The beauty of silence

Winter always brings out the antisocial me and that is no surprise. The cold weather forces me to spend more time with people I don't like much to begin with and, although you can't start to like people until you know them better, in my case (or should I say-in their case) getting to know them better just gives me even more reasons not to like them. And so the feeling of irritation and intolerance deepens with each day. And I might know why.

Most people don't care to look outside their small box; I always look at the big picture. I don't get it: if you keep your eyes to the ground all you'll see is dirt; you have to lift yourself above it to see the beauty of life. You see? We don't share the same reality, there is no common ground for us. I listen to their stories and worries and see nothing that is worth even a first thought. To put it simply: people talk too much. Too much; about anything; all the time. The noise polluting the world these days is overwhelming and yet people carelessly produce more and more of it. If I try to outspeak them I will be just like them. So I don't. I just remain in dismayed silence that breaks only when I have something meaningful to say (which, of course, could be...and probably is of no meaning to the others).

My point is: noise excess devaluates words. It saddens me to see the gift of human thought so ungratefully misused.

"In the cold light of morning"

It was -20°C this morning. That pretty much says it all. When it's that cold no thought can survive anyway. 

Suicide Squad has its official trailer

Yeah baby :)

On this winter's day

Sometimes, out of the blue, I feel love for life so strong that it frightens me. It frightens me because the feeling lasts for some time and then it goes away. It frightens me to think it might not come back.

What a difference a day makes

Life is good… again, contrary to how I felt just 24 hours ago.

Yesterday morning, a little before 7 AM, I was at the bus stop looking idly around as I waited. And then I saw this dog - a snow white husky, apparently young and beyond any doubt lost. Oh hell. I kneeled and called her. She came close but not close enough to grab the rope tied around her neck that she had for a collar. She didn't seem scared though, she was in a playful mood. She found a chestnut on the ground and played with it. The chestnut fell a foot from where I was. I took it and tossed it in the air a few times to trick her to come closer. And it worked! I grabbed the rope and retrieved my late dog’s leash from my bag (Vincent died five years ago and ever since I carry his leash in my bag for exactly such occasions. That was the first time I used it.) and put it on. So far so good; what now? It's not like I had a variety of choices. I took the dog home, took pictures, went to work, posted the pictures online with description and coordinates, printed the pictures, went out and distributed them in the area. I could do nothing more but to hope for the best.

Let's say the day seemed endless.

The horror of waiting for owners to see the “dog found” ads and contact me, the worst case scenario that kept on creeping into my head - that the dog might be thrown out and no one was actually looking for her. What was I to do then!? I’m not ready to have a dog again! Of course no way I was throwing her out. I could already see myself stuck to a dog for the next fifteen years.

She was a darling! Incredible dog! Although young she was already well trained. It was obvious someone had invested a great deal of time, efforts and love in her. That's why it was hard to imagine no one was looking for her.

And yet hours dragged on uneventfully. I was gripped in despair.

And then, 15 minutes past 9 PM, my phone rang and a a distressed female voice asked if I had her gog.

I could be wrong and yet I don't think I have ever been happier.

Ten minutes later the husky was reunited with her humans. There were tears of joy - they cried, I cried, the dog went insane with happiness to see them.

Watching happy endings on TV is one thing. Creating a happy ending for someone is the most rewarding experience there is.

To be honest, my decision to take the dog home was far from lighthearted. I was completely aware of the trouble I was getting myself into and of the eventual consequence that I might have to keep the dod. I could have simply turn a blind eye, get on the bus and pretend that nothing happened. Many people would have. I won't say I wasn't tempted to choose the easy way - I was. But to claim that I love animals and not help an animal in need when there's an opportunity to do so...that would make me a hypocrite. 

Hand them over :)

Have you entertained yourself on Internet with those grids of letters, seemingly randomly scattered, but some of them form words and the first three words you make out will show how the new year is going to be like for you?

I just did and my first three words were happiness, hope and love.

It's the perfect choice isn't it?

Longing

I miss being on the road. I, who had a fear of traveling, can't wait to be lost in uncertainty again. Next trip just can't come too soon. I don't want to wait.

To closed doors and open windows

2015 didn't end well but 2016 kicked off with some sweet surprises. I wish that meant something but it doesn't. It's not a sign, it doesn't hint of anything. To those who found the time to throw good words in my direction-thank you, I will be forever grateful; and when I say "forever" it's exactly what it means. To those who apparently think they are better off without me-I hope you'll have a good life; BTW, you're always welcome back if you have a change of hearts (hopefully not literally).

My point is: if you're good to me I'll be good to you. If you're not... I'll be good to you anyway - not because I'm an idiot (hmm, my phone suggested the word "idiot"-should I be alarmed?), not because the Bible says to "turn the other cheek" (I'm not masochistic either...I think) but because I believe in kindness and I hope my heart will never get as broken as to lose that faith.

The morning after

There's something apocalyptic about January 1st every time. It's cold, quite, deserted and all shops are closed.  Although my favorite café has opened an hour ago I am still the only customer. It won't take long before people crawl out from last night's oblivion and the place is crowded but for some more time it will remain pleasantly peaceful and free from junk noise.