Aging and it's consequences

Some days my body or mind aren't really in top shape. Medical visits to stay as fit as possible, long walks with DoggyDog is part of what I do for staying active physically and mentally. I still translate and write and read. And also I have a strong opinion of the President. I did not vote for him! And I don't really get why other people did. Maybe they think that in voting for him his wealth will trickle down to them. But I wouldn't expect that kind of generosity. I am however blessed with a great, very smart daughter. She also seems to have quite a dose of energy. She recently organised a three day conference: DDT: Design, Develop, Transform. The opening of the exhibition at the m hka was grandiose. A bunch of super smart and highly creative people participated: almost all of them working in the field of futures. Jim Dator from Hawaii was there, also several of his former students.

I didn't like the few bits about corporate culture in which the speaker demonstrated how to have one's heart beat in synchronicity with the other participants. That made me feel very uneasy, almost nauseous... I felt I didn't want to share my heart within such a setting. Although in more "normal", "human" situations I don't really mind to share and help. So being curious, taking care of myself, without being selfish is a good start. Yet I am more careful: when I feel somebody is trying to take too much advantage of me, then I don't let it slide.

More  tomorrow!

10.000 people marching for peace and inclusion

Hakata, Uncya in her wheelchair, myself and a young man called Wim. I wore my Bernie for President T-shirt. A lot of people took pictures of it. Usually without my head.
It was a long day, but fruitful: with ten thousand people and no incidents it was a gift. I listened to people at the Dakota pipeline and how the drinking water is polluted by the work done. There was also a lot of music, dancing and many pink woolen hats... Also climate change is an issue and we need to keep an eye on the American President... who is just now saying on TV that they wouldn't do anything about climate change: Mr President: Climate change is real!!! More talking on the train home and when I got out of the train station a taxi arrived and brought me home. The strange thing is that I recognized the driver, he is a real philosopher. I told him that I had been in his cab before and remembered how he talked...

Aging is a bitch

I am beginning to feel my age. My energy is dwindling which could be just a sign of depression. Loneliness, I never felt before, but there aren't too many friends around anymore with whom to talk, to exchange. I am trying to mend my ways by going back to do some work for PEN-Flanders, just to be useful. I don't know what is going on with my daughter, besides working too hard. She often has people around, staying for a while. So I don't drop in to see whether she has time. I am afraid she is really sick with her ear hurting so much. I do feel excluded at times. I translated poetry for Bruges from Dutch into English, so I was useful, yet being alone with a small dog all the time and just communicating by e-mail isn't really a fulfilling life. Ah, when the book is out, I will be proud of all the work I did by giving the Tourists in Bruges a possibility to read about it in their own language.

I guess it is all about change. Tonight there is a presentation in "Den Hopsack".  Frank and Guy will be there, so should I. But maybe picking up Maya at the Berchem train station is what I need to do. I do admit that I feel insecure.

The old gasstation

The old gasstation was Tony Mafia's pride and joy. Of course it was also his studio where he painted and our home. I still have my writing desk there. Every year I went back after Tony passed away and repainted the windows and the doors, all wood that could suffer from a harsh winter. I have been there every year since Tony Mafia passed away. Tourists walk by and come in. Friends stop by for a chat. People ask me how I survive in Chloride. Sometimes I wonder too. With Tony it was fun, he would paint, I wrote and walked the Mohave desert. We would drive to Kingman for shopping and to the Hualapai mountains on the dirt road to the Colorado river. Life seemed easy then.

Opening of the m hka exhibition by my daughter.

Maya even had a article in the  newspaper "De Morgen". You cannot imagine how I admire Maya and Bram in what they have realized. The atmosphere was warm, people looked, played with the objects meant to play with and there generally was just great interaction among people. Also friends came and I am sure it pleased Maya and Bram... I was smitten with the historic timeline, I found it beautiful, and walked it at least three times. Yet also the walls, the large materials hanging, it was all impressive and there was a energetic buzz among people, old friends meeting again, like Flor Bex for whom I did translations into English for his art magazine and he remembered that. Strangely some people I would have expected weren't there: but the close friends and the family did show up and it was nice to have Maximus there, Maya's godson. I intent to go back, maybe take a few pictures or ask Bram. I wonder what they will surprise me with next.

m hka reopening by Maya Van Leemput one of the currators

Well, I am a overwhelmed proud mother: Maya and Bram did a remarkable job, all about the future. I loved the timeline on the floor with names in steel tubes. I loved listening to the chosen speakers about the future. Kee Watchman (Navajo) was one of them and I recognized the faces of some of the other experts... The atmosphere was amazing. people talked, had discussions, enjoyed the atmosphere. One could lay out one's vision of the future with cards pertaining to a subject. I was also glad to see that some kids came, Maximus was one of them. It was also good to meet old friends again. I don't know whether Maya will have a bit of rest, which I hope for her... I'll ask Bram for one of his pictures to ad to the blog so that  people also have a visual impression...
Maya even had a article in the  newspaper "De Morgen". You cannot imagine how I admire Maya and Bram in what they have realized. The atmosphere was warm, people looked, played with the objects meant to play with and there generally was just great interaction among people. Also friends came and I am sure it pleased Maya and Bram... I was smitten with the historic timeline, I found it beautiful, and walked it at least three times. Yet also the walls, the large materials hanging, it was all impressive and there was a energetic buzz among people, old friends meeting again, like Flor Bex for whom I did translations into English for his art magazine and he remembered that. Strangely some people I would have expected weren't there: but the close friends and the family did show up and it was nice to have Maximus there, Maya's godson. I intent to go back, maybe take a few pictures or ask Bram. I wonder what they will surprise me with next.

The Gasstation in Chloride

So sad that after all these years of coming and going to Chloride, some people took it upon themselves to ransack the kitchen, leave it filthy and with a panel from the ceiling having fallen down, food rests and just unrespectful behavior.

Thanks to my dear friends Cooper and Irene, Lisa agreed to clean up the place and we'll obviously pay her for her work. I must admit like it is a sign, a confirmation of our intention to ship all Tony's paintings to Antwerp, Belgium. And hopefully the lady who has an interest in Tony's work (knew of him, independently from me) she can organize a large permanent or traveling connection of Tony's work so that it can be seen and admired by many...

Thank you Coop!

I owe you,

annmarie