Dear You,
see: one must 'only' have the idea to change something ordinary into something that makes us smile. (I photographed this street barrier in Hamburg).
Which leads me to barriers we build ourselves within and which might stop us from smiling. To be specific: I looked for the reason why I didn't write that many posts in July.
The answer surprised me: I felt overwhelmed!
I really wanted to tell you about the gorgeous trip to New York with my daughter-in-love, and our meeting with a wonderful blogger there, staying overnight with her in the breathtaking surroundings of the Hudson-River. I haven't told you about all that (or shown any of the more than 600 photographs) - partly because I'm too lazy at this hot time of the year - yes, Berlin is boiling, and I don't complain! - partly because I am still travelling the world (haha: world - this time to Hamburg and Munich - LOVELY!).
Well, and as you all know by now: ths wayward Daoist tries very much to "live in the moment" - which often conflicts with another person in me, the diligent chronicler.
But it is way too hot to fight... even with myself - can't see my Jungian shadow because the sun seems to stand right above me... (is this a good metaphor/ picture? Too lazy to think about it).
Can you imagine: I even didn't learn any Italian the last weeks, acciderba!
Know what?
I just don't care. (Knowing myself I know that I will start again with Love in a Cold Climate).
Eventually.
So: I'll prepare a nice breakfast and sit on our balcony - it is still early, the air is mild and the birds look reproachfully at me (they don't dare to sip water from the birth bath on the little table).
Please don't join in! (Looking reproachfully, I mean).
Dear Britta - you are a wonderful wordsmith who has painted dozens of images here in this one post - the photos can wait until the dreaded dark evenings roll in again - the heat of summer is sapping, you are right not to fight it.
ReplyDeleteYou make me happy, Rosemary: you know that I'm never quite sure whether it is a good idea to write in a foreign language (hope that my enthusiasm for English will make the reader overlook the mistakes I make). So thank you very much - and you are right: the photos can wait till the dark evenings!
DeleteMy Hamburg friend is now in Norwich, Norfolk.
ReplyDeleteThen you and Hi are free to visit Berlin - as you both promised long time ago!
DeleteDelightful! We are just back from Maine, and I also have a trove of photos and am not willing (read: too lazy) to be the chronicler right now. So, in the same spirit (today it's hot here too), we will have coffee and breakfast and enjoy the view. It's summertime, after all!
ReplyDeleteDear Sue, I love to hear that! And join you both in my thoughts on your beautiful terrace and enjoy the stunning view!
DeleteI understand the overwhelmed feeling. It is not so much that there is too much to accomplish. It is the simple(?) act of organizing things. Trying to do one thing is hard because which one thing do you choose? Rather than make the choice just sit back and relax. As you said cooler weather will allow you to choose. In the meantime do not be too hard on the birds.
ReplyDeleteDear Emma, thank you for your wise words - and the heat forces me to relax! I allow the birds to use my balcony most of the time - but they are Berlin sparrows, meaning: "Give them an inch and they will take a yard" - in their little brains a yard means my complete balcony. Though I love watching them spluttering in the water of the bird bath.
DeleteWhen I am overwhelmed, Brigitta, and I often am of late, I sit on the porch and listen to the hundreds of birds that enjoy my bird feeders. They talk to each other, and it is soothing. As is having you back.
ReplyDeleteDear Joanne, you really made me happy, thank you! I was on the verge of quitting it all - but then I thought: why invest in something new (Italian words in photos for example) when blogging here brings me so much joy - and the feeling of getting really in contact with the persons who comment here?
DeleteI hope that your work will give you those spare minutes to refill your "batteries". And I admire the birds in their flurry to get what they want.
Oh Britta ……. the older I get, the more this hot weather saps my energy. It annoys me because I don't want to feel like that !!!!
ReplyDelete….. and, I have THOUSANDS of photographs of trips, holidays etc. that are all taken with a blog post in mind and most of them never make it to one …… first of all, I don't think that anyone will be interested and secondly, I'm lazy !!!
Enjoy the sunshine Britta and feel no guilt …. I think that we're all doing the same. XXXX
Dear Jackie, I know that feeling: when we had 38°Celsius I preferred to stay lazily indoors most of the time (though I went to the gym in the very early morning hours). And read India Knight's book "In your Prime" - hahaha, laughing makes everything easier :-)
DeleteTaking photos for a blog post is worth a new post... though at the moment I will follow your advice and be lazy (for a short time).
Dear Britta
ReplyDeleteI understand completely - I had so much to write about when we returned from holiday that I didn't write any of it. No doubt you will feel like it once the heat has died down a little.
Dear Elaine, yes, it is sometimes overwhelming, isn't it? And though Mae West says "Too much of a good thing is - a good thing", I thought "Too much". So I will let my memories simmer like the juice of fruits till it becomes a thick sirup (though I doubt whether this picture is a pearl of poetry ... :-)
DeleteDear Brigitta, I empathize with your report of hot weather. California suffers too. I too am having trouble with my Jungian Shadow; it also wisely hides in the shade today and leaves me short of a complete psyche.
ReplyDeleteDear Geo., as long as we don't follow Peter Schlemihl's example... (Adelbert von Chamisso). I read that California is much more affected by heat - here we can still enjoy it.
DeleteIt is so good to read you all again!