Tag am Rhein.

Ein nicht erwarteter Sonnentag, ein ebenso unerwarteter Energieschub, ein Ausflug an den Rhein, eine überraschende Begegnung, ein Buch aus Kindertagen, ein Sonnenbrand, ein paar gute Gespräche und ein paar Kaltgetränke... - so geht's.




"Eine Ente aus weißer Watte hat am Himmel festgemacht.
Der Wind hat daraus einen Hund gemacht
und wieder ist ein schwerer Tag vollbracht..."

...where angels fear to tread.

So there I was, soaring sky-high for a few days, free as a bird...


(in this case, free as a well-fed pigeon in a tourist-flooded Italian square)

...and, if the photos are anything to go by, extreeeeemely happy.

Like so.

But alas, fools are earthbound creatures. Once the head rush wears off, the thin air makes their lungs ache and gravity pulls them back down, down, through swirling clouds and some turbulences, down to the ground.

Touch-down may be a tad rough. But don't you worry about those bruises. Wear them like a talisman while they last. They will heal in no time at all. Then you'll find you're sorry they're gone.

Saying hello, waving goodbye.

Over easy.

We can't really let July pass without a single post, now, can we?
(general murmur of agreement) No, we can't have that.
Okay, agreed on that.
So... what's to tell?
Hm... (wrecking brain)
Um...any minute now...
Well, sunny side up - it's almost over!
Okay, enough with the egg-puns already.
I'll spare you the gory details of the inevitable, end-of-term song and dance at university, as well as the annual run-up to the holidays, kids becoming impossible, colleagues even more so, everyone's good and ready not to see the others for at least six weeks...
Yes, there was some nice stuff as well - that student of mine did a lovely job at rendering her version of Cohen's "Hallelujah" at the students' leaving ceremony, truly lovely voice... And I've finally managed to teach some of the older students that, yes, I am indeed open to bribery in form of chocolate...
But apart from that, it's the same as every year, only this tiny bit worse because of the extra music stuff I got to do, so I am just a tad stressed out, or so my body tried telling me, giving off little hints like heartburn (which I chose to ignore) and now this charming little infection (which I chose not to ignore but bombard with a quick course of antibiotics)...

Anyhow, forget it all, it's more or less all over now, and as of Friday, I'll be off on holiday!!! Gee, can't wait for a little bit of freedom and adventure and air and sunshine...
Catch you later!

Wondering.

What makes you smile? What makes you sad?
Who do you turn to when things seem real bad?
Who do you talk to last thing at night?
First thing in the morning, what’s your favourite sight?

Do you play your life’s music by ear?
Do you mind me asking? I wonder, my dear.

When’s the last time you did something for the first time?
Did you ever tell someone “I need you. Be mine!”?
Were you ever so happy you thought you could burst?
Or ever so lovesick your fingertips hurt?

Do you play your life’ music by ear?
These are just some things I think of, my dear.

What’s your favourite sound, your favourite smell?
Do you think you’ll be going to heaven or hell?
Do you plan ahead or just see and wait?
Are you always on time or generally late?

Do you play your life’s music by ear?
I’m not waiting for answers, just wondering, my dear.

When’s the last time you cried? Are you ever afraid
of the future ahead? Or of things left unsaid?
Do you ever miss home, your family, friends?
Are there things for which you feel you must make amends?

Or do you play your life’s music by ear?
D’you ever wonder yourself? I wonder, my dear.

Which do you prefer: the mountains, the sea?
And who could be possibly more nosy than me?!
What’s it like being you? What goes on in your head?
I could go on forever. - I’m just glad we have met…

I know, too many questions, my dear!
But I wonder and wonder and wish you were near.

Touched.

I don't know what it is, but lately I've been so....what's the word... happy!
I know, I know, it's not like me at all, very worrying indeed. But there you go.
Maybe it's because of so many good things happening lately. Very probably so.

Like the field trip we took to follow J.S. Bach's traces through Eastern Germany. To be honest, it was a fair bit of work to organize it all and, yes, as soon as you are the one knowing the schedule you get pushed into the role of mum/teacher/chief nagger/cruise director, but we had so much fun, too! And we were so, so lucky in every single thing and person we met during those four days. And our prof was so happy, it was really touching to see him so touched in turn!

Or like the visit to the zoo with my sisters and nephews, to " go see the big butt!" ...The hippo's big butt, that was and it was totally worth a visit, no question! But also the sight of two little, wild nephew-tigers roaring dangerously. Or the sound of running feet catching up and the feeling of a little sticky hand taking hold of yours...


Then I had to cover a lesson with the Sixth Years yesterday - which was doomed to be a complete waste of time since all their exams are over and they'll be leaving school forever in two weeks' time anyway. Only half of them had showed up for a start, so I didn't even bother trying to teach but bought some cake and sat down and had a chat with them. We talked about their job perspectives and plans and then about their leaving ceremony. For which, since the music teacher is still ill, we are facing a bit of a live music problem. I mentioned that to them and out of the blue one of the boys said: "Well, I could play a Chopin Nocturne if you want!" My jaw dropped and we went over to the music room, where he played a couple of pieces for us. I'll never forget that picture: This lanky boy in his baseball cap, always sooo cool, rather the thug-type, who lives in a home, who is learning how to box and very busy coming across as hard the rest of the time...sitting there at the piano and playing Chopin!

And the day wasn't over yet! After classes I met up with this Fourth Year girl who had asked me very politely a few days before if it might be at all possible for her to perform Cohen's "Hallelujah" at the leaving ceremony, that the music teacher had said she might....and if I could possibly accompany her... She's a very friendly girl, extraordinarily talented, a great dancer, beautiful voice but with parents so strict and old-fashioned in their views that she, as a girl, counts for nothing much and isn't allowed to take lessons... So how could I have said no to her?!
The rehearsal went quite well and it was just so touching to see how happy she was while singing. Afterwards we walked downstairs together and she was virtually jumping up and down beside me, this girl-woman in her make-up, all excited, repeating over and over "Oh, thank, you Ms B., thank you for doing this!"

That's the kind of motivational push you obviously only get once in a blue moon, or in my case, once every five years. Better treasure it!

Mein Lieblingsgraffiti.