday as punishment for a food fight.
School Superintendent Fredrick Nickles says the school supplies only the basic food requirement when there's been a food-throwing incident. Nickles says the policy has been effective over the years.
Story continues below ↓advertisement | your ad here
Only the group that engaged in the fight out of the school's three lunch periods was punished.
Parent Bridgitte Reid became angry after her daughter explained the menu. Reid called it "prison food."
A full meal was on the menu for students Friday.
**
What kind of food do they usually get then if cheese sandwiches are 'prison food'??? Growing up, I had cheese sarmies on a good day. Most days it was jam or peanut butter (or a combo). A sarmie and some junk juice and I'm as healthy as a horse... or make that an elephant. My childhood diet wasn't terribly conducive to being slim 'n trim, but that was its only downfall really.
I love cheese sarmies!!
Tuesday, 13 April 2010
Colour
My world is full of colour today. Happy birthday to me... rather late :)
I've been whining on and off for years about the lamentable lack of colour in local socks. Tat remedied that very nicely. Thank you sooooo much! Oh and chocolate! Can we say Cadburys? Flake? Smarties? Hmmm.... It's so hard not to pig out. Then there's the really sweet plaque...
Best of all was the letter. The kind of letter that makes being a mom so worth it *happy sigh and watery eyes* And the birthday card full of dreams and dandelions : )
It's been a fabulous two days.
Yesterday was our wedding anniversary... 24 years. We had some good steak for supper, topped with mushroom and caramelised onion. Then another unheard-of veg... brussel sprouts!! Delicious! Steak is rare enough for us, but mushrooms and brussel sprouts was a pure treat!
Uh yes... and a sleepy cat. "You done with all this flash already??"
I've been whining on and off for years about the lamentable lack of colour in local socks. Tat remedied that very nicely. Thank you sooooo much! Oh and chocolate! Can we say Cadburys? Flake? Smarties? Hmmm.... It's so hard not to pig out. Then there's the really sweet plaque...
Best of all was the letter. The kind of letter that makes being a mom so worth it *happy sigh and watery eyes* And the birthday card full of dreams and dandelions : )
It's been a fabulous two days.
Yesterday was our wedding anniversary... 24 years. We had some good steak for supper, topped with mushroom and caramelised onion. Then another unheard-of veg... brussel sprouts!! Delicious! Steak is rare enough for us, but mushrooms and brussel sprouts was a pure treat!
Uh yes... and a sleepy cat. "You done with all this flash already??"
Friday, 09 April 2010
It's a dog's life
Romany and Dingo like to lie under my desk at my feet. Dingo is ever watchful and hops up as soon as the camera is directed at her, but Romany...
Today was a long drizzly day. All buses were packed to the brim - sardine can style. Guess who left her umbrella at home *sigh*
Today was a long drizzly day. All buses were packed to the brim - sardine can style. Guess who left her umbrella at home *sigh*
del.icio.us Tags: romany
Thursday, 08 April 2010
Long overdue
I've been a bad, bad blogger. Thing is, I'm usually out, busy preparing for going out, or just plain pooped. I've been ready for bed by 9:30pm most nights. I mean.... that's awful. I'm a 2am girl!! A night owl. I swear! Ok, I was.
Life has suddenly gotten very busy, which, in itself, isn't a bad thing. I often leave home really early and return late. It isn't that I work a full day out there, but it takes up to 2 hours to get into town and having students 3 or even 4 hours apart means I can't go home between them and end up wasting time in town.
We had an interesting start to our day yesterday. Jurgis' motherboard on his pc blew. Yay... not news that brought great joy. We had another old one, thankfully, a temperamental one, but it works. Then I was woken by a crash... another shelf had come off the wall. With all the rain we've had, I think the very brickwork is soggy. There's a lot of black mould on that wall, so that is probably the case. The shelf had a lot of stuff stored on it. A few broken light bulbs later (we still need to test Jurgis' circular saw, which fell rather hard, but need the rain to clear to do that), we now have random boxes stacked all over the floor... again.
I have been contacted by a woman from SESC here. SESC is an organisation that promotes sport, exercise, culture, art, etc in Brazil. They're looking for a South African who can do workshops on weekends for the duration of the world cup to spread awareness of what South Africa is all about. Apparently, it will be paid work. I did, however, laugh when she asked if I knew of any singers, writers, dancers, poets, artists, etc in the local South African community. What community? I tried to start one, but the consulate at the time said "No", they were not prepared to associate themselves with any form of community. Besides, any South African who is anyone will be heading home for the world cup. Anyway, I'm meeting her this weekend to put together a plan of action. I'm rather excited, not because it's work, but to be able to spread awareness here. Yes, we do have telephones in South Africa. Yes, I am white (shock! horror!) No, there are no lions in the street. Besides, it's the mambas you have to worry about. Y'know... that kind of thing ; )
Then, last week or so, I got a call one night. A guy from my hometown, Port Elizabeth, in South Africa tracked me down by researching my domain name on Whois. He wanted to know if I could buy a domain for him with a .com.br (Jurgis and I agreed he must be somewhat crazy, but if he wants it....). You have to have a Brazilian tax number to get a Brazilian domain name. Oh, and they wanted our parents' names too. That's the Brazilian way... nothing happens without your parents' names on any document. Then the mess started. How to get money into Brazil. Paypal worked fine, except that after the money was in my bank for 2 days, my bank, in all it's wisdom, sent it back to Paypal. Paypal blames the bank. The bank blames Paypal. Yes, we go in circles like that here. Then we thought of Western Union. He had a bit of a song and dance that end and finally transferred the money today. I must say, it was fairly painless in the end. It did require trips into town and the bank.
Uh... I've run out of steam. I know there was more to post about, but my bed is calling. Oh! Tat went to Alton Towers, an amusement park in the UK, courtesy of Kings Park (they took all the volunteers). Fun was had by all, I think.
Life has suddenly gotten very busy, which, in itself, isn't a bad thing. I often leave home really early and return late. It isn't that I work a full day out there, but it takes up to 2 hours to get into town and having students 3 or even 4 hours apart means I can't go home between them and end up wasting time in town.
We had an interesting start to our day yesterday. Jurgis' motherboard on his pc blew. Yay... not news that brought great joy. We had another old one, thankfully, a temperamental one, but it works. Then I was woken by a crash... another shelf had come off the wall. With all the rain we've had, I think the very brickwork is soggy. There's a lot of black mould on that wall, so that is probably the case. The shelf had a lot of stuff stored on it. A few broken light bulbs later (we still need to test Jurgis' circular saw, which fell rather hard, but need the rain to clear to do that), we now have random boxes stacked all over the floor... again.
I have been contacted by a woman from SESC here. SESC is an organisation that promotes sport, exercise, culture, art, etc in Brazil. They're looking for a South African who can do workshops on weekends for the duration of the world cup to spread awareness of what South Africa is all about. Apparently, it will be paid work. I did, however, laugh when she asked if I knew of any singers, writers, dancers, poets, artists, etc in the local South African community. What community? I tried to start one, but the consulate at the time said "No", they were not prepared to associate themselves with any form of community. Besides, any South African who is anyone will be heading home for the world cup. Anyway, I'm meeting her this weekend to put together a plan of action. I'm rather excited, not because it's work, but to be able to spread awareness here. Yes, we do have telephones in South Africa. Yes, I am white (shock! horror!) No, there are no lions in the street. Besides, it's the mambas you have to worry about. Y'know... that kind of thing ; )
Then, last week or so, I got a call one night. A guy from my hometown, Port Elizabeth, in South Africa tracked me down by researching my domain name on Whois. He wanted to know if I could buy a domain for him with a .com.br (Jurgis and I agreed he must be somewhat crazy, but if he wants it....). You have to have a Brazilian tax number to get a Brazilian domain name. Oh, and they wanted our parents' names too. That's the Brazilian way... nothing happens without your parents' names on any document. Then the mess started. How to get money into Brazil. Paypal worked fine, except that after the money was in my bank for 2 days, my bank, in all it's wisdom, sent it back to Paypal. Paypal blames the bank. The bank blames Paypal. Yes, we go in circles like that here. Then we thought of Western Union. He had a bit of a song and dance that end and finally transferred the money today. I must say, it was fairly painless in the end. It did require trips into town and the bank.
Uh... I've run out of steam. I know there was more to post about, but my bed is calling. Oh! Tat went to Alton Towers, an amusement park in the UK, courtesy of Kings Park (they took all the volunteers). Fun was had by all, I think.
Friday, 02 April 2010
Carry your load quickly
Mosselbay is a memory plucked from the mists of time. I don't know who my companions were and I have no idea what I was doing there. If the memory of the new blue jean stains wasn't so clear, I'd be almost tempted to think I imagined the whole thing. I had new jeans on that day. It was hot. I was sweaty. The dye from the jeans stained my skin.
Whichever way I look at it, I learned a valuable lesson that day, one I'd basically forgotten, one I find myself needing to remember.
I don't remember who was with us, as I've mentioned, but I do remember the black woman. We were walking with heavy (to my young mind) bags along a long (probably wasn't long, but I was young), winding road up a hill. I must have been complaining about the heat, the weight of the bags and the distance.
The woman turned to me and very patiently explained that taking long with a task does not make the task easier; that the slower we walked, the longer we'd have to carry the bags. The bags would not get any lighter. Au contraire, they would get progressively heavier.
Ah, if I could just remember that - so often I procrastinate or dawdle when carrying a 'load'. How many times don't we put off doing an odious task, as though putting it off will make the task more pleasant? How many times don't we drag our feet with a project thinking it will become any easier? How many times don't I find myself trudging in the heat with my bag of books? Wouldn't it be cleverer to just move quickly, as the quicker I move, the sooner I can get to shade or put my bag down? Simple logic that so often escapes me.
In the end, we arrived at our destination and were refreshed. I now know the memory isn't a figment of my imagination. I was admiring some photos on her dresser and ornaments. There was one ornament, a tall, slender lady in pale blue and white. This lady was so elegant. She gave me that ornament. I still had that ornament up to our move to Brazil. Wonder where it is now.
I still don't know who the woman was or why we were with her, but I do remember the ornament and the lesson.
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