Do you know what day it is?

Nine years ago, David passed away...
I just realized that.
Heavy...

Some lighter news:

This is what I'm reading.

I bought it yesterday at Fnac. I needed a new book to get lost in and inspire me. Have you read it?

Did you see the movie?
Last night I learned that this year she received an honorary doctorate from KU here in Leuven, where Jon is going to school.
What are you reading?

~LYMI

It chose me.

I swear, I tried to hold off opening another something until I got some work done. "Work" that word in itself makes me want to open another something, or throw myself off a bridge. I heard from the Italian mother yesterday, she wrote that she was impressed, but was unable to hire me because of my status here in Belgium. Understandable, but it was still disappointing. All is not lost though, she wants to keep in touch, and who knows? Maybe I will work for her once I know a little more about my status. I need to go and inquire more about my situation at town hall, and I know I will need a little something for that, it's always stressful.

Also, I was in the middle of my day when Jon came home. I had not showered and was still in my pajamas. He could have cared less, but I was embarrassed. I was worried that it appeared that I hadn't done anything all day. Not true, I tell you. I was "working" on stuff. :)

Anyway, I got on with my day, ran the errands that needed running and pulled the package from the shelf, which now looks like this:
All pretty in a poppy satin ribbon. I love satin ribbon. I brought many colors with me for uses just like this!

Anyway, as soon as I pulled it out this little dear fell on the floor with a thud. Straight down I tell you.
It fell from the bottom of the pack.

Uh-oh. This totally messed me up. This was not the order I was opening them in! I had thought about putting it all back and getting back to my day, but took it as a sign.

It wanted to be opened.

It chose me.

Alright then, let's get on with it.

I savor the experience of opening these little somethings, they are all so intricately wrapped. It seems that it was probably time consuming, so I try to respect that. I cringe when people just tear the paper on gifts I wrap, "Hey! I put time, thought and effort into that!" Also, I think I can reuse the wrapping in some manner in the future.

I tried to carefully untie the twine, but it just slipped off.

Ditto with the pretty paper. You used a lot of tiny scotch tape squares, which were fun to peel.

Whoa! What's this, another package?

Interesting fabric. Looks like something tribal, African. What the heck were you doing with these scraps?

I feel something flexible. The word jangly comes to mind... Is that a word?

WOW!

How freaking cool!

I LOVE The beads!

Red, black and silver, that's so perfect for me.

These are so different!

Um...

What is it?

Ahhh, right.

I am supposed to figure that out.

I hold them for a while.

They are so pretty. Should I hang them on the wall? One earring? Take them apart? Make some kind of bookmark? (Not really into any books right now...)

Hmmmm. Then I had this idea.

I always wear the same jewelry, but I did happen to bring a piece I had made on an extra chain. Do you know what this is?

Also, I like the fabric.

I remember this. It's from a skirt you made in Portland, right? African... Ha! I have some holes in my coat pockets that need mending. This fabric will work PERFECTLY. Then you will be able to come with me where ever I go. There's talk of going to Munich or Rotterdam this weekend...

Finally, the paper - it has such a funky texture! Like masking tape with out the adhesive. I like the way it folds.

Do you remember my Sadako and crane making craze when I was in Mexico? Why didn't we read that book in school? Did you read it? Put it on your library list if you haven't. It's great. You can read it in an hour or two. Made me cry.

Anyway, when life hands you paper, make a crane:

and make a wish.

xoxo

~LYMI

Do you like my new necklace?

I'll write more soon!

~LYMI

Postcards

Some people don't think I should share these photos. But I hate to think that I took them and they are just going to sit in my computer...

From Brussels with love...


From Leuven with love...
It IS a college town. Hazing season has begun...

~LYMI

Luminous Tulle

I saved the piece of tulle from the special somethings. I knew I could do something with it.

I bought this eucalyptus at the flower market the other day, and wrapped the bundle with the tulle.

I thought it would freshen up our teeny-tiny bathroom, which is a little bigger than an airline potty.

In situ in the shower, Eucalyptus' scent is activated by warm water for that fresh scent feeling.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...

~LYMI

Something #2

I like this something. I opened this when I found out that I would not get sponsored by a school to work here in Belgium (Monday, 14, September, 2009). I was beyond bummed.

Powerful,

Simple,

Understated.

Just like Steph.

I could not have opened this at a more perfect time. I was fret, fret, fretting over things that I could not and can not control. Opening and reading this little piece of paper was like a dose of snap-out-of-it medicine. Worrying and being upset is not the simple, creative action to take, and I think I am a pretty creative person. This is not rocket science and it's not complicated: either I will get the visa or I won't. Either I will get the job, or I won't. Everything else is abstract and not reality. I only have each day and this awesome opportunity.

I decided not to waste it.

Something #1

There is a period of stress that accompanies acclimation when change occurs. For me, I had four major changes hitting me all at once. There was the move to another country, finding a place to live, finding work and moving-in/living with my boyfriend. Needless to say at about day 10, I was kind of stressed out. More than kind of... I have a tendency to stay in a negative place in my head, even though I am usually outwardly cheerful and optimistic. This catches up with me from time to time, and even I can't deal with myself. I was stressed from moving, disappointed with the bureaucracy that I might not be able to stay in Belgium for a year with Jon, tired of wondering, "what the hell am I doing here?", "what am I going to do here?" and just plain tired of it all. Sometimes we need a vacation from our vacation, and ourselves.

But, the next day we were settled and I had a few moments to myself in our new apartment. If ever I needed a little pick me up, it was then.

"It's time," I thought. I seized the package and slowly, carefully unwound the white luminous tulle that grew longer and longer with every twist and turn of my wrist.

What fun this was! And really quite meditative.

Some thoughts as I unwrapped:

Dang! Where did you find this long-ass piece of tulle?

How long did it take you to wrap all this?

How did you come up with this clever idea? Did someone do this for you?

This makes me feel special. Thanks.

Oh, and look! Little packages are starting to spill out!

(Instant smile.)

It was already working.

When the package was finally unwrapped and the tulle carefully folded and set aside, I looked at the pile on my lap. "Which one do I open first?" Oh, what a quandary!

Should I close my eyes and pick? Take the one of the top, the middle or the bottom? Wait, did she save the best for last?

Ultimately, I went with the one that rolled out - a little rectangular package wrapped and tied in a dusty rose scrap of fabric.

When I untied it, I noticed a little drawing on the fabric.

What does this mean? Wait, should I open this when it's raining? Belgium has a tendency to be a gray and dreary place. Something Steph can identify with since she used to live in the Pacific Northwest.
I thought about putting it back, but it was too late. There was no turning back now.

I can't express enough how exhilarating opening one little teeny-tiny package was.

Seriously folks, it's the little things...

And it was...

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Perfume!

Fresh Sugar
"A delicious fragrance that combines sparkling citrus and sheer floral noes with warm gourmand flavors of caramel and vanilla."

Close your eyes and put your nose here:

X

Can you smell it? It's like a little piece of sunshine

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

~LYMI

Something Special

I live in Belgium. Steph lives in Dallas. We have been friends since grade school, but it didn't start out that way...

The night before I left for Belgium she sent me off with one last margarita and queso from this place, where we both worked in high school.

She also gave me a gift, it came in a brown paper bag.

It had this homemade T-shirt:

Made of the finest North American jersey cotton, it's very comfy and cozy with a DIY silkscreen. I think the image is a face, Fall of Snow is her music project.

And, this gorgeously wrapped stack of many somethings:

Somethings I am supposed to open one at a time when I am feeling down, or missing home.

She had very strict instructions written on black glittery paper with a silver pen.
I must respect a silver pen on glittery black paper.

This blog is about these many somethings and 23 years of friendship, even though we've known each other for 24.

~LYMI