Big Wild Forest Adventure

Do you ever find yourself wondering in the biggest, most diversified and most scenic forest. You enjoy the walk. Admire the trees, the tiniest insects and leaves. You want to absorb all the smells and the wind because it feels so fresh and inviting! Every step that you take you find something breathtaking and astonishing. You want to stop and take it in and remember it. The beauty is overwhelming but it excites you. You want to stay there forever and become part of it. You want to take pictures and invite all your friends to share it with them. I feels like you understand it and it understands your needs. It is quiet when you need it to be quiet. It it still when you need stillness. It is vigorous and ferocious when you need it to be energising and stimulating. You know this forest! Oh! You know it with all its corners and dark burrows.

But all of a sudden, the same forest, makes you feel small. It becomes big. So much bigger than you expected and you feel its stormy power over you. You realise that although you are stepping alone, and that it is only the sound of your two boots crushing those leaves on the ground, you are not alone! The forest is full of wild and unpredictable animals that lurk behind every tree and bush. They watch you walk. They wait for you to lose your guide. They anticipate the first sign of weakness. They want to close in on you, make you small and scared. You can't blame them. After all they are wild creatures guided by two never-sleeping instincts to procreate and survive. All of a sudden that which gave you so much confidence is forcing you to put your tail between your legs and curl up into a small ball.

But you can't let your fear rule over! You have to remember what your mama always said. Remember? She always said to stand straight and tall with your head up. She said to stay true and honest. And most of all "KEEP DOING YOUR    THING!" Keep doing your thing. Do you thing!

November 11, 2018

Happy Birthday to my dear mother in law who is celebrating her 21st birthday! For all your smiles, tears and time invested in us!And let's celebrate all mothers who always tell us what to do, and rightly so, it is always a good advice!

Friday Morning Melancholy

I wake up on a rainy Friday morning. Get my son ready for school. We have a relaxing breakfast together at our cozy kotatsu, Japanese heated low table. We talk and argue as usual. Shortly after my son screams out that it is time for him to go and he disappears into the yellow bus and my working day begins. But not today. Today, I have a slight melancholy in my throat. I decide to sit down for a moment for my the second cup of coffee. Oh yes! The soul rejoices. It was a good choice! Oh but what is this? I have a melody, a bunch of elegantly clustered notes under my skull. It doesn't let me go! I turn on the computer and decide to search. I found it! And as soon as the voices sing "Bedziemy smucic sie starannie, bedziemy szalec nienagannie, bedziemy na przod nieslychanie..."  (We will be saddened carefully! We will be crazy to the perfection! We will push forward incredibly!) I am sold! There will be no house work done, no art work fulfulled! This is what fills my heart and soul! Stare Dobre Malrzenstwo!

If you are not Polish I don't blame you for not knowing the author of this poem nor the group that made this song almost an anthem of my young days.  I sang, quoted, and breathed this poem. Although very real and very sad, the words gave me strength and hope to move mountains. Such a small song yet leaves me paralysed that all I can do is sit there and think about my first year in high school where I met my good friend. We would walk around proudly with our guitars in order to find a perfect, secluded spot to play and sing our hearts out. We would usually find refuge in the staircases or empty hallways. Sitting down on the cold floor we would sing in two parts Stachura's poems. As we grew more unaware and more passionate about the words and melody, more people would pass by to listen. Oh my! It felt as if we had wings!! And even though a lot of people would not understand the strange language they asked what the songs were about. We would break our minds trying to translate and explain Stachura. But he is unexplainable! You must feel him. The measly translation that I did of his two sentences in the first paragraph of this post is hardly any translation. His poems are feelings. And very often immense feeling of sadness, loneliness, disappointment, yet there is so much power, love, sweetness and reality!

I felt so lucky to find a friend in Canada who would share my passion for the good old melancholy of a broken poet and his words. And now, when I am sitting here listening to it again with refreshed melancholy I think some kind of lack of something that leaves me with a hole all through my heart. I am trying to sing along with Stare Dobre Malrzenstwo, but I can't keep up. My thoughts and feelings rush through me like a crazy river. I choke on the words and brake down with sadness for something that is gone, something that has passed so fast that I almost missed it. Even for the black leather winter boots with a flower ornament at the front. (My friend knows what I am talking about)But even more so for the broken poet. Loved by all but understood by no one! He wrote down his empty spot in the heart so wonderfully that it cost him his life.

So this is what my rainy Friday looks like. I put on another album and sit some more in contemplation...I am so glad it came back to me today. What makes you stop your day and think?What makes you stop?

On Not Having Time

Once I heard a sermon about people saying that they have no time. The priest heavily criticised those who are saying it with regards to visiting their elderly, spending time with their children, praying/meditating, participating in causes that help others. I hear this expression so often that i think it has become our daily mantra, or if i can put it in more negative light, our daily mental venom. But do we really have no time? If I ask about the latest episode of America Can Dance or whatever is in right now, I would get a detailed answer about the recent developments. Therefore, it is not that we have no time for ourselves or our families. It is a matter of organisation and priorities, as my nephew rightly stated. I will just add that it is also about the will of doing it. We don't have time for things that are not important to us or of low priority. So stop and think, what activities surround your day?

We all have time. We just need to stop for breath and answer ourselves what is important to us. To me the world could be swept by a tsunami and the crevices in the crust of the Earth could be swallowing Downtown Toronto but my family is my absolute Number 1. There is always time for them. In fact to be to be a good person means to be able to dedicate myself to them and their well being. They complete me, they make me, they will always stand by me. A lot of peace and trust comes from this statement. After all there is only here and now! It is continuous or maybe infinite.

My One and Only, September 2018

And this recent piece I painted is reflecting that exact thought. I have finally finished my triptych. The family is now complete. I found time for that with pleasure!

Zdanowicz Family, 2018

If you or your family members need a portrait, please let me know. It makes an incredible gift for a birthday or anniversary. I am available and will paint a portrait in one week. I have very reasonable prices and will paint from a picture to save your time and make it easier if you are planning a surprise. I will ship your painting for additional price depending on the shipping rates.

Love and hugs! Don't forget! YOU HAVE TIME FOR EVERYTHING!

Every Mother Must Let Go

As many mothers before and many after me I have got a chance to taste this bitter flavour of letting go of a hand of my one and only son. I don't know what I was thinking when I thought that I would hold his hand forever and that he would proudly hold mine forever. But this year, on the first day of school, as we walked I saw that, although my son didn't say anything, he skillfully and tactfully avoided my hand. I didn't press for it nor I said anything. I simply put my arm around him, as if I was looking for support from him. I tried to have a fruitful conversation with him while my mind was fully preoccupied with the feeling of letting go of my baby boy and greeting of a teenage boy.

Grieving, I came back home and went straight to the kitchen drawer where I kept all the bento boxes, utensils and lunch boxes. I went through it and got rid of all dishes that had childish images. I didn't want to embarrass him. It came to me very naturally and in a very calm and contained manner. I wasn't hurt or sad. Just calm. Quiet. Aware and clear-minded. I have to admit, I had it going longer than some other mothers I have talked to. I was lucky. I am grateful for this extra time. I wonder how it was for my mamma. She had to let go of three children. Our age difference is so big that to me it seems she got to grieve three times. First, she let go of her oldest son and let him go away to a foreign country. Then, she had to leave her middle child behind in Poland when she left for Canada. Then, me, her only daughter. And I think I went with a big bang. She probably felt that her daughter would stay under her wing forever, when bang! I eloped. Then, another bang! I moved to Japan! Yikes!My mother is my hero! My hat is off! It is so interesting how your perspective changes as you become a parent yourself.

Donkey Smile, 2008. 122 x 91 cm

While we are talking about letting go of our children I would like to say that I am letting go of a few of my favourite paintings. They are my babies and they have hang on my walls a very long time. I think it is time to let them go and face the big, great world, and adorn other people's lives. So please let me know if you are looking for a painting for your walls. But first go two of my older babies. Price is negotiable. I will ship even to Antarctica if that is where you live.

Twirling World, 2008. 122 x 91 cm

Perception

Two gorgeous and glamorous women are taking a ride in the countryside. They are there to drink, smell, see and feel that which is missing from the city life. And they feed their senses to the fullest with the sight of horses feeding on grass on the right and the picture of bright colours, ripening corn on the left. There is nothing better than putting that roof down and feeling the wind in their hair, getting kissed by the sun of the dying summer. The senses are being fed, their bodies are growing younger, their minds are notoriously being refreshed!

Jezus Nauczal

The two friends are getting noticed for their purposefully silly and insane glasses. Both have strong black frames reminding of cat's eyes. One friend has light blue lenses, the other bright pink. Purposefully insane serves a purpose. Fulfilled well, understood even better by the participants. They are glamorous so they must act glamorously eccentric.

They pass a small historic church on the left. They both notice a big wooden cross right beside it. The cross has a cloth hang over it the way it's done during lent. In fact, exactly that way. They notice that it is in no way close to lent. So why then? This is not the right time to symbolise Christ's death and resurrection! It's summer time! Time to be merry! One diva says: "There must be another meaning since it is blue!" Her friend quickly replies,"No! It is violet!" They look at each other, then take off the glasses to confirm...

I got on the subway going west. As usually, I looked around in search of interesting faces, behaviours, fashion statements tattoos, pets, even pet bottles. I love watching people in crowded places because they always behave as if no one's ever watching. Some pick their noses, fix their bras, make faces, etc, etc.

To my left there were two older ladies sitting on the designated, blue seats. Now, what a pleasant sight it was to see them. They were dressed almost identically. White pants, colourful, flowery tops, nice jewellery and one of them had these amazingly large black shades. Large but still not large enough to hide the entire face. She was the one in charge. She acted more informed and more bossy. She would tell the other, the lady with long white wavy hair set in 1950's Hollywood style, all the details about the next station, what one cold find there, and on which side of the train the door would open. They were chatting away. It showed they were very excited about something. My mind wondered. "Are they going shopping? Are they getting some hula dance lessons? Are they going to the movies? Better yet, are they heading to the theatre? Or maybe they are meeting some old girl friends after a very long time?" Oh gosh! It is so exciting to think...

T Shirt No. 17, Dancing Inukshuk, 2018

 Just before Yonge station the bossy, but still very friendly and protective lady leaned over to my side and enquired about the doors openning at Yonge. "Yonge at heart!", I thought to my self looking at her with a smile and answered, "it will open on the left". Immediately, the bossy lady stood up using her cane but only to help her girl friend up from her seat. The lady with the large dark glasses showed signs of such friendly, motherly over-protectiveness. I loved it. I wondered if the other lady saw this protective side of her friend or did she think it was not necessary, even annoying. I just loved it. These two ladies were a living image of what you read about on Facebook sometimes. You know what I am talking about, two or three old ladies sitting in the most bizarre places laughing and smoking cigarettes or performing activities specific to youngsters in teenage years.

As the train stopped, the two old standing ladies swayed on their feet holding each other tight and protecting from falling. What a lovely sight. Their bodied clinging to each other, white pant to white pant, flowery shirt to flowery shirt. When you think about it... was it some kind of prerequisite to wear these to get in? Some secret society? I digress. This short trip made me think of one friend of mind and me...hmm. Are we going to be like that in thirty years? I can only hope so! Right away I took out my phone and texted my friend that I saw us in 30!! I was so excited that I had to let her know right away even though I knew I would keep her away from her busy desk...

I am so lucky to have a friend who will hold my hand when that train jerks to stop. For you I will wear white pants with flowery shirt any day!! Hell! I will even wear too large eye wear and a cane! Just say the word!

Hugs my friends! Stay happy and friendly, my loves!!

Lesson in Compassion

Today I spent a day with my son's class on a field trip to the farmer's market. After registering at the school's office as a volunteer I went to the classroom. There was a big sign on the wall. Three words, compassion, respect, thoughtfulness. My son and I have been discussing the first one very often because I believe it is very important to have it in order to have a healthy relationship with others. This quality takes the longest for kids to "get" and apply in their behaviour. So I was very happy to see that word in my son's classroom.

We walked to the market. The teacher walked at the front on the flock and I watched the back so that none of the sheep got lost. It was a true pleasure. I landed with two boys who involved me in a small talk about soccer and the currently going on  FIFA 2018 World Cup in Russia. It was a true pleasure indeed! After a 10 minutes walk, we arrived at the market in front of the East York Civic Centre. There were many tents with fruit and vegetables. There were a few with honey, food and other homemade, organic products. I gave my son $6, other kids had much more money, but I thought it would be just the right amount. Before we dispersed, the teacher told each and every child to put away in a safe pocket their money and pointed to the meeting place at one of the picnic tables. Perfect but only in theory. After 10 minutes we already had one child crying about lost money. We both went on an expedition searching for $10 but with no success. Unbelievable happened next. The teacher took out $5 and gave it to the crying boy! By this time I loved her like never before! She was clearly demonstrating what she preached! She could have just given him a pep talk and let him sit at the picnic table but she felt his pain...she treated him like one of her kids indeed!

After taking a few rounds around the market and wondering between the stalls of aromatic strawberries and apples I decided to head to the picnic table. Immediately, I found myself in a company of  my son's classmates. They boght hot dogs and smoothies and sat down with me for Soccer Talk II. The kids started showing up at the table one after the other. One was there with his head down and a long face. The kids started talking.

"How come you are not walking around anymore?"
"I have no money."
"Oh....hmm...do you want half of my hot-dog?"
"Help yourself to my smoothie." offered the other boy
"No, that's embarrassing."
"I can buy you a hot dog. I still have some money left."
"OK"

Tshirt No. 1

It was a pleasure to be there. My face lit up. Compassion and caring at it's best! A group of 10 year olds, yet their hearts were bigger than CN Tower! They really inspired me. They taught me so much. They gave me hope for a better world. I took out the last of my change and gave it to the other sad boy with no money. Then the kids started giving each other money so that the ones that had some left overs but got enough shared with those who had little and wanted to buy a little something more. It was a matter of pennies but to them it meant so much. It shaped their experience at the farmer's market. It shaped them. I had only one regret that I didn't have more cash on me. These kids were amazing! I am very glad my son goes through school with them. I will cherish this day for a very long time! Oh! Do you want to ask what they bought when they got that extra from their peers? Each kid came back as a proud owner of a pot of basil or mint! Doesn't your face just smile in content for the future generations!!?

What an amazing and inspiring day it was! Compassion in big flashing neon letters!! My son and I walked back home. I held his hand and we talked. " How come you didn't tell me that you already new and practised compassion in your class! That picnic table was filled with compassionate people, darling! I am so proud of you all! Ms. J must be too!" I watched my son walking much taller all of a sudden...

Tribal Memories

" Come On, Ewa! Try it!"

"No way! I will not have anything to do with it!"

"Come on! This could be your first and last chance to try it!"

" Nope! I don't care for it"

"But if I try it why don't you? It won't kill you!"

"Nope! I think I will live in peace with myself if I don't for the rest on my life."

He takes his shot of vodka with cobra's blood and drinks it! Our Son is cheering on with excitement, "COBRA! コブラ-だ!" I take one look at my husband and quickly swallow the shot as it hits my throat like a Sigismund Bell at Wawel Cathedral!

Ladies and gentlemen. This is my tribe, my people. They make me go beyond borders, they make me want to live forever. They stimulate my mind and my soul. They cheer me on to try new things and to peek at what is beyond the box! The more I think about moments like that they gave me, the more I want my heart to beat in my chest, the more air I want to inhale in my lungs, the more blood I want  in my veins. And Since I have drunk the blood of cobra, I feel I have the strength of an ox to pull this wagon forever! And if they ask me to go with them to the end of the world, I will say yes! It is worth it!

Who is your gang? 

Each Day Closer to God

Just Recently I was getting ready for the long weekend escapade up north. As I was walking to the store to get the last of the shopping for the trip, I slipped away into the world of meditation and prayer. My mind wondered between pages of the bible and prayers for protection. I stopped and thought that it reminded me of my mother. It reminded  me of the times when we would all get in the car to drive away into the bliss of family trips. And as soon as the car motor would start to sing its song of freedom, my mama would make a sign of the cross and start her "Hail Mary..." And of course we all would make fun of her that she was overreacting and old fashioned. My brothers and me would laugh and ridicule, but down deep inside I think, there was a lot of gratitude that she was doing it. It made us feel safe, secure and loved, even though non of us would admit to it at that time.

On that day I caught a picture of myself doing exactly the same as my mama. Why? I wonder. Is is because as I age? Is it because I feel mortal and the bliss of invincibility is fleeting away through my fingers as I age? Or is it because I am glancing through a looking glass of a mother and want to protect all that I love, and all that I love is in that car! So I pray! And as a mother I am ready to jump into a flaming building,  I am ready to sell my soul for all the ones that I love? Another explanation is that as I am getting older, like my mama, I am getting closer to God. Rising beyond daily affairs, earthly adventures. And my reliance on the extra-super-unbelievable presence in my life is exploding with time. The need to know that there is something else in this world. The idea that this great, omnipotent and omnipresent God who protects us is there for us keeps us sane and relaxed. So the image comes to mind. We are like hot air balloons. We are heavy on the ground pretty grounded and stable but then we rise up to the skies and hope for the better, wider view than we see from the ground. We hope that once we rise to the baby blue abyss, there is something amazing awaiting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeR7KqdRunc

You might think that this post is melancholic and even sad. Please don't think that. I think it is full of hope and miraculous prognosis. If anything, I feel a tremendous Love with a big bright L!
Happy Friday my friends!

Brother Can You Spare a Bite?

On a slippery Monday afternoon I took a subway home at Dufferin Station. I got on a fairly empty train but still there were no suitable seats available. I looked around and there was that nook available where the train operator has his/her booth. I leisurely leaned on the walls and looked out the first car front door how the train tracks snaked left and right and lit up at each station.  Suddenly, people tensed up as a tall youngish man entered the train and the smell of poverty permeated every inch of the space around me. People always tense up in these situations because they are in general afraid that this person decides to have a conversation with them. Somehow this seems to be the scariest thing for the general population of the "good Christians and believers".

The man quickly started going around with a held out hand. But at the same time I heard, "Can you spare some food?" And this is when I got uneasy. People turned away from him and scattered around a man who was asking for food! I could not believe that this train full of people travelling immediately after lunch hour didn't not carry any crumb of a sandwich or a fruit!!

When the man came to me he was already desperate. He shyly held out his hand and asked for any type of food. His voice was fading when he said, "Please help, I am very hungry". I usually pack a little something to eat after work but rarely remember to eat on the subway. This time I had the most delicious lemon cake that my friend's daughter had baked. This most scrumptious cake I did remember about and had been saving for my trip home.

I looked up from my phone to see this man's hand. His plead for food still resonated in my head.
"You know what? You are going to love this! I have some cut up apple and the most delicious lemon cake!" I was so happy. I don't usually have a lot to give. I am a little person in this vast world. But this time I could give! I wanted to thank this man for giving me an opportunity to be a better person. I took out my lunch container with a big red prince apple cut up in nice squares, took out carefully wrapped lemon cake, made with 7 lemons! And I said "thank you." He thanked me back and quickly sat down on a free by now seat near the exit. The TTC recording announced "Spadina, Spadina Station."

I kept smiling but my thoughts were already at G-7s and G-whatevers that Canada is part of. When are we planning to admit we have a serious problem with poverty!! Why do our politicians think we are the best of the best if a man walks hungry on the streets of Toronto!

I kept smiling, when a light bulb lit up in my head. I reached to my pocket. Yes! Of course! Nobody likes to eat cakes without coffee!!! I took out two coins that were making noise in my pocket and gave it to him. I looked down at my phone again when I felt a hand on my hand. I young black lady who was sitting down smiled at me and moved her head in agreement, as if she was saying, "yes!"  or perhaps "thank you!" Her smile warmed my soul!

What an amazing afternoon it was on that slippery Monday afternoon!! I felt needed. I felt like a person! I felt like a good person!

Friday on King Street Streetcar

What do I see in the morning? I wonder how you see your beginning of each working day. Do you drive and swear that this is the last time your are taking the highway? Do you patiently sit on the subway? Do you extend your elbows on a crowded bus and make space for your feet to keep balance?

Broadview Station. A woman helping a small  Philipino woman to take her shopping buggy down the stairs. People going to work. People coming home from work. Some are really well dressed. Some look like cheap weed dealers. A lot of tired people yawning on the streetcar. Most wish to stay home and dedicate themselves to Netflix or other addictive activities. Snow flakes, snow flakes, wait! Sunshine! Dogs in the park. They are so lucky! Running around carelessly in the morning. Gerrard is always so busy! Bahn me sandwiches must be good there! The squeaky turn from Broadview St. to King. Passing Broadview Hotel. Ah yes! 3D tiles in the bathroom and T-shirt talks! Posh place to have a glass of wine and admire expensive lipsticks! Sushi restaurant right on the corner wouldn't be my first choice to eat there!

In between two buildings there is a small store with a neon sign ordering you to "STOMP" or something along the same lines.  A tall blond is walking into a coffee shop. Is she buying or working there? I like this part of town. Theatres look like sleeping giants in the morning! A stripped black and white dress in a window of a store looks very 1930'. A woman is walking full speed but typing messages at the same time. There are more zombies around King Street. A man in a crispy purple suit, white shirt and a tie just got off at Bay St. stop. No jacket! A homeless sleeping on the ground by St. Andrew church. People swish by his sleeping bag effortlessly texting. A young woman in a big Roots hat is lighting a cigarette. Toronto's Roy Thomson is so majestic. And there is our beloved CN Tower gently peeking out of the skirts of condominiums hiding her base! Yes it is CN Tower forever! You are not going to make me call it any other name!

I am getting closer to work. The landscape and architecture changes. A lot of old factories. Big red brick buildings, old structures full of resident ghosts following people to work. But now we have parquet floors and fancy neoclassic furniture to style our work places. Liberty Village. My stop. I get off and smile because the scene reminds me of the original 1927 black and white movie Metropolis with only difference, this is running in full colour. March 9, 2018.

Good Mannered Young Man

On a crispy but sunny day i decided to take a walk downtown. I strolled around University Avenue, then around Elm Street. At one point I found my story at Bay and Dundas.  I was exiting the plaza right across the street from The Canadian Tire there. I opened the door to exit. Right in front of me there was a couple of very young people. A blond your woman in a khaki jacket and colourful tights. She was accompanied by a tall Scandinavian-looking young man in an old worn out jacket and a hat. He carried a sleeping bag thrown over his shoulder. They looked like they were street kids. Possibly they were coming back from a house party. But it was even more possible that they were not. I looked like they spent the night on one of the huge hospital vents.

As I exited the door the young man stopped, held the door open and let the woman go in first. The woman looked very serious and hardly acknowledged the man's act of respect, quickly passed the doorway and kept going. I quickly noticed the man's act because he did it so naturally without thinking or showing off. This type of behaviour has become scarce and so rare in today's world to the point that it needs to be praised! A street kid that is very well behaved and respectful. What is wrong with this sentence? So what happened? My mind id hungry for answers...

Celebrate Valentine's Day with a Woohoo!

So here we have again. This one special day that brings joy to all who love and are loved. This is
a day to invest more than just a present. We should give all our attention and love and time to those who mean the world to us! And of course, there are those who will tell you that this day was just invented to buy buy and buy. And don't get me wrong, I am all against commercialism, non-sense consumerism and useless plastic production. But it is so wrong to disregard this day. Unless you tell your loved ones that you love them everyday, shower then with attention, flowers, chocolates and other thoughtful gifts. Unless you buy them cards with no occasion and take them to dinner just to dress up and look at then in admiration from across the table! Only then you are off the hook in my books. Then again, if you are doing all that everyday, then you will most likely be happy to have another pretext to show your loved ones love and appreciation on Valentine's Day.

For me there will be no dinners, no chocolates, no cards today. I have to take my son to his dance class and I will not get home until 10. But it is my pleasure to see my son dancing and getting his champion skills! Besides, I did get my Valentine's present already. This afternoon I decided to cook a nice meal. Something that we all liked. And as I was standing at the stove making it, a paper plane flew by and landed right on the stove. My son loves to make paper planes of different sorts so our floors are covered with them. When this one flew in and nonchalantly landed on my working surface I steamed up a bit with anger and a bit in frustration. I was just about to open my mouth to verse my disagreement when I looked closer at it and I saw little scribbles in a red marker on the side of the plane. "Happy valentine's Day! I love you mom." My heart stopped for a moment and my face lit up.

Love and Live with love my friends!

Myths That Shaped Me As a Child

When I was small my mom never screamed at me nor lost her cool. Not to say that she always caved into my demands. She got me do things without coercion and arguments. She had her magic bag of tricks that I am jealous of as a mother. I wish I was as creative as she was. She used little myths that she would always say to make me do things needed to be done.  Every one of them shaped me as a child, my way of thinking and the way I am today. Although, now I know they were just made up statements that make me laugh, I realise how they shape who I am as a grown up. I hope I can do the same for my son. I try. One of my tricks to make my son zip up his jacket and wear his heat in winter is to tell him that is it illegal. I know, I know. I am not as inventive as my mom! But listen to a few things my mom said to me that I remember on the spot. I wonder if you could share with me some that you remember from your childhood. I am very curious. Shuffle some memories, search and let me know. Or maybe there is something of your own that you use now? Share!

B's teapot, Kashiwara, Japan

1. Drink milk when you eat your french fries. "If you don't they will stand up and poke your stomach." Growing up as a child in a small town in Roztocze, Poland, I had no luxury to go out and buy fries. We had no A&W, McDonald's, no fast food restaurants. Nor I missed any of those places! My mother made the best fries in the world. Every single one of them was peeled and cut by my mother's hand. Hence, they would take a lot of effort, smalec (lard) and time to make. She was making them from scratch, no frozen stuff! We would compromise. She would make my beloved fries as long as I drank milk with them. Pure genius! What child would not have agreed to have some milk to stop those sharp ends from scratching her/his stomach!

2. Don't play cards because you will have an empty head (translating the meaning here from "Kto gra w karty, ten ma leb obdarty"). I went through my childhood literally fearing cards. I really didn't want to have an empty head. I wanted to be good and smart and have a head full of knowledge! Just once in a while I would watch in awe how at scouts' camps some of my friends, very good students, would pull all nighters playing cards! Shocking and traumatic! To this day I cannot play cards even if it saved my life! I can't even hold them properly!

3. Don't put your clothes inside out or back to front! Even by accident! Because someone dear to you will turn away from you! I truly believed that one. So every time it would happen by accident I would  get terrified that my best friends would their backs on me. I tried my best and tell them how much they meant to me and didn't miss an opportunity to keep them happy.

Some of the myths mothers tell us are really peculiar, but they shape us and the way we perceive the world. It all depend weather we like milk, vegetables, treat our friends right, on these little events from our childhood. I wonder if you remember any of your mom's or dad's expressions or phrases that stuck with you until today. Tell me! Share! I am seriously curious!

A Scene from the Community Centre

So finally I found myself a comfy seat on a bench overlooking the indoor community pool where my son is taking a swim. I sit here with another women. She tells me her husband is in there as well. We smile at each other and the conversation dies down. She stands up to see where her husband is. She is gently leaning on the window and looks around. All of a sudden a small boy, maybe 7-8 years old, runs out of the deep end of the pool and to the window where she is standing, literally right by her side. The only thing that is between them is the glass window. He is saying something. His expression is definitely saying, 'Hey! Why are you still standing there!? Jump in!' The woman turns to look at me and we both laugh. We agree this is a very cute situation. I know this boy. He is always playing in local parks, splash pad and pools. He is a bit autistic but very slightly.  He is known for showing his emotions "out loud."

The woman sits down. We agree that she must remind him someone he feels positive about otherwise he would run in a different direction. Instead, he runs to the window again and after a while again. Each time he has the same expression on his face and the same body language. His arms are raised as if he was an ancient Egyptian in prayer. I look at the boy's father who is sitting on the edge of the pool. He is smiling at us and gesturing that the boy likes the woman sitting beside me. What a positive atmosphere. I still keep smiling minutes after. How nice it is when someone, especially a child sees you in such a positive and inviting light! I am still smiling. This is gold! I am witnessing a real human emotion. Honest, true and real! Happy Friday my friends!

Hug a Day Keeps The Doctor Away!

Happy New Year! It is amazing to be back and enjoy the beauty of winter in Canada. I honestly am relieved that we have a winter like this because i think that if we have one as cold and as snowy as this we will earn a good and warm summer. I know it is a simplistic view of the climate change and synoptic studies but that is what keeps me sane in this cold!

Osaka-fu, 2012

I have been staying away from the blog because I couldn't figure out what would be a good starting post for 2018. So after three weeks I think I got it. I realised that it would be a good idea to seek out some ideas to find peace and harmony in our daily life. Pin point what is the best recipe or namely its ingredients. The first post is dedicated to HUGGING. And here is my story.

Last week I finally got a chance to see an optometrist who after a thorough examination announced his verdict. Ewa needs glasses! This time only for reading but nevertheless, I was shocked by the news! Me, who had taken pride in every little sign, a bus number, human face, a picture clearly seen and read from meters away! And now, NOW I will be saying to my son, "Oh, sorry I can't see! Can you pass me my glasses, please. No! Not the wine wine glasses!" This is a new one! But I will quietly admit that for quite some time I have been feeling a strange helplessness when trying to read a newspaper in poor light.

Without any delays, I marched to get my glasses. I had to read my newspaper! I went to chose my most lovely and the most comfortable set of frames at a very popular place. However,  I was told that since I was not a member they were not going to be able to help me. I must have looked very sad and worried because as soon as the lady was done talking she took a second look at me and said,"But i will do you a favour and have your glasses done." Her good will and kindness melted my heart. I felt gratitude, happiness, sincerity. I quickly warned her that she was helping me a lot and that her gracious heart deserves a hug. I jumped right into action. I gave her a friendly and warm hug. That is all I had. I gave her a sincere hug as a thank you. Bu it was a medicine for me as well because when i approached to hug her, right before i reached out with my arms i saw her arms opening!! Don't you find it surprising? I do. So this person was actually ok with hugging strangers! These days it is a rare sighting! Yet, this small instance renewed my faith in humanity! Yes! People of good still exist! People of good will unite!

I hugged a stranger and I liked it! Hugs everyday, my friends! This form of physical contact with other people, our loved ones, our friends as well as strangers is like best medicine for a plethora of symptoms! And I bet it has loads of vitamin B12! Relaxes and give an opportunity for light back massage! Allows you to express your need for attention, a thank you, friendship and peaceful intentions. So not to wait any longer, I am sending out hugs to each and every one of you, across the globe as well across the street! Hugs!