Interesting article on Mental Floss:
Today in Italy is the Day of Memory, when we remember the victims of the Shoah.
Usually on this day I post a clip or something from Ernst Lubitsch’s To Be or Not To Be, but I posted on this subject ten days ago and I know there is a limit to how boring I can be.
So, no Lubitsch today1. I just think I’ll ramble a bit. Continue reading
I was thinking about running away, today.
Not specifically, but as an idea in itself.
Bear with me while I explain: I did a post on my Italian blog about what I would do were I a kid of 17 getting ready to end his high-school.
In a word: I’d forget about school grades as our school system’s disqualified. I’d look for an online certification in the subject I’d love to be my career, and then I’ll leave the country and pursue an education abroad. I closed my post observing that there is no dishonour in retreat if we retreat to save our life and our loved ones’.
My suggestions have been called defeatist – it is better to hold our ground against impossible odds and be blasted to hell, I was told, than run and fight another day.
Which of course sounds impressive on paper, looks great on film, but in real life is suicidal. Continue reading
I just learned of the passing of William Peter Blatty, author of The Exorcist and of one of my favourite books, *Twinkle Twinkle, Killer Kane**.
I worked with many others on a book of essays on his work, many years ago – he turned out to be a kind and intelligent gentleman, and he will be sorely missed.
And so here we are, the last hours of 2016.
The year my life changed radically. A whole new era – a new Yuga, like they say in India.
And yet…
A sage once said that one never sees the Day of the Yuga, but only knows it when it is past. For it dawns like any other day and passes in the same wise, recapitulating the history of the world.
I am sitting in my house, well-wrapped in warm clothes. My brother is outside loading a cart with wood for tonight. We will sit by the fireplace, listen to the radio, and then set ourselves to a slow, abundant, hearty dinner.
Tomorrow is the first day of 2017 – I don’t think I need to remind you of that – and 2017 is a clear slate, with some leftover scribblings from 2016.
Bills to pay, ends to make meet.
There will be books to read, songs to listen to, stories to write.
Which is what passes for life hereabouts, as far as I’m concerned and for the time being.
I’d like to sell a few stories, and I’d also like to start self-publishing again.
I miss Aculeo & Amunet.
We’ll see what tomorrow brings.
Stuff will happen, no matter if we like it or not.
And I think I’ll close this post with something that always makes me laugh, because we all need a good laugh tonight, don’t we?
And some good music.
Take care out there, have fun, and keep warm.
See you on the other side.
“To travel by water and not avoid sea-serpents and dragons,—this is the courage of the fisherman. To travel by land and not avoid the rhinoceros and the tiger,—this is the courage of hunters. When bright blades cross, to look on death as on life,—this is the courage of the hero. To know that failure is fate and that success is opportunity, and to remain fearless in great danger,—this is the courage of the Sage.”
For the first time in my almost-50-years of life, Christmas 2016 brought me a gift of food, that is, the classic “Christmas Gift Basket” that is sort of a traditional thing hereabout as a “family gift”.
I mean, I usually get books, music, maybe a scarf or a pair of mittens.
But a food basket?
Never before.
In this case, it was my uncle, that hit me and my brother with a huge selection of fine traditional Italian treats that will cover all our needs for the New Year’s Eve four-course dinner with assorted associated extras. And then we’ll recycle the basket, and use it for our laundry.
Wow.
And it was not the only gift of food we received: there’s a metal box full of home-made cookies that’s been keeping us happy at tea time for days, now. And then we’ll recycle the metal box to store paid bills.
Which gives me a good starting point for a somewhat more serious reflection on this Christmas in particular, and maybe more general things. Continue reading
Karavansara 