A perfect last day in Poland as my farewell to a lovely five month stay. Józef Wilkoń is an illustrator/author/sculptor whose work I have known for decades. He is enormously popular in Japan, where there are books written about his work in addition to translations of his books. He invited us over for lunch and to show us his paintings, sculptures, and his studio. As he introduced us to his wooden animals, you could feel the tenderness with which he recalled how he created each one. We spoke in English-Polish-French-German-Japanese because none of us spoke each other's primary language. What a special, memorable day.
The moment feels distinctive... you have captured his tender gesture so well. Almost as though they are his children. I enjoy the "polyglot" nature of the language distinctions very much. A commemorative and lovely shot.
@annied@888rachel@agedrunner@taffy@rosiekerr@fntngrma@dibzgreasley@vera365@joansmor
Thank you for your kind comments. This was a very special day for me for many reasons -- not only a day with an admired person, but also my last day in Poland, and my husband's birthday. We both declared the day "perfect" and I wish I could have done an even better job capturing the day in photos. But this one came closest. At one point, he said, "I am an old man now." And the emotion behind the statement was exactly how I'd like to feel when I'm old. Not sad, not complaining, not factual, but communicating something that expressed a beautiful way of expressing the passing time. I'm sorry I'm not conveying it well. I admired some of his very tiny carved ducks, and he explained that he made those as his beloved wife was in the hospital. The words we used were minimal, the gestures were helpful, but the best communication came in the expressions, the "feeling" of being together, and I have the greatest admiration and fondness for him now. He knew we couldn't communicate in Polish when we met earlier -- yet he invited me to his house anyway! @joansmor --what lies ahead for me, you ask? That's always my question since I took super-early retirement more than 10 years before SS/pension kicks in. In July-August, I go to Fargo, St Louis, Munich, London/Worcester, Beijing; September finds me in Vienna/Bratislava, Bogota/Meddill, Moscow, Warsaw, Gdansk. So definitely keeping busy. But I must apply for longer term fellowships to avoid always just hopping around I like living somewhere for many months.
@jyokota But the good thing is you are in demand I want to work part time after I retire next year but worry about finding a part time job. Just please stay and 365 so I can travel vicariously to all these places you mention. Fun to see the world on 365 and you are a good "tourist."
July 8th, 2015
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Thank you for your kind comments. This was a very special day for me for many reasons -- not only a day with an admired person, but also my last day in Poland, and my husband's birthday. We both declared the day "perfect" and I wish I could have done an even better job capturing the day in photos. But this one came closest. At one point, he said, "I am an old man now." And the emotion behind the statement was exactly how I'd like to feel when I'm old. Not sad, not complaining, not factual, but communicating something that expressed a beautiful way of expressing the passing time. I'm sorry I'm not conveying it well. I admired some of his very tiny carved ducks, and he explained that he made those as his beloved wife was in the hospital. The words we used were minimal, the gestures were helpful, but the best communication came in the expressions, the "feeling" of being together, and I have the greatest admiration and fondness for him now. He knew we couldn't communicate in Polish when we met earlier -- yet he invited me to his house anyway!
@joansmor --what lies ahead for me, you ask? That's always my question since I took super-early retirement more than 10 years before SS/pension kicks in. In July-August, I go to Fargo, St Louis, Munich, London/Worcester, Beijing; September finds me in Vienna/Bratislava, Bogota/Meddill, Moscow, Warsaw, Gdansk. So definitely keeping busy. But I must apply for longer term fellowships to avoid always just hopping around I like living somewhere for many months.