Eight months later I am updating my blog on my trip to Europe. Please forgive me for my careless negligence. I guess I can say that it took me this long to process everything.
France: To say it was beautiful and breathtaking and inspiring would be cliché. Nor would it be entirely accurate because it was much more than that. To see in the different world of different people who have different dreams and notions about life, was a epiphany for me. Food that is fresh, bread that was so delicious, wine, meat, cheese... you name it. To eat there was to realize that as an American I am subject to eating what amounts to clean garbage on a day to day basis. Of this, I am jealous and resentful.
Art was all around me. The French do not relegate beauty to an afterthought. It is integral to the form and function of their architecture. Even bridges slums were tagged by graffiti artists with the most beautiful and colorful bits of street artistry you can imagine. How does a society instill the love of beauty in it's people? Ask France.
My cousin and his family were delightful people. Calm, dignified and somewhat stoic. Their homes were immaculately kept. Their clothes and style was superb. I dressed and acted like a peasant around them. Even the "Pompomyeros", as my cousin called the drunks living on the streets, dressed better than me. I frankly felt a bit embarrassed for myself. Our conversations were always a delight, even when we discussed things that were unpleasant. I could tell towards the end that I had overstayed my welcome, but that did not diminish their hospitality.
As for the birds and trees... they did not speak to me. The birds kept to their business and the trees acted like they were slumbering. Now let me be clear, I'm not saying I spoke to these things. But, there is a way that living beings can communicate with each other. A silent connection of empathy where we convey emotion and connection. Birds will watch and interact with you. Trees will give you a general sense of recognition and feeling. These are not super powers or magic, this is the way of things and can be sensed by all when they let themselves see it.
Of final note, my cousin indicated that he had read this blog and knew of the various struggles and triumphs that I have documented herein. I felt exposed and embarrassed. But, in afterthought this is why I made this blog, so I found peace with it.
Next I will talk about Rome... hopefully sooner than the last post.
Thursday, December 22, 2016
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