
It was two years ago today that I first saw the love of my life in France. My soul mate.
« Broken embraces »
Some movies have that power to take me to very profound layers of myself. Some actors or actresses, as well, but more so, certain film directors: Pedro Almodovar is definitely one of them.
His very distinctive style, twisted stories, recurrent transgender or homosexuality references and esthetics on the verge of some controlled "cheesiness" -is there such a word?- does probably not seduce everybody though.
In order to really get into his world, I personally must agree to get lost at first.This phase works as a ritual that I recognize as his trademark. Then the magic operates in very subtle and yet simultaneously exaggerated tragicomic ways. Strokes after strokes the gradual puzzle appears as a the artist gives birth to a painting on his canvas.
Every Almodovar movie is a sensual and intellectual experience that I know I will savor avidly. I am inevitably seduced by his flamboyant creativity and sensitivity. But besides the colorful and often melodramatic atmosphere for which Almodovar is a real master, I am always deeply moved by the tenderness and compassion with which he depicts and analyses his characters, and women in particular.
When the end (unfortunately) comes, I feel like I am more human, more sensitive and wish I were more creative. I am aware that I have been embarked on a trip to a parallel world: a world of “subtle exaggerations” with blatant beauty and real (com)passion.
In « Broken embraces », separation, death, passion and tragedy are once more a the rendez-vous as familiar and truculent ingredients.
I could not help thinking about the passionate feelings I have for the one I love when tears come even if fortunately, my life is not an Almodovar movie in an opera setting.
I had turned off my cell phone during the movie. But when I switched it back on the following text message from Randy appeared on the screen: ”Wow! Out of the blue, I just felt an amazing deep and profound love for you. Thought you should know”.
I am so grateful that I know, and am being reminded regularly.
P.
Culture shock is a mental state of isolation, confusion, seclusion, sadness, and loneliness.Don’t be afraid if you experience culture shock. These feelings are normal and expected when somebody moves in a totally different environment where everything is totally new.
People who experience culture shock seem to go through distinctive phases. The first phase, you will probably feel that you miss your family very much, you will start comparing your home country with the united States in terms of traditions, food, so forth. In the second phase, you may feel depressed and fear going out and meeting new people. You will start forming personal opinions about American people and American culture.
These opinions might be totally stereotypical and out of context.The only way to get out of culture shock is to realize that you are here for a period of time and that you will need to make certain adjustments for survival, that it is ok to be different and that you are not an American and are not expected to act like one.
(from a USA immigration lottery manual)
P.
« Life is not primarily a quest for pleasure, as Freud believed, or a quest for power as Adler taught, but a quest for meaning. The greater task for any person is to find meaning in his or her life. Frankl saw three possible sources for meaning: in work (doing something significant), in love (caring for another person), and in courage during difficult times.”
(from Harold S. .Kushner`s foreword in “Man`s search for meaning” by Viktor E.Frankl.
I am still reading “Man`s search for meaning” by Viktor E.Frankl. It`s been one of my recent very insightful readings. At about the same time we watched (1st time for me) the movie "The Schindler list" a few weeks ago. There are more funny ways to spend leisure time, but since then I have been remembering more easily that I have a lot to be grateful for what I have in my life today. P.
Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the nonviolent movement for human rights and democracy in Burma (Myanmar), and Nobel laureate.
Burma is one of the most beautiful country I was lucky enough to visit, almost 24 years ago. The people seemed like the most gentle one can imagine in spite the hell in which they have had to live for so long. Everyday pays its toll in murders and deprivation from basic freedom. May the stunning beauty, grace, courage and example of Aung and many others less known not be forgotten. May their sacrifice remind us that we need to be grateful for the freedom we have.
P.
-----------------------------------------
In The Quiet Land
In the Quiet Land, no one can tell
if there's someone who's listening
for secrets they can sell.
The informers are paid in the blood of the land
and no one dares speak what the tyrants won't stand.
In the Quiet land of Burma,
no one laughs and no one thinks out loud.
In the quiet land of Burma,
you can hear it in the silence of the crowd
In the Quiet Land, no one can say
when the soldiers are coming
to carry them away.
The Chinese want a road; the French want the oil;
the Thais take the timber; and SLORC takes the spoils...
Free bird towards a free Burma
By Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
My home...
where I was born and raised
used to be warm and lovely
now filled with darkness and horror.
My family...
whom I had grown with
used to be cheerful and lively
now living with fear and terror.
My friends...
whom I shared my life with
used to be pure and merry
now living with wounded heart.
A free bird...
which is just freed
used to be caged
now flying with an olive branch
for the place it loves.
A free bird towards a Free Burma.
Why do I have to fight???
By Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
They killed my father a year ago,
And they burnt my hut after that
I asked the city men "why me?" they ignored
"I don't know, mind your business," the men said.
One day from elementary school I came home,
Saw my sister was lifeless, lying in blood.
I looked around to ask what happened, if somebody'd known,
Found no one but living room as a flood.
Running away by myself on the village road,
Not knowing where to go but heading for my teacher
Realizing she's the only one who could help to clear my throat,
But this time she gave up, telling me strange things in fear.
Why, teacher, why.. why.. why?
I have no dad nor a sister left.
To teach me and to care for me you said, was that a lie?
This time with tearful eyes she, again, said...
"Be a grown one, young man,
Can't you see we all are dying?
And stop this with your might as soon as you can,
For we all are suffering."
I am thrilled at the idea of such a common space where we can share and keep in memory what goes through our minds, hearts and lives...
When you are 30 zillion miles away from the person you love the most in the entire world, it may symbolically mean a lot be able to express or pour out all these feelings, even if the interface seems virtual.
The relationship, the love, thoughts and commitment are not virtual.They are real regardless of the physical world and appearances.
This my 1st blog . So I`ll discover what it feels like to start one, how to use it, how it will turn out to look like.
Will it be redundant with emails? Will it be written as a journal? Will I directly write to you Randy ? Will it be a testimony of love? a celebration of Life? Will it be the place where my I can allow myself to be "heartful" or hurtful? A photo album? A travel log or a note book for important experiences or even information to never forget...
I don`t know yet.
I`d like to try to let be and let it go (even if it may at time look like a wordy weird "Frenglish"-Yes I have a French brain. And moreover a half one only!) .
If I had to make a wish though it would be that even if I cannot force myself to be a paragon of optimism, I`d like my entries to come from that "Gog" (or "H.P.") place in me. If not, then it`s also OK. No one can always be in the best place.
I`d like to know that when I am in doubt, in pain, feeling lonely, or full of gratitude, I can come here and be closer to the core of what makes this journey -and particularly the journey of a wonderful intimate relationship- worth all the challenges.
Being reminded that we can always make the choice to look at what we have rather than at what we don`t.
Voila. that`s it.
PIERRE LOVES RANDY...