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this old building

I hear many different sounds and noises in the place where I’m living at the moment. The couple upstairs and I keep similar night-owl hours. For me that’s a good thing, because she likes running in her apartment. And even though she’s not light-footed, it’s not annoying. It strikes me as whimsical to run in your apartment when you’re an adult. Besides, I know I have dues to pay because when my children were young, they often ran around our apartment with a soccer ball at their feet, especially Michael who didn’t seem able to move without one. Our downstairs neighbors, three different ones in the time we were there, never complained and always smiled and spoke when they saw us, but now I know how it must have felt.

One day in this old building, my sweet next door neighbor developed bronchitis and coughed the night away. At first I couldn’t place where it was coming from, but when she left for four days all was quiet on the coughing front. On her return it began again. I would have brought her a cup of tea, anything to help the cough, but I know her apologies would never have stopped had she thought she was disturbing anyone. This sound had to be waited out.

Six days a week the office phones ring loud and clear downstairs. Some sounds are easily heard – voices are a murmur, but a laugh is clear. And the pipes in this old building always communicate when they’re working. It’s easy to get used to the pipe noises, but it’s jarring at 3am when someone turns on the shower. And no one can ever sneak into this building. The stairs are old and squeaky and always announce someone’s arrival.

Colin Wilson wrote about Ouspensky in one of his books. He wrote that Gurdjieff had taught Ouspensky about self-remembering. It’s about being aware of yourself and at the same time being aware of what you’re looking at. Ouspensky would walk around St. Petersburg in Russia late at night, and practice self-remembering by noting buildings, small objects, etc. The more he practiced the more he felt that these things were aware of him. After awhile he could sense their history. He said, “they were living beings, full of thoughts, feelings, moods and memories.” That’s when he “learned that everything indeed has a spirit. . . .”

And so, this old building has a feel of its own. What is its history? What are the secrets it’s keeping? Who are the people who built it? Sometimes when you enter a building there’s a feeling of something not being quite right. This one feels right at the moment. And even though I’m not able to sense its history, I’m thinking that perhaps it had a good one.
www.gurdjieff.org/foundation.htm
www.ouspensky.info

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a world of contrasts

Yesterday while reading the New York Times it suddenly dawned on me what a world of contrasts ours is. There was a photo of a child lying on his side at a Mozambique clinic, and under the photo it said he had malaria. It went on to say that, “In Africe, the disease kills 3,000 children each day.” On the next page was a photo of a fisherman on the Nile in Cairo. Under the photo were the words, “men like him live by their wits and earn a few dollars on a good day.” And there were similar photos. Then I noticed the ads of beautiful products by Prada, Chanel, Mikimoto, Tiffany & Co., Coach, Gucci, etc. next to the photos. At that moment those ads alongside the photos seemed completely inappropriate. But we accept these contrasts. We see them, but we really don’t – except when something nudges us to see beyond the newspaper page.

Many families dine with the TV and its news of homicide, mayhem, war-torn bodies, children with guns. Eating and watching and listening to this must do something to the spirit of the one watching. And so this is the other side of the coin – seeing, but unable to help.

I know I’m not going to Mozambique, or the Nile to see if I can somehow make a change. But then, these kinds of photos continue to remind us of the vast numbers of people in the world who suffer day after day without any hope of change coming any time soon.

In The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, there’s a chapter called Always Do Your Best. Maybe that’s an answer. Wherever we find ourselves, in whatever situation we’re in at the time, if we always do our best we’re contributing to helping the world. And one day, if we find ourselves able to help on a mass scale, we’ll step up and do our best – wherever we are; we do our best.
www.miguelruiz.com

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kurosawa

It’s a new month. What will it bring? What do you want it to bring? I’m going to sit here for a few minutes, and think about one thing to do this month that I’ve not done before. That shouldn’t be difficult based on the choices we have in this wonderful world. I just remembered why I’m thinking this way; it’s getting clearer as I go along. I saw Akira Kurosawa’s great movie Ikiru. To be honest, it’s probably not for everyone, but that can be said about most movies. Maybe some people will think it’s too slow. Keep in mind though that the way it unfolds is its beauty. If you’re used to fast-paced movies that leave your mind on edge, and in a fog sometimes, Ikiru could be a delightful change. There’s one scene that will remain in my memory for a long time; it’s simple and beautiful, a different kind of beauty that’s not easy to describe.

While I’m thinking about the month of March, maybe you’ll think about getting the movie. I have a feeling you’ll find your own reasons for enjoying it. www.akirakurosawa.info

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forgive

The reason I’m thinking of forgiveness is that I spent a lovely afternoon with a new friend. She easily moved from one topic of conversation to the next. Conversation was light and fun until the beginning of early evening. Then she began talking about her sister. The unhappy marriage she’s in has caused a rift in the sisters’ relationship. It was once close, now it’s pretty much non-existent . Her sister can’t seem to get out of her own way, she said. Bitterness over a bad marriage is ruining her life.

After listening to the story I asked the question I feel anyone would have asked, “Why doesn’t she leave?” she answered, “She can’t. She’s afraid of losing everything.” Well, what can be said about that kind of response? Some people would have walked away at the first whisperings of unfaithfulness, others would have given it their all until their all was depleted. Living with bitterness year after year, and probably lots of other stuff arising from this lifestyle, is not living. But it’s a choice she made. Although she probably doesn’t see it that way. And the other sister is hurting too watching her sister’s pain. Those involved are no longer alive. So, maybe now it’s time for a change of attitude.

Of course, we couldn’t leave the subject alone after discussing it to this extent. My new friend thought her sister could at least try for a happy life since she’s made a decision to stay. However, she said there’s no way she could ever forgive him. Well, I can’t imagine how life is for those two living together under those circumstances. But, “To each his own.”

So, I got to thinking about the power of forgiveness. It’s a hard thing to do. But when you get to a place where you’re hemmed in and life is so painful, what else is there to do? I once heard a wise lecturer tell his audience, “If you can’t find a good enough reason to forgive, do it for yourself.”

It seems to come down to this for us:
“He who cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass.” -Corrie Ten Boom

and this:
“I will not permit any man to narrow and degrade my soul by making me hate him”-Booker T. Washington

and this:
“If you are suffering from a bad man’s injustice, forgive him, lest there be two bad men.” – Augustine

and this:
“When you forgive, you in no way change the past – but you sure do change the future.” -Bernard Meltzer

and this:
“Forgiveness is impossible in human consciousness, but very possible and manageable in spiritual consciousness.” – Eric Butterworth

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it’s the people

People from all over the world visit NYC and think they’re seeing the real USA. How can that be? People from all over the world are living in NYC, it belongs to the world, or so it seems.

Yes, there are the museums, the top-notch restaurants, the ethnic markets, the shopping, Central Park, Rockefeller Center, the clubs, the opportunities, the money, the fashion, the many forms of entertainment, the businesses, the galleries, the beautiful skyline, the colorful neighborhoods, the bagels, the East River, the Hudson River, etc. etc., but the energy of the people from all over the world is what makes it what it is.

If you’ve been living in NYC, and you decide to move away, there’s a chance you’ll be lost, for awhile. For one thing, you’ll be wandering the streets searching for a New York style restaurant, bistro, coffee shop, that feel good place that stays open 24 hours. And you’ll miss the daytime walking, and you’ll miss the absence of people walking at 3am.

If you’re getting a little bored wherever you are, find the nearest mode of transportation that will get you lickety split to NYC. When you arrive, walk the busiest street, disappear into the crowd and feel the energy. All sense of boredom will be banished.

Stay for awhile until you hear the call for quiet time.

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about the word “thing”

What would we do if we didn’t have the word “thing”? It’s a really convenient word, with many, many different ways of using it. It’s an every day word. When I began pondering the word, I realized just what a good word it is. It’s the kind of word that easily replaces many other words that don’t necessarily come to mind at the moment.

Are you going to the thing uptown tonight?

What a useful word it is.
The thing I like best about him is his compassion.

It’s a elusive word – unclear, but manages to zero in on something.
Can you remember the one thing that inspired you?

The more I think about it, the stranger the word gets.
How would you describe that thing in the water?

I could stay up all night thinking about all the ways to use “thing,” but that wouldn’t be a smart thing to do. Instead I’ll see what dictionary.com has to say about the whole thing.

I have respect for this peculiar, rather mysterious, never quite specific, delightful and funny little word.

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mashed potatoes

Fasting produces a feeling of well-being in the body and mind, whether it’s a long term, one day, or skipping-a-dinner fast. It can forever change the way we think about food in our life. We’re blessed; we have the freedom to eat on a whim whether hungry or not. However, when we misuse that freedom, fasting is a wonderful way to get back on track.

I skipped a meal last week, and got to thinking about the delicious mashed potatoes I prepare. (everyone thinks the same about their mashed potatoes) Fasting also produces food cravings. Food cravings are not really about hunger, and fasting is easier when we understand this. The craving for mashed potatoes was neat. I was able to think about them without wanting to eat them because I knew it was only a craving. Simply knowing that something as tasty as mashed potatoes can be prepared easily, when the fast was over, was satisfying enough.

I thought about the many cookbooks and articles written about the best way to get the right consistency when mashing them. The right consistency-the perfect texture-is like many other things, an individual feeling.

Then I went on thinking about those cookbooks and articles written about mashed potatoes- what’s the best way to get that texture-potato masher, food processor, electric mixer? That seems to be the question. Then, do we leave the skin on or peel it? That’s another question. I thought about the way I prepare them using a potato masher. And unless someone has qualms about leaving the skin on, I leave it on.

I started dreaming about preparing them. I cut them in quarters, as many as the pot can accommodate, add water to cover them, and bring to a boil. I lower the flame when it comes to a boil. I add whole cloves of unpeeled garlic to the potatoes. How much garlic? As much as taste buds can handle.

When the potatoes are cooked through, I save the water, and remove them with a slotted spoon, along with the garlic cloves, and place potatoes and peeled garlic in a large bowl. Now comes the fun of mashing the potatoes and garlic, and s-l-o-w-l-y adding the water the potatoes were cooked in, and then adding a little Celtic salt and freshly ground pepper. Keep mashing; keep tasting, while adding the potato water. Keep mashing; keep tasting. More salt and pepper needed? Is it the right texture yet? What about adding a little olive oil? Does the last tasting say they’re just right?

Craving is satisfied and gone.

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baba ganoush

It was only a few months ago that I tasted Baba Ganoush for the first time. Now I’m addicted to it. I like thinking about its beautiful color, and preparing it and blending it. But, of course, most of all I like eating it. I use more garlic and parsley than the recipes I’ve seen suggest. After preparing it a few times, you’ll probably want to experiment, using more or less of this and that ingredient. It’s fun to personalize a recipe.

The ingredients for Baba Ganoush are 1 large eggplant, 3 tablespoons or more tahini, 3 tablespoons water, 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon fresh chopped garlic, 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, 1/2-1 teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon olive oil.

Pierce eggplant all over, put on baking pan and roast in oven for 1 hour, or broil eggplant in oven, turning until skin is dark. When soft, remove from oven and cool for a few minutes. Drain in strainer, then peel and chop. Put all ingredients in a blender or food processor.

Don’t hesitate to buy organic. I think the creamy & raw, no salt added sesame tahini is a good choice. Find the taste that’s perfect for you. The taste of Baba Ganoush differs among restaurants, too. Perhaps one day we’ll go to the Middle East and explore the taste there. Oh, yes. Serve it with toasted pita bread. It’s also good with crackers, like Wasa Multi Grain Crispbread, Ryvita Light Rye, Nairn’s Rough Oat Cake Crackers.

So creamy, so satisfying, so delectable. Right?

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moore brothers wine company

As much as I like a good glass of red wine I don’t have an understanding of exactly what makes a good glass of red wine. Last week I went to a wine tasting event in the Hudson River Valley. The wines for the evening were neatly placed on a table – waiting. I knew what would happen. There would be those words people use when wine is discussed. The words mean nothing to me in terms of wine; medium tannins, berry fruited, chocolate, spicy, oak, region of grapes, temperature control, delicate, crisp, “notes of melon,” fresh acidity, subtle, complimenting, and on it goes.

We were a small, group at the beginning of the evening. I tried to concentrate on what was said about each bottle of wine. I didn’t open my mouth except to taste the wine. Do I remember one thing about any of the wines? Nothing! I am resigned to being a happy taster. More than that is stretching it for me. I know when I’ve tasted a good glass of wine, the inclination to know more is just not there. However, this I know, if you’re serious about wine, moore brothers wine company at 33 East 20th Street, New York, NY 10003 (phone: 866-986-6673) is a good place.
www.moorebrothers.com

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a movie

Has a movie ever left you with a dismal feeling? That’s never happened to me in the way it did last week. The main actor and actress have “good reputations.” The movie came out in 2006, and no one I know had seen it, so I took a chance. From the onset the movie depressed me. I couldn’t detect any chemistry among any of the characters. It seems that the two main ones were unhappy with their spouses, and didn’t seem particularly happy with each other. No sparks flying anywhere, just one dreary situation after another. One big blah of a movie. Thinking it would somehow redeem itself, I waited and watched for it to get better. It didn’t happen. To sum it up briefly, the acting was listless, the lighting dreary, the story line weak, and it sneakily dissipated my energy. Turning off that movie was such a relief. I think the purpose of it was to make a profit and not to entertain. If that’s so, it succeeded. I won’t mention the name of the movie; why spoil it for someone who thinks it’s good, but just be on the lookout. Watching this kind of a movie is similar to watching a comedian whose timing is off -painful-and, when we see a good one we’re better able to appreciate all that goes into making it so.