Let There Be Peace!

I watched yesterday while they were demolishing an old house nearby. And it all got into unsettling dimensions since before this, I watched videos and seen pictures of what is going on in Ukraine.

I can’t stop thinking that this cannot be possible, but the suffering is real and the danger even so.

When I wrote the novella ‘I am a Veteran! (in Romanian - Sunt Veteran!)’, my focus was on what had my grandfather experienced while fighting in the World War II, and also wishing that the history will not repeat itself and that all of us learn from the past. Wars are never fought for the wellbeing and prosperity of simple people, especially since simple people are the ones losing their lives in the battle.

 

I just hope that this wish for peace and tranquility will come true as soon as possible:

‘….

I still remember that bitter taste that could not be washed with water or bread. It was the taste of fear. At a certain point, we did not know anymore of what we were afraid. Of death, of hunger, of thirst, of losing our limbs, of lice?! I had never seen robots, but I had heard they existed. And in the smut that surrounded us, while on the battlefield, we all seemed like robots marching forward. We were scared but we still went forward. Some of us were in such a state of shock that they had lost their weapons and were moving forward because the others next to me were doing that. I remember that once I tried to say a prayer, but the loud noise and the sizzling of the bullets passing us hindered me from uttering more than ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, …’ . Boom! Boom! And so I forgot the line of the prayer I was uttering and started again than ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, …’ . Boom!

We kept walking. And walking. We did not even know to where. As if us going forward meant that this land marked out with our blood would end and we could be saved of the horror of dying, of the pain wails around us, of the open eyes so still and ominous of the fallen bodies, of the smell of the burned air. Maybe some of us were dreaming of clean sheets. But I just wanted to get to a quiet place, a place where one could only hear the birds sing and the land was dry, and not swamping with blood.‘

(paragraph from the novella din nuvela ‘I am a Veteran!' (in Romanian - Sunt Veteran!)

Reality check

For a while now (ever since I lived and worked in the town of Cluj-Napoca in an office with people that were at least ten years younger than me), I started using for me the appellation mother.

Nothing unusual in this, since I have also started saying 'back in my day'. And it's good that things evolve and change, but I often find myself speechless in front of things or actions that make me ponder on me being normal or not.

As when it comes to music, more and more often I feel I have to make a reality check. Here it is the most recent expression of music that made me succumb to hearing something humanlike, Bruce Springsteen's music, for example.

To Stand One's Ground

I have met some strong people in my life. But I also met people that misjudged hysteria as a pattern of strong character (this reminds me of the famous line in a Denzel's movie - the weakest one in the room is the loudest one in the room).

I rewatched the series 'The Wonder Years' 1988 and I remembered what it means to actually stand one's ground:

'You're lucky to have opposition. That's how life is. It's easy to take a stand on something if there is no risk involved.'

Compulsory cinematography– Miracle, 2021

A young woman sneaks out of a monastery one morning and takes a cab to the hospital in a small Romanian town. Things get complicated and out of hand and a police inspector appears to zealously investigate why the young woman did not return to the monastery.

I liked how the film director played with some sets, sounds and panoramic shooting, but also the circularity of the film. I can only divulge this, water is an essential element and you will be surprised, maybe at the end of the movie, to find out clues or changes that were particularly marked by this element.

Also, some words in a couple of dialogues seem to reveal what is to come in the story. A fact that makes one wonder, am I interpreting this realistically or mystically?! The script is really well written and the action keeps the viewer dedicated to wanting to find out more, especially since not all the details are given from the beginning, but the truth is unfolded little by little. The main actors beautifully play their roles.

I dearly recommend you go watching the movie Miracle, 2021.

The Rom-English Language

For a while now, I have been gathering words that do not exist in the Romanian language and that appeared in our vocabulary due to our constant use of the English one. Thus, the Rom-English Language appeared, characterized mostly by the butchering of the Romanian language.

The Rom-English is mainly used in corporations, but it can be found elsewhere too. My vigilant friends sent me this link to show that the English native speakers also deal with a similar problem.

Serenity

I very much enjoy the first song in this list.

Seneca – Moral Letters to Lucilius

A paragraph to remember:

‘...

You know, it’s hard to remain the same. Except from the wise man, nobody stays the same; the others, we are all changing in different ways. Now, it may seem that we keep ourselves under control and can be trusted, and tomorrow it may seem that we are prodigal and disoriented. We constantly change the mask we are wearing with one that is the contrary to the one we have on.

As a result, try your best to show your true colors, as you want yourself to be, until the end. Make it so everybody praizes you, and if not, at least it recognizes you.

...’

Almond macaroons

I went today through Piata Romana neighborhood and once I arrived in front of the Casandra pastry shop, I remembered that for months now I have not gone there to buy some almond macaroons or a Pavlova cake (better than at any place I’ve eaten in Bucharest).

Since I had some other errands, I could not carry with me other cakes or a Pavlova cake, so I asked for some almond macaroons to carry. The nice lady at the counter put them in a box and I asked her to transfer them in a bag. So she put them in a paper bag and then insisted to put that one in a plastic bag, so they would not turn to crumbles. I thanked her for being so kind and she replied:

‘Well, I remember you, you are one of our loyal customers, it is a pleasure to care for your order!’

And even though I was wearing the mask and I haven’t been there for at least three months, she still recognized me. This reminded me of why I always like to go shop in places where people treat you with kindness.

This moment was as sweet and soothing as the almond macaroons that this pastry shop makes. And not only these, but all cakes there are amazing. Especially when one compares them with other pastry shops, where they use the same fillings for different cakes (they just experiment with the names and not with the flavors).

If you have not yet tasted them, you should. I haven’t tasted almond macaroons better than here.

In your mind

In your mind, there’s only room for good news. Yes, the only news that matters. And you constantly correct others to filter they’re daily loads and to only give to you what’s good. You’re tired of the bad. Life’s too short and bad has by far so much place in it as it is.

In your mind, there’s music. Sweet songs that make you move, make you jump up for joy, make you reminisce, make you smile and be grateful for what you had, you’ve got and will get.

In your mind, there is a vocabulary. A different one from the traditional; you gathered all while in your quest to conquer beautiful moments and meeting lovely people that never cease to amaze you with their kindness and good will.   

In your mind …

Team Flip

I recently saw the new special of Aziz Ansari on Netflix.

At the end, it really comforted me. I am not alone. And I guess there are more.

I too am in the Team Flip (I changed my yellow phone to a red flip one) and enjoy my lifewithout a smartphone.

Quoting here Aziz:

‘You get your mind back and you can see through the fog. You get where you want to go, you just write down detailed directions before you leave the house.’

It’s kismet!

I’m not going to argue if I believe in faith or not. This is beyond the point I am making here.

I just love the fact that small things I find on my way constantly show me that I am lucky. And it's great to be reminded of that.

Spring is just around the corner!

My husband is also committed to playing the reporter part in this city of Bucharest. He recorded this wonderful dog while it was out with its master.

Do you also see into its walk a sign that the spring is coming?